Once Upon A Time ep3 | Katie Taylor Original Podcast Series

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Fashion performance by a special fighter.

SPEAKER_4 (1:36)

And the Undisputed lightweight champion.

Scott Hamilton (1:41)

Biggest fight in the history of this country. Hello and welcome back to Once Upon A Time, episode number three of Matchroom Boxing Podcast audio series focusing on Katie Taylor's final fight at Croke Park in Dublin on September 5th, live on Design. As referenced in episode two, Katie continued to campaign and bang the drum for women's boxing.

Back to back to back world championships and further multiple gold medal victories in the European Championships later led to two showcase bouts in front of the International Olympic Committee to stake a claim for women's boxing to be accepted in the pinnacle of the amateur game. Firstly, at the UIC in Chicago, Katie shared a bill with the likes of Vasily Lomachenko, Arta Paterbiev, Dimitrius Andrade, Zhao Xiuming and Frankie Gavin against their Canadian namesake Katie Dunn. In front of the watching IOC panel with the pressure on, Taylor scored a first round stoppage. Two years later in July 2009, out in St. Petersburg, Russia, Taylor racked up four wins in as many days to win the 60kg gold at the Russian Multinationals and enhance her reputation and push the Olympic dream one step closer.

Just a month later, in August 2009, the IOC executive board voted to add women's boxing to the sports programme for London 2012 There would be 36 participants over three weight categories. Nicola Adams later landed gold at 51kg, 60kg, a light weight, who else but Katie, and up at 75kg, middleweight, Claressa Shields, who is our first guest today and sends on her well wishes to open this episode.

Claressa Shields (3:21)

From one quote to another, Olympic gold, world champion and undisputed champion. Not many of us get to say we've done all that.

You've made history, you've changed the game and you have inspired millions and generations. It's been a hell of a ride. Enjoy every second of your last dance. Congrats on an incredible career. Respect.

Scott Hamilton (3:50)

Shields, the remarkable five weight world champion in the professional game, has been calling for a blockbuster clash with Laila Ali, the daughter of the late great Muhammad Ali in recent years. The inaugural WBC world super middleweight champion in the female game holds an unblemished 24 and record after retiring back in 2007 And despite the law of a lucrative return to the ring, has managed to keep busy outside with various TV and writing projects. Laila is a long standing supporter of Katie, having been ringside and backstage at various fight nights of Katie's in America in recent years. Her father, of course, was the last boxing headline act at Croke Park in Dublin back in July 1972 when he stopped Alvin Lewis late on.

Speaking from her Atlanta, Georgia residence, Taylor opened up on some stories with her dad and of course, some thoughts on the one only, Katie Taylor.

Laila Ali (4:43)

Oh man, I have said for so many years, I love me some Katie. She is absolutely one of my favourite fighters of all time. The first time I saw her in the Olympics, I knew she was something special. She's technically gifted. Just her speed, her distance, her eyes, her co-ordinations, the way her combinations flow, she's just unmatched. And of course, who she is outside of the ring.