Back in November, Katie Taylor contested her first ever national final when she defeated Shauna O'Keeffe to win the vacant Irish lightweight belt.
In previous years, no opponent had entered against Taylor, so she won via walkover.
Standing in her corner on November 27th was not - as per usual - her father Pete. Instead, it was her brother Lee and Zaur Antia.
It was the first time in ten years that her father had not stood in Taylor's corner. At the time, Pete Taylor spoke of how stressful it can be watching his daughter fight. He was not forthcoming with any further explanation as to his absence.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Katie Taylor was strangely coy when questioned about her father.
Well, I'm lucky to have [national coach] Zaur Antia there. He has always been in my corner. So I am very, very lucky to have him there. It is great to have the support of everyone around me.
I think you will have to speak to him [Peter Taylor] about that. I'm not going to answer any questions. All I can say is my preparation is going fantastic. And I absolutely love my family and I wouldn't [be anywhere] without them.
Taylor hugging her father after victory in London four years ago was one of the great images - from an Irish perspective - of that Olympic Games. Come this summer, it will be unusual not to see the pair together again.
Picture credit: Cody Glenn / SPORTSFILE
