My patriotic heart swelled with pride with how Katie Taylor epitomised everything about the famous fighting Irish spirit to be crowned undisputed world lightweight champion.
But I also felt a tinge of sadness at the thought of how much her historic victory would’ve meant to two of her biggest fans who sadly are no longer alive – my father Gerry and my old friend Jimmy Magee with whom I co-wrote two books.
I’m convinced Jimmy must’ve been a clairvoyant when he insisted to me in 2011 that Katie was on her way to becoming “Ireland’s greatest contemporary sportsperson”.
It was some prediction to make because by that stage she’d “only” won five consecutive European titles and four world titles.
Jimmy knowingly smiled at me the following year when I wrote a book to celebrate Katie’s historic gold medal at the first Olympics at which female boxers were allowed to compete.
It was poetic justice because the Olympic Committee had only been persuaded to allow women’s boxing after some of its members had been impressed by Katie’s skills in an exhibition match.
I never dreamt the Bray native would surpass her monumental achievement of becoming only Ireland’s sixth ever athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.
But Jimmy was proven right when Katie last weekend became – believe it or not – the first Irish boxer in 116 years to become an undisputed world champion.
The only other Irish fighter to achieve the boxing equivalent of conquering Everest was Co Clare man George Gardiner, also known as Gardner, who won the light heavyweight title in 1903.
So when Katie returned home with her five world title belts to a rapturous reception at Dublin Airport she did so unquestionably as Ireland’s greatest living sporting hero – just as Jimmy predicted.
I was struck by how refreshing, modest and humble Katie really is when, a couple of weeks after she had won gold at the London Olympics, we briefly chatted at the launch of Jimmy’s autobiography Memory Man, which I co-wrote.
She certainly isn’t the type that wants to bask in the spotlight, which is an admirable and rare quality in such ego-driven sports – take Conor McGregor for example.
There’s a few work-related pictures of me with A-list stars scattered amongst the framed photographs on the mantelpiece in my parents’ sitting room.
But it speaks volumes about the nation’s adoration of Katie how any visitor to my mother’s home will single out the photo of her with my dad rather than of me with some Hollywood star.
My dad got a big kick out of meeting Katie because he himself was a black belt in karate and loved teaching it to youngsters, as well as refereeing tournaments. He always said Katie was a “genuinely lovely person” when anyone asked about his cherished photo.
She deserves much credit for carrying herself at all times with the type of grace and dignity that makes her a truly great role model.
And if Jimmy was alive today he would probably use his own famous quote about Maradona’s sublime goal against England at the 1986 World Cup being “different class” to describe Katie’s historic triumph.
Katie might’ve had the luck of the Irish on her side last weekend, but I reckon she’ll comfortably win any rematch.
