Mayo sportsman front and centre at Katie Taylor fight in New York

KATIE Taylor engraved her name in boxing history overnight with an impressive victory over Amanda Serrano in Madison Square Garden in New York. The Bray woman was fighting the Puerto Rican for the third time and recorded her third win over the challenger who previously won World titles in seven weight divisions.

There were thousands of Irish boxing fans in the historic venue for the all-female card where 17 World titles were up for grabs. One man who was very close to the action was well-known Mayo sportsman Alan Coyle. The Erris native was ringside as Taylor boxed smartly to defeat the challenger in a welter of excitement.

Coyle is from the famed boxing family from Geesala in Kiltane and was delighted with the Bray woman's display. His brother, Henry, is a former Irish senior champion and World Military Games gold medalist, and his father Gerry has been central to many memorable moments with Geesala BC.

Alan was delighted to meet a number of boxing superstars ringside including former World Champion Natasha Jonas, renowned boxing trainer Shane McGuigan as well as UFC star and former World welterweight boxing champion Holly Holm. Holm told Coyle she will soon be traveling to Erris to explore her Mayo roots and added that she is ideally-positioned to take on Katie Taylor in Croke Park if the opportunity arose.

Former Kiltane footballer Coyle, is well-known for his support of Mayo GAA and is a passionate member of John McBride's GAA in Chicago.