FORMER TEAM-MATE Donna Barr has backed Katie Taylor to win a World title in the professional boxing ranks.
30-year-old Taylor, a five-time World gold medallist and 2012 Olympic Gold medallist has her pro debut on Saturday night when she faces Poland’s Karina Kapinska at the Wembley Arena in London.
In a busy start to her pro career, the Bray native will fight in Manchester in two weeks’ time on the undercard of IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, while she’s being lined up for a bout at Madison Square Garden in New York on around St Patrick’s Day next year.
Barr trained with Taylor during their time on the Irish women’s team and the Twin Towns ABC flyweight was close to Taylor while they were at the Women’s World Championships this year in Kazakhstan.
[adrotate group=”38″]Barr was beaten by Canadian Kim Klavel while Taylor’s bid for a sixth World title in a row was ended in a semi-final loss to Estelle Mossely.
In Rio at the Olympic Games, Taylor lost her Olympic crown when she was beaten by Mira Potkonen from Finland in what was the Irish star’s final fight as an amateur.
“She’s pave the way for women’s pro boxing – just like she has done for women in amateur boxing,” Barr says.
“She’s just an unbelievable athlete. She out-trains some of the lads when she trains with them.”
Taylor’s debut will be shown live on Sky Sports and she’s signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
“I do believe that I will break down the barriers,” Taylor said this week.
[adrotate group=”46″]“It has been exciting. I’m more excited about this than I have been throughout my amateur career. To be boxing on these big shows and have the chance of boxing on live TV is huge for women’s boxing.”
And Barr has no doubt that Taylor will be queen of the world before long.
Barr says: “Katie doesn’t do being second best to anyone. I know she’ll be a world champion.”
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