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Sky Sports Boxing chief happy with Katie Taylor’s second win

Katie Taylor [2(1)-0] wasn’t particularly happy with her performance in Manchester, but the powers that be at Sky Sports were suitably impressed.

Taylor took a step up in just her second fight to face Swiss-based Brazilian Viviane Obenauf on the Anthony Joshua v Eric Molina PPV undercard, and scored a comprehensive six-round points (60:53) win.

The Bray super featherweight said afterwards that she felt “flat,” and that she was disappointed not to claim a stoppage as she had in her debut against Karina Kopinska.

Sky Sports Head of Boxing Adam Smith however was happy with the Wicklow woman’s showing.

Speaking on SportsWomen on Sky Sports, Smith described how “she [Taylor] told me afterwards that she was disappointed, but I said ‘no Katie, it was absolutely fine.'”

“The first time in Wembley, the professional debut, she was thrilling, she was coming forward, she was throwing bodyshots, she looked absolutely a menace in the ring. It was different on Saturday night, she boxed her way through, beautiful feet movement, a wonderful left hand.”

Smith also acknowledged the notable step up that Obenauf posed, and reasserted his belief that Taylor is on course for a big future in the sport. He explained how “it was a tough obstacle, fight number two, and Katie handled it with ease. and she outclassed a decent opponent in Viviane Obenauf who was a step up. I think she’s going to be an absolute global superstar of the future, she’s got everything.”

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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