Christie planing to break ground and become Ireland’s first female pro trainer

KATIE Taylor has proved ground breaker, standard bearer and poster girl for all things female boxing.

The Olympic Champion has revolutionised the fairer side of the sport not just in Ireland, but around the World.

While Taylor has opened doors and set landmarks with her in ring antics Kerrie Christie hopes to break boundaries from the corner. Christie is on course to become Ireland’s first licensed female coach and has set her sights on mentoring world champions of the future.

The former Lucan BC fighter has already traded her gloves for the pads and has been working with some big name Irish boxers in Celtic Warrior’s Gym alongside Pascal Collins.

Former Irish champions Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan and Ian Tims, middleweight prospect Luke Keeler and WBO European champ and world title hopeful Stephen Ormond have already worked under the tutelage of the burgeoning trainer. She has worked alongside brother of Irish-boxing legend Steve Collins, Pascal for up to three years, helping Ormond and co in preparation for big fights.

Now having served her apprenticeship Christie en route to getting her licence and taking full charge of fighters for pro fights. It might take time to achieve that goal, but a more achievable target is to be part of World title winning team, a dream Christie believes could happen in the very near future.

“At the moment I am working toward getting my licence and when I get it I will be the first female pro coach in Ireland, which is a nice achievement. At the moment I am working with Pascal here in the Celtic Warriors Gym. I am basically serving an apprenticeship. Pascal has taught me a lot about coaching and training fighters,” Christie told Irish-boxing.com.

“I have been gaining experience over the years and picking up on what Pascal has learnt in over his career and by working with coaches like Freddie Roach. At the moment I help out here in the gym and work with the fighters in the camp. When Pascal is tied up I even take sessions with the lads, which is brilliant when you have fighters like Spike and Stephen.

“I have no doubt in my mind that The Celtic Warrior Gym will be home to a world champion by summer 2015. I’d love to be one of the only female trainers in the world to be part of the team to achieve that boasts a World champion and I am working to get those corners on merit,” Christie added before discussing her longer term goals.

“With the rise of female boxers since the Olympics boxing is growing and I hope to train male and female pro boxers. Then with a lot of UFC and MMA fighters looking for extra stand up fight training I would eventually like in the likes of Ronda Rousey of the UFC’s corners.”

So how has Christie been accepted in the Celtic Gym to date?

“Thankfully they have been great. None of them want to mess with what Pascal says anyway and if he gives me the reigns I take them. We are all one big family here and we are working toward the one thing. I am just part of the team.”

Such is Christie’s talent that some American gyms have inquired about using her services.

“There has been contact and interest from gyms in America and Pascal has good links there. I have visited and got access to some big pro gyms, which was great experience too.”

Christie hopes to break new ground in the sport and she admits Taylor’s success has helped her make inroads into the world of boxing.

“The attitude to women in boxing has definitely changed since Katie won the gold and people seen just how talented a fighter. She is not just a talented female boxer, Katie is an exceptionally talented boxer full stop. Boxing is a male dominated sport, but it is definitely turning around. I love the sport and I feel I have a skill for training hopefully I can become know as a good trainer not a good female trainer.”