Greg Hughes interviews iconic boxer Katie Taylor and Donegal boxer Paddy Doherty.

50. >> What age you today, Paddyy? I'm >> 29. >> 79. Close interest. Close interest. >> 78. >> 78. My god. You're still in great shape. Great. >> Amazing. >> It's just It's so different nowadays, isn't it? >> Yeah. >> Box is gone. What I don't like, what I don't like about boxes now, they're running through flex now and it would damage your box. >> Yeah, the mixing that should be Come here. What's it What's it like? Um I suppose it's almost like a circle of history here having Katy in your own home. >> It's It's like having the pope in. >> Are you looking forward to going down so many years on to see KT following your footsteps in Cro Park? >> I am. Yeah. Yeah. I'm looking forward to it. Yeah. >> Is that your greatest career highlight fighting in Croak Park? >> Cuz you've had a great success at amateurs. >> There's only thing about Cruz Park is fighting in Cro Park. It was the first I was the first man to take a back to >> back then. I >> And what was it like watching the great Ali at that time? Were you was there a sense that you were in the presence of history? >> It was good. I didn't, you know, I didn't see much other fight because I was in the dressing room getting ready, you know, >> and um >> it was fantastic like, you know, to see him >> boxing. >> And another thing I think is great to see is big time boxing back in Ireland again cuz we had a few years there where it's fantastic to see back in Dublin and Belfast. >> Brilliant stuff. And you got an invite from herself directly. You and your family. you're going to have great seats, meet old friends and and get back on the the famous pitch. >> I'm looking forward to seeing >> uh John K and all the boys like, you know, >> and you know, >> we have a great amateur boxing heritage, don't we, around here? I'm I'm thinking of uh some of the late greats that were involved with Donagle Town Boxing Club. We've got Twin Towns, Ilit boxers, that was John Hannah. >> Brilliant. >> Brilliant. John Hannah. >> And it's brilliant now too. finally, isn't it, to see women's the women's side of the sport getting the credit it truly deserves. >> Yeah, it's good to see like, you know, >> but uh I'm delighted for Katie that she's getting out of the game after after Croak Park, you know. >> What an amazing what an amazing thing uh for you to call to the home of the last person to fight in Cro Park. >> This is incredible. I'm actually just blown away by the fact that I just met Patty Dy, the last man who fought in Cro Park. He fought actually after Muhammad Ali. So h to have the opportunity to actually meet him and that's just a piece of history right there. And him and his wife Livia, absolutely beautiful people. And >> I'm just I'm actually blown away by what just happened to >> a wonderful guy. And and you know what? And I know Patty well and and and he's been calling into me in in some of my the county club and done. But you only you educated me there. >> He was sitting watching Muhammad Ali's fight with his gloves on and he was due to fight next. Now that's a cardinal sin. >> It's astonishing, isn't it? >> But not once Muhammad Ali is involved. >> Katie, I I I was watching uh I remember I watched a bit of boxing, right? And I remember watching uh Eddie Hearn doing an interview. This was just when you turned over and obviously in between the old geese and stuff and all that, right? He says that I don't know how big women's boxing is going to be, but I know Eddie's I know Katie is going to be a superstar, right? uh he was right about you being a superstar, but I don't think even he could have foreseen how big women's boxing got. >> Yeah, I think I don't think anybody could have um dreamt of what has happened over these last 10 years to be quite honest. This has been the most remarkable 10 years of my whole career thinking um when I turned pro, women's boxing was pretty much non-existent. And so here we are headlining MSG where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frasier actually want them on sport and then I'm on the undercard of of a Mike Tyson fight on Netflix and here we are end of my career in pro park where Muhammad EA and obviously Patty Dy as well. Uh there's a strong Dagical connection actually with the real start of your career. Uh Sadi Duffy from the Elise Boxing Club. I think she's ref your first amateur fight. