

If she keeps fighting, she's going to make more money, but my sense is that Katie isn't motivated by money. "Some of boxing's greatest ambassadors for the sport become cautionary tales,'' he said. He has also spent time with Taylor, sitting in her dressing room with her before one fight in New York.įor the 'Untouchable' podcast series, I talked to Hauser and he made it clear that he would be quite happy to hear that Taylor was hanging up her gloves.Ĭhantelle Cameron, right, lands a punch on Ireland's Katie Taylor during their world title fight at the 3Arena (Image: AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Thomas Hauser, the American writer, wrote the definitive biography of Ali, an oral history that told us more about the man behind the myth than ever before. Taylor is in fine fettle, still, and is clearly still hungry for more.īut there's a strong argument that she needs to see that there's life after the ring - that there are other worlds that she can embrace. Plenty feel that Ali's health problems in later life date back to that fight. "The near room is a place where you can see neon, orange and green lights blinking, and you can hear snakes screaming."Īli came up with it after Joe Frazier took him to the darkest place in the Thrilla in Manila.Īli won, but he later said it was as close to dying as a man could get while staying alive. That's an Ali phrase from nearly half a century ago that still resonates. No sport has ravaged the greats to the same extent as boxing. Rematch.ĭoes Taylor really have more worlds to conquer? The nature of the sport means there will always be new opponents and new titles you can aim at.īut it's wise to get out at the right time too.

Taylor greeted the verdict with a grimace but, when a microphone was stuck in her face, she said a word that many didn't want to hear. On Saturday night, for the first time since a sweltering August day in Rio seven years ago, her hand wasn't raised in victory. In 42 days' time, Taylor will celebrate her 37th birthday. What we do know for certain is that the afterlife of Ali was ruined by staying on too long in the ring.
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READ MORE - Katie Taylor homecoming: Fans hope bout can spark pro boxing revival in Ireland READ MORE - Katie Taylor v Chantelle Cameron: 'When the bell went, Katie just came alive' He lost three of his last four fights, and who knows how much damage they wreaked? Time and tide have no respect for boxers - even the greatest. After his 36th birthday, Muhammad Ali had four more fights.Īli had won 14 on the trot, dating back over five years, but no matter.
