Pete Taylor (boxing coach)
Pete Taylor is a boxing coach, former boxer and trainer. His daughter is Katie Taylor.[1]
Early life
Taylor is originally from Leeds, England, but he moved with his parents to Bray, County Wicklow to work in the amusement arcades in the town.[2] He met Bridget Cranley in the town, they married and had four children: Lee, Sarah, Peter and Katie.[2] Peter is a lecturer in mathematics.[2]
Boxing career
In 1986 he was a champion light heavyweight boxer in Ireland.[2]
Training
He begain training Katie as a boxer in St Fergal's Boxing Club in Bray and was in her corner when she won gold at the 2012 Olympics in London.[2] He ceased training her before the 2016 Olympics, citing "personal reasons".[2]
He also ran a cafe in Bray called "KO Fit Food".[2]
Boxing club
Pete founded a boxing club in Bray.[2] The club was given €300,000 state funds in Katies' honour.[3]
In 2017 he trained Seán Turner, David Oliver Joyce and Gary Cully, all signed to MTK Global.[3] He has said that the boxers approached him individually and he has no connections to MTK himself.[4]
Bray boxing club shooting
On 5 June 2018 Pete Taylor survived being shot at his boxing club in Bray.[1] Two other men were shot, one fatally.[1]
Katie Taylor issued a statement issuing condolences to the family of Bobby Messet and relief that her father had survived.[5] She mentioned that she was estranged from her father and nothing to do with the club since 2015.[5] She also criticised the media for the use of her name and image in stories relating to the shooting and asked the media to leave her and her family alone.[5]
References
- Hennessy, Michelle (5 June 2018). "Boxing trainer Pete Taylor in serious condition after shooting at gym". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- Doggett, Eamon (5 June 2018). "Who is Katie Taylor's dad Pete? All you need to know about the boxing coach". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- Begley, Ian (31 July 2017). "'I can train who I want', says Pete Taylor after Kinahan boxer link". The Herald.
- Hogan, Vincent (21 July 2018). "'I am jobless and homeless' - Pete Taylor opens up on tragic shooting at Bray Boxing Club". Irish Independent.
- "Katie Taylor issues statement on shooting at Bray boxing club". The Irish Times. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2021.