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Sadi was is obviously a huge part of Irish boxing. Such an amazing person as well. Always an amazing sport throughout my whole career. We traveled the world together while she was refereeing these international fights as well. Great memories with Sadi. What an amazing Was it her that got you up to Bunker Analytica Center? >> Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, that's exactly right. And then they let you ref. I think she refed you then again in 2014. Not not dodgy at all. >> Yeah, exactly. I was giving her a few uh >> You didn't need that. >> Yeah. >> Um in relation to how the sport has grown uh Katie, has it taken you by surprise? Because >> Well, I'll get to that in a moment. You you I remember also Eddie Hearn cuz it's been part of your career from the very beginning talked about how you know you could have won a fight in your debut but they had to build you because you can have anonymous world champions as well. Was it tough for you to buy into that or did you want to just get straight into championship action? >> Um no I think I I understood that um you know what what Eddie and Brian were trying to do was was build the profile and stuff like that. I think that you you understand quite early on your pro career that professional boxing and amateur boxing are very very different. This is a business game as well. It's an it's the entertainment business and um you have to obviously build the fights. Uh but for me, I didn't really care much about all that. I just love my sport. I love boxing. I just wanted to fight. >> They're all arena fights. You first fight. It's not like you were in It's not like you were in any leisure enthusi. >> I'm just so grateful that I had a good manager and honestly with Brian because he obviously guided my career and I think that's one of the most important parts in professional boxing to have a good manager cuz if it was up to me I would have been putting stupid shot stupid fights and I would have wanted to fight the biggest stars right early on where Brian had in mind to build it and here we are um a few years later. I remember I remember one particular time we were struggling we were struggling with an opponent. I think it was about Katie's fourth pro fight and uh define pursue and she was the number one in Katie's weight division and Katie wanted she said you know we'll fight the Belgian she's a Belgian uh cop she said we'll fight the Belgian cop and of course you have to be tricky with Katie you know I says Katie look we want to build it we want to hopefully get it in Madison Square Garden and I want to shake down Eddie Hearn for a lot more money and I'll never forget Katie looked at me with her gunfighter eyes would you just make sure I'm the one to beat her first Um, one of my top five boxers at the moments actually, um, and I have to make sure I get a pronunciation right is Alif Ner and the Turkish fighter, right? She's fighting on the bam undercard this this weekend. I'd love to have seen you finish off in in Krug Park against her. >> Katie wanted that fight. I We were talking about it. >> I could just see you coming out of the corner, you know, behind the jab, tap tap. Next thing you're in an absolute slugfest. >> Yeah. No, I think I would have used my feet for that fight. >> Yeah, she's something else, isn't she? Yeah, she's very wild, but I think um >> she's some power. >> She's got a lot of power. >> She's got this big massive overhand, right, isn't it? >> Yeah, exactly. >> A bit crude, but effective. Yeah, exactly. Um but I mean, you know, Croak Park huge, but headlining MSG, >> unbelievable. What was that like? I mean, you the easiest thing for me to say is a pinch yourself moment, but it's beyond that, isn't it? >> Yeah, I think so. I think um that myself and Manis R were obviously the first women to headline at Madison Square Garden. It was it was history. But I don't think I realized how big it was until I actually drove into Manhattan that week for fight week and I seen the the billboards fill up on my face on it like publicizing this fight and I could sense that there was something different about this fight. Um and thank God that the fight actually lived up to the hype because the whole world did. >> Yeah. The whole world was watching that day. It was an amazing sport. Not just for women's boxing but just for women's sport in general. >> For sure. And for the boxing actually in fairness to be honest. Sometimes it needs to kick up the bomb as well. Um the one thing I it's astonishing is how tough you guys are. You beat the head off each other, but you always get a sense particularly with women at that time and still there is a sense that you are working together to build something even through that rivalry. >> Yeah, I think so. I think that's uh the reason why the women are taking the bigger fights. They want to build a sport and um in comparison to some of the men where they're they're they're not fighting the best. I think the women actually want to fight the best and we want to put on these amazing shows to show the world what women's boxing is all about >> and you can see that myself and Amanda have gone to war on a couple of occasions but we have the utmost respect for each