Mags Gargan
Boxing Champion reassured by prayers
Katie Taylor thanked God and everyone in Ireland praying for her after she won her fifth consecutive boxing world title this week.
The Bray woman secured the gold with a victory over Azerbaijan’s Yana Allekseevana in South Korea. She is now level with Indian boxing legend Mary Kom on her five world titles record.
“I’m delighted,” she said speaking after her win. “Thank God again for a great victory today. It was so encouraging and reassuring to know everyone at home was praying for me.
“It is an absolute privilege to equal Mary Kom’s record. She was a hero of the sport.”
President Michael D Higgins offered his congratulations and described Katie Taylor as “without doubt the outstanding Irish sportswoman of her generation”.
He said she “has set a standard for all Irish sportspeople to follow in decades ahead”.
Katie Taylor also won six successive European championships and an Olympic gold medal in 2012.
