When Irishwoman Katie Taylor goes for Olympic gold I won't be watching

Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 09:36 AM

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Irish boxer Katie Taylor, favorite to win gold at the London Olympics.

Katie Taylor is Ireland's best hope for a gold medal at the Olympic Games, which take place in London two months from now. I hope she wins her gold medal, but I won't be tuning in to watch her. Taylor is a boxer and, although this possibly puts me at odds with 'modernity,' I will not watch women's boxing.

From everything I've picked up through the television, radio and newspapers Taylor is a fantastic boxer, extremely skilled in the "manly art of self defense" and is favorite to win gold. This past weekend she won the gold at the World Championships, a title she has held since 2006.

Of course women's boxing is a minor sport, unlikely to create much of a stir in most countries, but in Ireland Katie Taylor is on the verge of becoming a superstar. Public misgivings about women's boxing are non-existent either because people are afraid of falling afoul of the PC police or they're too desperate to see the Irish flag fly above all others as the Irish anthem rings out at this summer's games. Irish Olympic gold medals are pretty rare, especially if you exclude Michelle Smith's three golds for swimming in Atlanta in 1996.

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Undoubtedly Taylor's undamaged face and perfect smile owe a lot to her skills in the ring. My wife met her once and was surprised at how pretty Taylor is.

An attractive woman boxer seems unlikely, but there you go. I'm sure this fact is not lost on marketing people, who are probably drooling at the ways Taylor can be put to work once she wins that gold this summer. The people in charge of women's boxing have probably noticed too. I wouldn't be the least surprised to learn that it was Taylor that they had in mind when they "suggested" that women boxers wear skirts in the ring rather than shorts.

Maybe they didn't know Taylor well enough before making the suggestion. The new sport's biggest star was having none of it. She said the miniskirts they wanted the women to wear were a "disgrace," that she didn't "wear miniskirts on a night out, so I definitely won't be wearing miniskirts in the ring."

Taylor is a female boxer, which is rare enough, but she is also a born again Christian and unafraid to talk about her faith. Among young Irish people that makes her even rarer than a female boxer.

American sports fans are used to athletes making reference to God in interviews, but here that sort of overt religiosity is unknown. Taylor is more Jeremy Lin than Tim Tebow, but regardless I'm sure the Irish media is hoping she keeps those "glory of God" references to a minimum. It invites awkwards silences from interviewers.

My wife may have been surprised by Taylor's appearance, but it was Taylor the person that really got her. Taylor is "humble, friendly, polite, and extremely generous," a real credit to her parents and she'll be a great ambassador for Irish athletes when she wins that gold.

From all I've learned about Taylor I admire her greatly. I really wish her well. It's just that she's only a few years older than my oldest daughter and, although I'd have loved it if my daughter were great at running or soccer or basketball, I would never have wanted her to box.

I expect to watch a fair amount of this summer's Games, but I won't watch women's boxing even when our local hero goes for gold.

{Picture from SpiritRadio.ie.}

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kinvara7 | May 23, 2012, 12:03 PM EDT

@The Yank: You have a track record of writing poorly thought out articles, and this one is no different. Katie Taylor is an athlete who loves her sport (boxing is a sport). You say that in Ireland: “public misgivings about women's boxing are non-existent either because people are afraid of falling afoul of the PC police or they're too desperate to see the Irish flag fly…” Or perhaps people here, unlike you, recognize that a woman who displays skill and dedication to her chosen sport should be encouraged and admired. You seem to think she should feel ashamed for her uncouth behaviour. This is not about political correctness this is about something as fundamental as common sense. You say: “from all I've learned about Taylor I admire her greatly.” Clearly, you don’t. How can you say you admire an athlete and at the same time refuse to watch her compete? How can you say you admire someone and at the same time say that if she was your daughter you would feel “very disappointed”?

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jamieLM | May 23, 2012, 09:59 AM EDT

The Yank, I'm with you. There are things I don't want my daughters to do, but I don't try to keep other people's daughters from doing them - like playing on an Am. h.s. football team with the boys. As an adult female, I won't watch women (or men) engaged in reality fighting, although I know some women enjoy watching it. I call that making choices. There's a difference between not wanting to watch women's boxing or reality fighting, for example, but accepting a woman's right to engage in those sports, if she chooses.

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TheYank | May 22, 2012, 05:28 PM EDT

jr,

Let me put it this way: if my son wanted to box I probably wouldn't be thrilled, but I wouldn't try to talk him out of it. If my daughter wanted to box I'd be very disappointed and work hard to discourage her from doing so.

However, I don't want any laws banning women from boxing.

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TheYank | May 22, 2012, 05:15 PM EDT

Ajreaper,

Thanks, but you should know I probably am a sexist by some people's definition. I actually believe men and women are different.

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jr | May 22, 2012, 03:46 PM EDT

I am confused. Are you saying that you will not watch womens boxing because you have no interest? Or that you will not womens boxing because women should not be boxing?

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Ajreaper | May 22, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT

Tooreenagrena, I am curious if a women will not watch football (american version) or hockey does that make her sexist? I have no desire at all to watch women box or wrestle yet I will watch the occasional collegiate softball game- what label applies to me? Yank is no sexist, not even close.

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TheYank | May 22, 2012, 11:33 AM EDT

Tooreenagrena,

"Do they really think we want to read stupid, uninformed sexist rubbish like this." Uh, you did. :-)

"So that means you have not actually watched her and therefore dont know what you are talking about." Of course I know what I'm talking about. First, I said I won't watch women's boxing. I know what I'm talking about there because, well, those are my thoughts. Then I discussed Katie Taylor's boxing record and her personality - both without blemish - based on what I've read & heard. I never offered any opinion on her boxing skills, but repeated what I've heard from others AND I was clear about that.

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Tooreenagrena | May 22, 2012, 11:11 AM EDT

So that means you have not actually watched her and therefore dont know what you are talking about. Why does Irishcentral give you a platform.Do they really think we want to read stupid, un informed sexist rubbish like this.

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Tooreenagrena | May 22, 2012, 10:57 AM EDT

Was your wife doing the dishes in an apron and 50s style dress while you wrote this? '' I will not watch women's boxing.''

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