Katie’s brother to replace dad Pete in her corner

Katie Taylor will enter the ring tonight without her father, Pete in her corner for the first time in her career when she takes on Clonmel boxer Shauna O’Keeffe in the 60kg title decider.

Katie’s brother to replace dad Pete in her corner

By Darragh Bermingham

Katie Taylor will enter the ring tonight without her father, Pete in her corner for the first time in her career when she takes on Clonmel boxer Shauna O’Keeffe in the 60kg title decider.

Pete Taylor revealed he is taking a “break” from being Katie’s cornerman, claiming the stress of watching his daughter fight has taken its toll.

"I'm taking a break from the corner. After years it can be stressful watching your daughter fight," he said in an interview with The Irish Times.

Katie's brother Lee and interim Irish head coach Zaur Antia will be working her corner tonight as she takes on 21-year-old O’Keeffe.

RTE’s Darren Frehill revealed on Morning Ireland that Pete intends to return for Taylor’s Olympic qualifiers in May 2016. Tonight however, Pete will be in the crowd to watch his daughter with whom he has won 18 major titles since 2005.

"I'll be there in the crowd in the front. We are trying new things at the moment so we'll see how it goes this time."

Meanwhile, Martin Fennessey will be in the opposite corner, calling the shots as O’Keeffe becomes the first Irish woman to challenge Taylor for a title.

“She’s very confident going into it,” said Fennessey. “She’s unbeaten in her nine bouts this season and she’s in the form of her life. I’ve never seen her as up for anything in her life. She can’t wait to get in the ring.”

O’Keeffe knows she faces a huge task tonight but is looking forward to taking on an “icon.”

"Katie Taylor is an icon. To share the ring with her is a dream come true and I intend to show Ireland what I can do against the woman that put boxing on the map," she said.

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