In the Moment is a point-of-view essay series capturing the defining moments of Irish boxing through the eyes of those who lived them, revealing the sacrifice, emotion and significance behind the fights and events that shaped our sport, and our community. This is not just what happened, but what it felt like to be there.
As Katie Taylor brings her glittering career to a close in Croke Park this evening, the first In the Moment piece marks the beginning of her competitive career, through the eyes of a person with a unique vantage point on Katie Taylor’s first sanctioned bout: Referee, Sadie Duffy.
The story of the first women’s amateur contest isn’t the tale of 9 minutes. It was the result of years of growth and change, and at the tolling of the final bell, the dawn of a new era.
On that Hallowe’en night in 2001, it wasn’t on my radar that a momentous event that was taking place even though the Women Committee (Mercedas Taaffe, Anna Moore, Fiona Hennigan, Mary Lawlor and myself) had worked so hard to overcome the hurdles and celebrate the success on the night.
That path to Taylor V Audley Murphy, for me, had begun almost a decade beforehand. Now, it seems like a small lifetime ago that I first developed an interest in judging at local club tournaments. The opportunity came along after reading in the local paper that the County Derry Boxing Board were organising seminars for anyone from Derry/Donegal interested in becoming judges or existing judges to become referees.
The seminars were conducted under the leadership of then current European and World officials Eugene Duffy and Eugene O’Kane. After an intensive 8 week of seminars and practical sessions, all candidates took the exam under the stewardship of Ulster President Pat Mc Crory (also European and World official) assisted by both Eugene Duffy and Eugene O’Kane.
After 2 weeks, the results came back and thankfully I had passed the Judge exam (1995) and started to attend local tournaments and championships. It was a bit daunting at the beginning as there was only one other Woman Judge in Ulster. Her name was Catherine Clarke from Garvagh (RIP). I first spoke to Catherine at a tournament in Buncrana with her brother Peter and she was my inspiration to start Judging.
Back then all Judges had to work two years before moving onto Refereeing. In early 1997, I asked Eugene Duffy and Eugene O’Kane if they would support me for the Referee exam planned for the next championships in March. They had to get permission from Ulster and Dublin but in the interim they both gave me every support and opportunity to prepare. With 1 week before the exam Eugene Duffy phoned me to say it was approved by the IABA for me to take the Referee exam. On 15th March 1997 at St. Canice’s BC. Dungiven I took the Referee exam. All new Referees had to officiate 5 complete bouts in the ring to be assessed. Approximately 2 weeks passed and I got a call from Eugene Duffy to say that I had passed and was now a Referee/Judge and the first Woman to be certified as Referee/ Judge in IABA.
Time passed and it was demanding due to the number of tournaments and championships in Ulster and then gradually getting selected to the National championships. The boxing landscape in Ireland was changing with increased interest from Women and Young girls looking to join the sport. There was a huge shift in England to support Women’s Boxing and this was filtering into the Irish scene. Unfortunately, not all clubs embraced the notion that Women and Girls could or should box.
The then IABA President Dominic O Rourke and Central Council gave permission to form the Women’s Committee to co-ordinate with clubs the number of girls and women involved and to arrange competitive bouts. This was a significant time for Irish boxing and the numbers swelled at every competition.
The Women’s Committee requested the President and Central Council for Girls to be included alongside the respective National Boys championship. The President and Central Council approved that there would be a number Girls and Women bouts included on the programme at the National Stadium for 31st October 2001. This was phenomenal news and now the focus shifted to getting the girls matched.
Pete Taylor, Katie’s dad, and Mercedas Taaffe between them had good contacts and got to work with making matches and sent to the Central Council for approval. This was a ‘pinch yourself moment’ and the glass ceiling was about to be smashed.
3 bouts were sanctioned on the Ireland V England promotion – Katie Taylor (Bray) versus Alanna Audley Murphy (Sandy Row), Debbie Rodgers (Westside BC) versus Nicola Adams (England) and Sallie Mc Ardle (Dundalk) versus Julia Field (England). I was appointed to referee the bout between Katie and Alanna. I had seen both boxers spar a few times and both were capable to deliver a top-quality bout.
It was in the aftermath of that night that we all realised what we had actually witnessed happening and that we had been a part of making history for Women boxing in Ireland. During the bout it was amazing to witness the talent from these two young girls. The first round was a close affair but in rounds 2 and 3 Katie edged the performance to claim the decision of the ringside judges. On reflection, it was an incredibly proud moment to have officiated in this historic bout. Both young girls were proof that the impossible could be achieved and had opened the doors for other young girls and women to follow.
We couldn’t have known at the time that Katie, and Nicola Adams, would once again make history winning women’s Olympic gold at London 2012.
From that historical moment to the iconic event that will take place in Croke Park, it’s certainly been a hell of an experience but one I am proud and honoured to have been a part of.
Thank You, Katie Taylor for the great memories. Time to enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
Bio | Sadie Duffy
Sadie Duffy is the Hon. Secretary of Donegal’s Illies Golden Gloves BC, and, in 1997, became the first woman to qualify as an amateur boxing referee on the island of Ireland, having served as a Judge since 1995. By 2014, she had obtained the highest-level world certification, and had officiated a numerous World and Confederation championships.
She has held numerous elected positions within Boxing Ireland, and served as Secretary of the European Women’s Commission
In September 2022, Sadie qualified as an International Technical Official (ITO), as well as R&J Evaluator and R&J Instructor and, in March 2023 as qualified as a Technical Delegate.
Image: Stephen Humphreys