A REAL CHAMPION
JIMMY WILDE reigned as the world’s first flyweight champion and is regarded by some as the greatest British fighter of all time. Wilde once declared, “The idea of women in the boxing ring is repulsive and will receive no support from real lovers of the art. Girl boxers will ruin their matrimonial chances. No man could fancy a professional bruiser for a bride.”
That was long ago. In recent years, women’s boxing has begun the march toward acceptance by mainstream sports fans. But the talent pool is thin and many women boxers have limited skills.
Katie Taylor, who has fashioned a 17-0 (6) record en route to winning the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO 135-pound titles, is changing the perception of women’s boxing. Christy Martin was a blip on the radar screen by virtue of her appearance on Mike Tyson undercards. Laila Ali garnered attention because she was Muhammad Ali’s daughter. Lucia Rijker, the best female boxer of her era, was largely unknown. Taylor can fight and she’s earning recognition for it.
“When people watch me box,” Katie says, “I hope they see a boxer, not a female boxer. I would love to bring the sport to another level and take women’s boxing to a place where people really respect it.”
Both of Taylor’s parents were involved with boxing. Her father married an Irish woman and moved to Bray, where
