Katie Taylor blown away by Sugar Ray comparison.
As nicknames go, ‘The Bray Bomber’ tag given to Katie Taylor by the DAZN MC this weekend is never going to stick – but another, sweeter, ring moniker could soon start being used.
The ever-ambitious Taylor wants to be remembered in the same light as one of the greatest of all time and one of her boxing heros, Sugar Ray Leonard.
The Wicklow lightweight aced the toughest test of her career with a display worthy of the famous Madison Square Garden venue on last night.
Taylor [12(5)-0] won every round against previously undefeated WBC super featherweight world champion Eva Walhstrom to steal a show topped by Canelo Alvarez and earn Sugar Ray comparisons from the DAZN broadcast team, which the Hall of Famer is a part of, in the process.
The always humble leading boxing lady claimed the comparison was the ultimate compliment, but did go on to claim she wants to go on to be as good as the former five-weight and undisputed welterweight world champion and her fellow Olympic gold medallist.
“That’s probably the biggest compliment I can get, really, to be compared to Sugar Ray Leonard,” the unified lightweight world champion said of the comprison afterwards.
“Sugar Ray is my modern favourite fighters, I watch an awful lot of his videos.”
“My goal is to be as good as him, I’m not sure if I’m ever going to be as good as Sugar Ray, but that’s a huge compliment.”
Sugar Ray Leonard showing his lightning speed pic.twitter.com/Ivl4omI92Q
— Boxing Exposure (@Boxing_exposure) November 26, 2018
WATCH! @KatieTaylor unleashes a barrage of punches on her way to victory over Eva Wahlstrom @TheGarden ⚡ #CaneloRocky pic.twitter.com/JUNUOFAnIV
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) December 16, 2018
The IBF and WBA world title holder has her sights set on massive fights with Amanda Serrano and Cecilia Braekhus in 2019, but it seems undisputed status is the immediate goal.
Team Taylor hope to tempt WBO champion Rose Volante and WBC title holder Delfine Peerson into the ring before a mega fight with Serrano.
“The goal is to become the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. The WBO champion and the WBC champion are on my list.”
“Obviously one of the biggest fights out there in women’s boxing is Amanda Serrano, a huge, huge fight. Let’s get it on,” she added before reflecting on her most recent win and her stand out display.
“I thought it was very good performance, Eva is obviously a fantastic champion and a great, great fighter so I knew I was up against it tonight and I knew it was going to be a great showcase for women’s boxing.
“It was a fantastic ten rounds and it was just an absolute privilege to fight here in Madison Square Garden in front of so many Irish people, thank you so much for the support.”
