British media company SportsPro have released their annual list of the world’s most marketable athletes.
Four boxers are present in the top 100 list including undisputed 168lb king Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (no.64), current WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (no.75) and former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (no.88). However, top spot goes to Ireland’s Katie Taylor (no.47).
The story of Katie Taylor is an inspiring one, having boxed as a man in the amateurs whilst women’s boxing was banned in Ireland. She has since gone on to win the 2012 Olympic gold medal and become the undisputed lightweight champion of the world after making the switch to the professional ranks.
Taylor has already done so much to support the women’s game and took her fame and the sport to new levels earlier this year when the 36-year-old faced seven-weight world champion Amanda Serrano, at a sold-out Maddison Square Garden back in April. Taylor walked away as the victor by split decision, the bout is one of the frontrunners for fight of the year.
This has led to Taylor becoming a sporting icon, particularly in Ireland, and the award of most marketable boxer shows how far women’s boxing has come over the few years.
Taylor is back in the ring at Wembley Arena on October 29th, where she defends her undisputed status against unbeaten challenger Karen Carabajal.