KATIE TAYLOR SPOKE candidly after Thursday’s pre-fight press conference about the torturous battle she had making weight in the latter part of her amateur career ahead of hitting the scales for the first time as a pro.
But her new trainer Ross Enamait reckons the Bray woman’s clean living and self-discipline makes her female boxing’s equivalent to an Andre Ward or Bernard Hopkins in terms of professionalism.
With a recovery time of around 32 hours before her headline appearance against Poland’s Karina Kopinska on Sky Sports at Wembley Arena on Saturday night, Taylor will enjoy the novelty of an evening to relax after Friday afternoon’s weigh-in having only previously experienced the amateur system of weighing in on the day of a fight.
That was a requirement on every day of action during a competitive tournament over the last 13 years since she became a senior amateur.
“It’s going to be huge for me,” revealed Taylor on having recovery time after Friday afternoon’s weigh-in.
“I’ve had such a big battle over the last couple of years, I suppose, with making the weight and trying to maintain that for the whole week [of competition] in amateur boxing as well.
“I was going to bed the night before fights hungry and starving with very little sleep, so I think it’s going to be of huge benefit to me.
“It was very, very tough, especially over the last couple of years. I’ve been 60kg ever since I became a senior boxer at 17 years of age,” continued the former Olympic champion.
“Every year it was getting tougher. I still didn’t struggle as much as the like of Paddy [Barnes] or some of the guys,” laughed the 30-year-old when her old Belfast team-mate’s infamous weight battle was mentioned.
“But it was a big battle for me to get down to 60kg and maintain it for the whole week,” added Taylor, who will meet Kopinska at 132lb in a six-rounder on Saturday.
That weight is roughly equal to the 60kg limit Taylor claimed Olympic gold, five world titles and six European crowns at as an amateur, but slightly under the 135lb pro lightweight cap as the 30-year-old adjusts to the paid game.
Trainer Enamait will be in Taylor’s corner for her pro journey, but the Connecticut native reckons the benefits of her weight reprieve will only real kick in when the Bray native competes in bouts of a longer duration.
“I think it’s beneficial, but at the same time she’s been making the weight for so many years and it’s not like it’s ever hurt her [performances],” said the coach. “It’s nice to have, I like that she has more time to come in [to the ring] a little bit heavier but I don’t think she needs it.
“I think maybe it’ll matter more when she goes beyond six rounds – maybe fighting eight or 10 – but she’s been making weight for 15 years,” added Enamait, who praised Taylor’s dedication, comparing the five-time amateur world champion to the clean-living Ward and Hopkins.
The latter made history as the oldest boxer to ever win a world title at the age of 48 three years ago, while Ward became a two-weight champion last week after recovering from a second-round knockdown to claim a tight points win over heavy hitter Sergey Kovalev.
“She’s like Andre Ward or Hopkins – they’re always in shape,” said Enamait. “You’re never going to catch those guys overweight.
“They live clean and that’s why they are who they are. She’s a female version in some ways and takes care of herself. She’s a very young 30, she’s got a lot of years to come and a successful career for sure,” added the trainer.
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