IRELAND’S First Lady Deirdre Gogarty will be inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame this coming weekend.

Gogarty was not just a pioneer in Irish female fighting, but in women’s boxing in general and will receive her sport’s highest accolade as part of daylong activities in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.

Deirdre Gogarty’s career journey from Ireland to Acadiana ends Saturday night in south Florida, when Gogarty joins seven other boxers and boxing figures being inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.

Gogarty is part of the Hall’s second-ever induction class, one that includes modern-era boxers Laila Ali, Laura Serrano, Jeannine Garside, Ann Wolfe and Terri Moss, pioneer women’s boxer Phyliss Kugler (posthumously) and referee Sparkle Lee.

Gogarty had to leave Ireland to pursue her boxing dream and is credited along with Christy Martin with putting Women’s boxing on the map.

There six round Showtime broadcast bash, which was on the undercard of Frank Bruno versus Mike Tyson in the MGM back in 1996, is considered the female version of the Thrilla in Manila. The Drogheda puncher lost that clash, but did go on to claim a World title beating Bonnie Canino for the WBF featherweight strap.

Speaking about being inducted Gogarty, who has proved an inspirtation for Katie Taylor and Chritina McMahon said.

“This is not just a great honor, but it makes everything I went through in and out of the ring in order to become a professional boxer worthwhile,” Gogarty said. “Growing up, I played other sports, but boxing was always the sport I was most interested in and the sport I focused on. I wanted to box.”

“It’s a great honor,” Gogarty added. “It’s been well worth everything I went through.”