other as well afterwards. Um that mutual respect is is very important >> for sure and you learned it off each other in the ring as well of course and in in your careers. Um, in relation to seeing big-time boxing back in uh in in Ireland, I'm old enough to remember uh Steve Collins, Kuth, not quite enough to remember Barry McGrien, but then we had this period where we didn't have any fights. Now, the likes of, you know, Quigley and and others. Yeah, exactly. We're we're putting on small town shows or smaller shows, but now we're seeing Queensbury, Matroom, Zafa. Uh it's fantastic that the Irish public have boxing back again. >> Oh, definitely. And you can see that boxing has always been such a successful sport in this country. And uh to have these uh these shows on, it gives these fighters an opportunity to to stay active and to keep fighting and uh and to then to keep that motivation because it's so important to have fights on a regular occasion, especially when you're trying to build your record and to have these these shows on is um it's very very important for the development of of any fighter. Yeah. I mean, Crow Park is the pinnacle, isn't it? That's um the Cathedral of Irish Borders as Brian keeps calling it. >> Yeah, the Cathedral. It's kind of like our coliseum, isn't it? And sometimes with the the English lads, I have trouble trying to get through Eddie Hearn. What passion, what emotions, what love, you know, it's it's it's different levels. And >> he's just trying to get you to do it cheaper. >> He's probably you're right. But look, you know, so I I actually I look after young Pierce Ori as well. He's headlined August 1st. Another kid, >> brilliant fighter. Steve Karns, a cork guys, 14-0. on a young heavyweight, Adam Millennian. So, they're all fighting August 1st, but without doubt, the greatest show on earth will be September 5th. Tickets are on sale this Friday. >> And I know you have to do that. I don't think you have to struggle to sell these ones. And I'm not going to hold you up much longer. Katie, I don't know. Maybe you're a no regrets person. Is this better late than never or perfect timing? >> I I think it's perfect timing. timing. One of the the things that Brian is always saying, it's uh the most um important thing in life is timing and momentum. Um and so this is uh this is perfect time for me to end my career in our most iconic arena to have a chance to become a three-time undisputed champion. Um this is beyond my wildest dreams and I think this is absolutely perfect timing. And last couple here you how how are you going to balance the the emotion and the history of what you're achieving and then going in against a very live opponent? >> Yeah. Well, that's the the challenge, isn't it? >> That's what sports psychologist is. >> One of the one of the one of the only times you can talk about a woman's weight and her age is boxing. But like this lady is 11 years younger. This she you know already she's her life >> but look at the option she has the opportunity she has. >> Unbelievable. Her life has already changed forever. already change. You know, this is a real fight and that's why we got to knuckle down. We've been I think we've clocked over 2,2200 kilometers. We're trying to get every county in Ireland. I think we're nearly there, but like this is without doubt. This is going to be with Peter Aken on board from Aken Promotions. You know, it's going to be a Irish cultural celebration. And what that looks like, we don't know. We're just literally getting this over the but there's lots of it's going to be a like and what a chance for all of Ireland to get not only Ireland's greatest sports person of all time but one of Ireland's greatest people of all time and a chance to come and honor and see you know I I was lucky enough uh to see Muhammad Ali in his day fight live but >> you're going to have to put me in touch with the cosmetic surgeon I think >> yeah Benjamin Button he's he's a he's a cousin of mine but yeah So, it's But look, it's it's >> I'm going to have to have proof of that. Come here. And as well as that, just for the casual fans as well, cuz there's going to be a ton of them going. If you haven't seen a boxing show in a while, I mean, obviously, it's all about the boxing. It's all about Katie, but it's something else, isn't it, Katie? >> It really is. And just to answer your last question, I really am going to have to hold my emotions together, my final walk to the ring, >> cuz the the most important thing for me um is to is to get my hand raised obviously at the end of the night. And it's going to be an amazing night, an amazing celebration like Brian has said of of Irishes on that night. But I I have to win this fight and but it is going to be a very very special night and yeah blown away by everyone's support. >> But we have it priced like 