Katie Taylor has reflected on the barriers she faced as a young girl entering boxing, saying she is proud that female fighters today do not have to face the same struggles.
The Bray native is preparing for the final fight of her career this Saturday, when she takes on French boxer Flora Pili at Croke Park in front of 80,000 people.
As Taylor prepares to walk away from the sport, she has been looking back at where her journey began and the changes she has seen in boxing over the past three decades.
Katie Taylor (left) and Flora Pili face off after a press conference ahead of the Katie Taylor v Flora Pili fight at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. (Bran Holloway/Matchroom Boxing)
Taylor started boxing as a young girl at a time when the sport was overwhelmingly male-dominated.
"Looking back on my own start as a boxer, as a 9 or 10 year old, I had to disguise myself as a boy to actually get a few fights," she said.
"I was walking into boxing gyms as a young girl, being snickered at and laughed at. 'Who is this girl trying to be a boxer?' I had to earn people's respect along the way."
Katie Taylor (left) and Eddie Hearn Chairman of Matchroom Sport during a press conference ahead of the Katie Taylor v Flora Pili fight at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. (Bran Holloway/Matchroom Boxing)
Taylor went on to become one of the most successful female boxers in history, helping to bring women's boxing into the mainstream and inspiring a new generation of female fighters.
She says seeing young girls enter the sport without facing the same obstacles is one of the most important parts of her legacy.
"I'm so happy and delighted that these young girls coming through now don't have to go through the same struggles that I had to go through. The door is now open for them."
Taylor says the change is clear when she visits boxing gyms around Ireland.
"You walk into any boxing gym in the country now, it's packed with female fighters. That, to me, is the greatest part of this legacy."
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Her final fight will take place at Croke Park on Saturday, with Taylor facing Flora Pili as thousands of Irish fans gather to see her last ring walk.
The scale of the occasion has not been lost on Taylor.
"I'm still pinching myself that this is actually happening," she said.
"I'm just a few days away from making my last ring walk at Croke Park."
"This is a dream, in front of 80,000 people. It's going to be an amazing night for Irish sport and Irish boxing."
Katie Taylor. Photo credit: LiamMurphyPics, Shutterstock
Taylor says she is particularly proud of the support she has received from Irish fans throughout her career.
"I am just blow away by this amazing support. I am so proud to be Irish. I'm so proud to represent this amazing country, every single time I step into the ring."
She also hopes Saturday's crowd will include young girls seeing a boxing event for the first time.
"I'm imagining all the thousands of stories from the little girls who are at a boxing event for the first time."
"In my mind's eye I'm imagining one of those girls falling in love with this beautiful sport and might even surpass my achievements."
"That's what legacy is all about."
For Taylor, the lasting impact of her career may ultimately be seen not just in her titles, but in the number of girls who now feel they have a place inside the boxing gym.
"The door is now open for them," she said.
