KATIE TAYLOR HAS branded BBC boxing analysts as ‘absolutely clueless’ after they questioned her performance against Jessica McCaskill at York Hall in London.
Taylor still retained her WBA World lightweight belt after a unanimous decision, though it was certainly her most challenging contest since turning pro.
McCaskill won many plaudits for her approach while others were left underwhelmed by what Taylor conjured on the night, including Mike Costello and Steve Bunce.
The pair host 5 Live Boxing in the latest episode they reviewed Taylor’s bout.
Costello described the Bray native’s contribution as ‘scrappy’.
“What I thought it demonstrated and showed us is how leaky Katie Taylor’s defence is. I noticed parts of it before but it really is very seriously leaky this time,” he continued.
Bounce said he was surprised at how regularly Taylor was hit, considering McCaskill’s inexperience.
“She’s eight fights in, she’s an Olympic champion, all those World Championships and European titles,” he said.
“I was really surprised and I’m just wondering if maybe she has to revert back a little bit to the ‘pick and hit’ Katie Taylor that was so brilliant. I’ve had a of couple run-ins with Katie’s people over me saying that she needs to slow down and and stop thinking she’s Mike Tyson in box shirt shorts.”
Costello also questioned Taylor’s intelligence as a fighter.
“There were times in the fight when she was just launching single shots, single jabs, single right hands. She could not miss, it was so easy – and I use that word – it was easy, it was embarrassingly one-sided. But that wasn’t enough for her, she wanted to get involved. I thought it showed, actually, a lack of a boxing brain.”
After the Irish Boxing Twitter account posted a link to the BBC analysis and questioned whether they ‘had a point’, Taylor responded passionately.
“No they don’t,” she wrote.
“I would’ve thought that people making those comments would have some knowledge. The reason I won the fight well is cos I used my boxing brain and outsmarted my opponent. If people who particularly are involved in boxing can’t see that, they are absolutely clueless.”
No they don't. I would've thought that people making those comments would have some knowledge. The reason I won the fight well is cos I used my boxing brain and outsmarted my opponent. If people who particularly are involved in boxing can't see that, they are absolutely clueless.
— Katie Taylor (@KatieTaylor) December 22, 2017
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Katie Taylor is an absolute class act, forget the critics, your fans know how great you are Katie. Bring on 2018.
@Brian Gibbons: the BBC has turned into a complete sh*t show! Terrible coverage, analysis, totally bias and as for that sports person of the year awards.. it’s a complete joke…
She got hit a lot. I was surprised too given the other girl was game but basically a novice.
@DuskyTheCat: I can only agree pal. Got hit a hell of a lot. And was hit in previous fights by lesser boxers!
@DuskyTheCat: she got roped into a slug fest when she should have just boxed. To be fair in terms of skill and speed there isnt another woman on the planet anywhere near as good as her. Unfortunately she does sometimes get caught in brawls which there is no need for.
Why can’t she take a bit of critisism? No doubt she is a good fighter but what they were saying seemed right.Might be too used to people saying how great she is, then when she gets a bit of stick can’t seem to handle it.If she came up against someone with real power she could be in serious trouble, she does get hit a lot.Take the critisism on board, (it is constructive) park it, then move on.
Sure Katie could pick and hit all fight but that’s not what gets the average person watching boxing.
From what I can see, Katie is being consciously more confrontational with in her pro boxing career for two reasons. Firstly, because the crowd respond to it and secondly because she knows she can get away with it due to the respective ability of the fighters she’s faced. I’m sure if Katie faced a better boxer she would revert to picking and hitting.
Despite all the money he has made, Mayweather is reviled by the average punter because he picks and hits. He got more credit when he was aggressive against McGregor but only did it because he could. Katie is right to fire back because whatever way she boxes, there’s always going to be someone criticising her.
IMO Katie doesn’t have KO power and should be a defensive fighter. She’d be untouchable a la first two rounds. After that sloppy, footwork and exits need to be better in future.
Rise above it Katie !upwards we go yeah yeah yeah champion
There riddled with the jealousy.
Katie is such a class act an has been for so long, she did get hit alot and to be fair her opponent got in her head, but also remember Katie has fought 8 times in 14 months. That’s amazing, and her opponent tried to make it a street fight, Katie still boxed the head off her, her opponent gave Katie no credit either, I can’t wait to see her fresh again and domanite.