KATIE TAYLOR praised Micky Ward for “making me fall in love with the sport” while posting a photo with the former Irish boxer.
The American fought from 1985 to 2002, winning the WBU light welterweight title in 2000.
Katie Taylor posed for a photo with Micky Ward[/caption]
The 59-year-old became renowned for his trilogy of fights against Arturo Gatti.
His career was chronicled in the 2010 film ‘The Fighter’ in which Ward was portrayed by Mark Wahlberg.
On Instagram, Katie Taylor shared a photo of the two together alongside a caption that served as a tribute to him.
She said: “One of the highlights this weekend was meeting and talking with @irishmickyward .
“It’s fighters like him that made me fall in love with the sport! What a legend!“
Taylor, 38, is sizing up her options ahead of what could be another blockbuster year in 2025.
The undisputed super lightweight champion is set for one of two mouth-watering trilogy fights – Chantelle Cameron or Amanda Serrano.
The 38-year-old fought Cameron twice in 2023, both of which being at the 3Arena in Dublin.
She lost the first in May as her English rival retained her undisputed super lightweight titles.
However, six months later, the Bray woman gained revenge by beating Cameron to become a two-weight undisputed world champion.
Taylor has since relinquished her lightweight belts, with Cameron pushing for a third bout since winning the interim WBC belt at 140.
Another option is Amanda Serrano, over whom Taylor holds a 2-0 record after beating her at Madison Square Garden in 2022 and AT&T Stadium last November.
However, Savannah Marshall believes the 2012 Olympic gold medallist would be better off taking the latter as opposed to the former.
She told Razed.com: “I think Katie has a hell of a lot of miles on the clock and I’m quite shocked she is still in the game.
“I would’ve liked to have seen her bow out of the game.
“She made a massive mistake fighting Chantelle Cameron the first time round and got found out.
“The second fight Chantelle nicked it but didn’t get the decision.
“If she is wanting to fight again, it’s better taking someone like Amanda again but it’s another tough fight and does she want to have another tough fight at this stage of her career?
“I don’t think so.”
