The Sun Newspaper

KATIE TAYLOR wants to reignite her hero Roy Keane’s passion for boxing.Manchester United legend Keane, 50, famed for his combative playing style on the football pitch, says his favourite childhood sport was being ruined by Brit stars Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua failing to fight each other.
Roy Keane was always ready for a fight when he patrolled Manchester United’s midfield
Keane recently told former Man Utd team-mate Gary Neville he used to box as a boy
In an interview with former United team-mate Gary Neville on Neville’s YouTube channel The Overlap, Keane revealed he had “three or four amateur” boxing fights before finding fame as a professional footballer.
The former Republic of Ireland skipper also admitted he finds the current heavyweight division “irritating” because the sport’s politics have repeatedly prevented the clashes fans want to see, like Fury versus AJ.
Undisputed lightweight queen Taylor offers no such disappointment, as she is targeting Puerto Rico’s seven-weight champ Amanda Serrano and America’s undisputed welterweight champ Jessica McCaskill ASAP.
Taylor, undefeated in 18 pro bouts, will defend her undisputed lightweight crown against Jennifer Han on the undercard of Josh Warrington’s rematch against Mauricio Lara at Headingley Stadium on Saturday.
And the Irish star, 35, a Leeds United fan, hopes her own unwavering commitment to boxing might help Keane have a change of heart.
She said: “My favourite player growing up was Roy Keane, so I’m not sure how that will go down with the Leeds fans!

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“Seriously, though, as a Leeds fan I loved the likes of Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith. I liked the rough players, that’s why I was always drawn to Roy Keane as well.
“He’s my favourite sportsperson of all time. He was a hero of mine growing up.
“I saw what he said to Gary Neville and I hope I’m not that kind of boxer to him.
“I always want to be involved in big fights, I always take the big challenges, I take the necessary risks. I want to lay it all on the line every time I step in the ring.”
Taylor took the opposite direction to Keane in her sporting journey as she was an excellent footballer who earned 11 senior Republic of Ireland caps and scored two goals before focusing only on boxing.
She has also always been teetotal, again unlike Keane who admitted in his interview with Neville that growing up in Ireland and playing in his era meant hard drinking at the start of his career also eventually shortened it.
County Wicklow-born Taylor became a Leeds fan after enjoying wild Elland Road visitors with her dad, around the halcyon days at the start of the 2000s when they reached the Champions League semi-finals.
The quiet schoolgirl loved the rowdy working-class Yorkshire atmosphere and the ‘Dirty Leeds’ reputation.
Taylor said: “We were coming over to visit my dad’s family and we always went to a Leeds United game. It was so special.
“Every Christmas I got a Leeds United jersey and a pair of football boots – that was part of growing up for me.
“They’re definitely a very, very loud and passionate crowd. A very rough crowd as well but I like that.
“They were some of my best memories growing up going to Leeds United games in Elland Road. I went a couple of times, I loved being involved in that passionate crowd.”
And Taylor hopes the 20,000 fans crammed into the home of rugby league side Leeds Rhinos on Saturday can recreate a similar buzz to intimidate her opponent.
She said: “This is going to be new territory for her. She hasn’t been involved in a big event like this but she’s a world champion as well.
“I’m expecting the best performance from her. I think all my opponents raise their game when they step into the ring against me.”
Katie Taylor will fight on the Josh Warrington’s undercard in Headingley on Saturday night More

EDDIE HEARN was perfectly prepared for Josh Warrington’s crucial comeback after looking like a prize penguin for Anthony Joshua’s shock first loss.The Matchroom boss chose AJ’s American debut against Andy Ruiz in June 2019 to wear a tuxedo to a fight for the first time and felt the fashion faux pas backfire.
Eddie Hearn said he felt like a ‘f***ing tosser’ for wearing a tuxedo for Anthony Joshua’s loss to Andy RuizCredit: Getty
It was the first time Hearn had done it and AJ lost to Ruiz Jr in one of the biggest shocks everCredit: AP
But the Matchroom promoter said it helped him prepare for Josh Warrington’s loss to Mauricio LaraCredit: Dave Thompson Matchroom Boxing
The long-way back that Watford’s heavyweight king took has helped Hearn and Warrington cope with the crushing blow suffered against Mauricio Lara in February and plan the rebuild.
Warrington, 30, has already praised a video call with Joshua during his darkest hour for helping him out of the pits of despair.
And, ahead of Saturday’s rematch in front of 20,000 Headingley fans, Hearn revealed how he learned to roll with the punches.
Hearn recalled: “After selling old Madison Square Garden with AJ, that night I decided to wear a bow-tie and dinner suit.
“I had never ever done that before for a fight but, I thought, for AJ at a sold-out MSG I should. And I look back at pictures now and think ‘what a f****** tosser!’
“I walked the whole way home to New York’s Soho after the fight, about 3am I was bumping into British fans who wanted photos and answers and I just wanted to be left alone.

“But dealing with nights like that helped me learn how to handle night’s like Josh Warrington’s loss.
“Josh’s was harrowing because no-one was there and we heard everything. MSG was berserk so we didn’t hear it.
“But the lows hopefully lead back to huge highs and when Josh wins on Saturday we can hopefully look back at the last few months and just say ‘what a ride’.”
Hearn reached out to AJ after Warrington’s violent loss at an empty and silent Wembley arena and put the two fallen soldiers in touch to share war stories.
The Leeds icon says the chat dragged him back on the road to redemption and Hearn believes it helped continue AJ’s learning process and that he will reach out again before the first bell.
Hearn said: “Josh asked if AJ would have a chat because he was struggling.
“But AJ struggled after the Ruiz loss and this felt even bigger because it was a horrible defeat in a silent and empty arena.

“I had never asked AJ to do anything like that before but within an hour of swapping numbers AJ called him. I called to thank AJ but I think he enjoyed it.
“Both of their nights went wrong, after problems for both in their build-ups. But both took immediate rematches and got the wins.
“I am sure AJ will message him before the fight because you have to talk about these things.”

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