Katie Taylor secured her sixth consecutive European Championships gold medal on Saturday but Irish sports journalist Ewan MacKenna was quick to put her win in context.
I'll say it again re Katie Taylor, superb boxer but achievements need to be contextualised by standard of opponents and of women's boxing.
— Ewan MacKenna (@EwanMacKenna) June 7, 2014
Referring to this Tweet:
Will annoy some but as good as Katie Taylor is, so many opponents really are sub-standard and overall level (not her) in women's boxing dire — Ewan MacKenna (@EwanMacKenna) June 4, 2014
His tweet was met with a lot of hostility from people who felt he was detracting the the Bray star's achievements.
@EwanMacKenna it is what it is and she's the best in Europe/world at it. You're belittling that by bringing an unspoken comparative in
— Gavin Hoey (@GavinHoey) June 7, 2014
@EwanMacKenna 23 boxers in her division at Euros, more than 50 at last worlds. Plenty of quality and competition in the weight class.
— Paul McDermott (@pmcdisc) June 7, 2014
@EwanMacKenna misery guts as ever
— Kevin Geary (@gearyk77) June 7, 2014
While some agreed:
@EwanMacKenna Interesting argument. Plenty of her opponents totally intimidated and freeze as well, as sign of how far ahead she is.
— Kevin Byrne (@KevooByrne) June 7, 2014
@EwanMacKenna I'd like to know how many of her cheerleaders could name a single other female boxer.
— Eoin Doherty (@Captain_Raround) June 7, 2014
@EwanMacKenna I agree but you can only beat what is in front of you. Every sport has that to, admittedly wildly, varying degrees.
— Emmet Ryan (@action81) June 7, 2014
Is he right? Not to belittle her achievements but is it a case that the quality of opposition has to be taken into context? Or does it even matter?
Last thing on Katie Taylor, people are actually patronising and sexist by not putting her wins in the context of the standard of her sport.
— Ewan MacKenna (@EwanMacKenna) June 7, 2014
