STATUE ON THE WAY FOR MORNINGTON BOXER

A campaign has been launched in Drogheda to have a statue erected in the town to celebrate former world boxing champion Deirdre Gogarty from Mornington.

Gogarty defeated Bonnie Camino to win the women’s featherweight crown back in 1997 but ironically is better known for a sensational loss in a genuine war of a fight the previous year.

Gogarty fought the Don King promoted Christy Martin on the undercard of the Mike Tyson v Frank Bruno heavyweight clash in the MGM in Las Vegas in 1996 and the duo went toe to toe in a blood spattered six rounder with Martin getting the decision.

Deirdre took the fight way out of her weight decision in a bid to get the women’s game TV exposure and the bout is generally accepted as the one that lit the fire for what was to be a sudden rise in women’s boxing popularity.

That is something acknowledged by Katie Taylor who told the Legacy For Deirdre Gogarty Committee, the group behind the statue project, ‘It is women like her who paved the way for myself and the current generation of female fighters.’

Deirdre herself has expressed her delight at the move in the video below.

Also below is Deirdre’s fight with Christy Martin.