25% of the stadium are tickets are 40 40 and under. >> 38 actually plus. Yeah. >> Yeah. So family tickets. >> Family tickets to see that. >> Exactly. There's alcohol free. So, so this wasn't, you know, the most important thing when I sat with Peter Aken and and Peter Aken, you know, Aken promotions 500 years. So, 500 shows a year. So, look, he brings plenty to it. Um, but the most important thing, the other morning, we were talking to a lady. She was 84. >> She's going to the fight. Like, when do you hear that? So, it's, you know, it's not even just it's an event. >> If she was from Dunagal, she would have asked you if they're concessions. >> Yeah. But but no, it's going to be a very special moment and it's going to be certainly, you know, where were you when we got to see? >> Well, do you know what? Even even me having this opportunity and even Patty back there, it there's a there where were you when because we're building up to something big and this is the this is part of the journey. What about the undercard? That's a matchroom situation. Or would you like to see the likes of Christina Desmond get a spotlight there or what what would you like to see either of the two of you? Yeah, I think for me um I'm getting messages from every single fighter in the country right now. They're asking could they get could they be on the underard? Christina Desmond is a phenomenal person and I spent um many of my amateur years traveling around the world with her on these amateur competitions but um I have nothing to do with the under so I would love to see all of those girls um Christina Desmond Shauna Brown >> but there's a there's a balance to be struck. This is a global audience versus our own sort of parochial wants, isn't it? But listen, Katy, it's amazing what you've done and what you've achieved, not for just for for boxing, but for Ireland, too. And and I'm sure that you're fully aware of that, are you? Or maybe it'll take time for that to sink in. But >> you know, you are something else. >> Thank you so much. >> There was there was a there was a funny moment and this is a good few years ago. And talk about time and momentum. It's good good to hear you be listening to me. >> Yeah, I do. I do. But we were we were at we were fighting on a Canelo card uh Canelo Alvarez who's who's a massive star and we're fighting Madison Square Garden and there was about 100 120 people running towards us and uh Katie stepped back myself Katie we stepped back we thought Canela was behind us but they were running over to Katie. >> Oh yeah of course. >> So that was uh and that was like kind of long before even all the Netflix shows long before you know which really just brought it to a completely new level. >> Yeah for sure. Well listen the very best of luck with everything. Is it do you don't want to look past the fight, but what's your life look like after that? Are we going to see you in in gyms? Are we going to see you punditry? Or are we going to not see you? Cuz you're going to be having a good blooming time with your lovely family. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. I'm going to enjoy the fruits, my labor, but at the same time, I'm going to be kept very busy as well. I think you're going to be involved in boxing some shape or form after this fight as well. >> Mentors mentors young TFA from Mayan. She's a phenomenal young fighter. 19 years of age, unbelievable talent. Um, just even being there for her fights and watching her perform, that's to me is just everything. >> Yeah. And I suppose look >> paying it forward. We're good at that as Irish people. We're good at looking after the next gen. >> Absolutely. >> I haven't told Katie some of these cuz obviously September 5th is the focus. But, you know, potential there's it's got a bit of momentum here. Presidential run maybe. Who know? >> Oh, would you stop that? >> Why? Why not? Certainly. So I I'm I >> because it's a poison chalice and she's a she's the the darling of Ireland. >> You need a new manager. Stick to boxing, buddy. >> You're fired. >> Okay. Well, maybe not that one. That was only that was that was only since yesterday. >> Just throwing it out there. >> Didn't do too well in that one. But but certainly um and I know look Jason Quigley too. Shout out to Jason. He's done great. He's >> with Andy Lee now and they're doing amazing things in this earth. Andy and Jason are just the salt of the earth type of people. So >> down to earth but we have I'm actually uh trying to write a play at the moment with a guy Andrew Flynn and Gway. So there's loads of stuff for Katy. I don't want to scare her too much now. Yeah. >> I don't am I live in an alternative universe? The presidency and writing a play we don't know about. >> Donald Trump is president now. Don't forget. >> Oh my god. This is going downhill quicker than I anticipated.