Gogarty taking joy from Taylor living out home comforts

Deirdre Gogarty believes Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron are taking a leap of faith by stepping into the ring in Dublin tonight – a sentiment which is coming from experience.

Gogarty was the original trailblazer in women's boxing in Ireland as she had to battle to even take part with women’s boxing not permitted in the 1990s.

Having fought unlicenced on the undercard of a kickboxing match in Limerick, she was forced to go to America to pursue a career in the sport.

Booed into the ring on the undercard of a Mike Tyson fight, Gogarty and Christy Martin were cheered out in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 1996 following their historic bout.

The Drogheda woman won a world title in 1997, with an 11-year-old Bray girl writing for her to discuss dreams and aspirations by which were inspired by Gogarty.

That letter from Taylor still holds a place in her heart.

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