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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Darragh Culhane

Katie Taylor's father Pete slams Kellie Harrington in long statement

Pete Taylor has hit out at Kellie Harrington and took aim at the Olympic champion in a long statement.

Harrington has written in detail about her relationship with Taylor where she claimed the boxing coach held back her career.

She also spoke in detail about the relationship to the Irish Independent and the interview sparked Taylor to take to social media.

In the statement, Pete said: "First I would like to congratulate the Irish female boxing team for their success in the latest championships. Ireland's female boxers are now as feared as the male Cuban boxers/

Taylor continued by saying that he didn't usually respond but felt he had to address what Kellie Harrington had said about his role in female boxing.

"I'd like to start by stating that I am proud of my role and efforts both with the IABA and AIBA working to get female boxing recognized and for spearheading campaigns to get female boxing sanctioned in Ireland and as an Olympic sport.

"Kelly would unlikely be in the position she is today if it wasn't for that: FACT

"I travelled with Katie to every boxing tournament around the world, Katie was a trailblazer for woman's boxing both domestically and internationally."

And Taylor hit out at claims that Harrington was not getting the same opportunities as Katie Taylor and male boxers.

He added: "You said "you were not given the opportunities" yet you were away on trips with the Irish boxing teams many times; Liverpool, Holland, Poland to name a few.

"You were beaten in a box off in the national stadium to go to the worlds in Barbados by Allana Murphy. So you had many opportunities. FACT"

And he also responded to claims that he stopped Harrington from fighting.

"No coach has the autonomy to select teams"

"Everyone in boxing is well aware that central council select all national teams and not coaches: FACT"

While Harrington also said that Katie didn't spar with females which Pete denied.

"You said Katie wasn't allowed to spar girls. Katie mainly sparred men but occasionally would spar girls, when the time was right in camp for that spar, that's good coaching. You, yourself stated that I am a good coach which is contradictory to other statements you mad. FACT"

Taylor then challenged Harrington to take on World Champion Amy Broadhurst and said she is the third best 60kg fighter in Ireland.

"You should now step up to the plate and give the current world champion Amy Broadhurst a box off"

"You may be Olympic champion a great achievement, but you are currently the third best female 60kg boxer in the country behind Katie and amateur world champ Amy Broadhurst."

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