Deirdre Gogarty is a true trailblazer of female boxing in Ireland. She was born in 1969 in Drogheda and after watching Barry McGuigan win the world title, decided she wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a world champion boxer. Back in the 1980's female boxing in Ireland was not seen as a viable option for many young girls, but Deirdre was determined to follow her dream. After training in gyms in Drogheda and Dublin, she would eventually have her first and only fight in Ireland back in 1991 in Limerick.
Deirdre would decide to uproot her life and move to the States to sign with manager and coach Beau Williford in 1992. After winning 7 contests and drawing 2, Deirdre would lose her first 2 world title attempts against Laura Serrano and Stacy Prestage. After these disappointments an opportunity to fight on a Mike Tyson world title undercard at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas against Christy Martin would change the sport of female boxing forever. In March 1996, Deirdre and Christy went to war for 6 rounds on PPV television and the public's attitude to female boxing would change.
Deirdre would eventually claim that illusive world title in 1997 against Bonny Canino in New Orleans. She would get a modest homecoming back home in Drogheda in comparison to todays open top bus parades. Deirdre would inspire so many female boxers around the world and one particular young aspiring boxer would write a letter to her hero in the late 1990's. That young girl was Katie Taylor who would become the icon that she is today. After retiring from boxing in 1998, Deirdre would coach for over 20 years and is now happily settled with her family in Louisiana. In March this year a statue of Deirdre was unveiled in her hometown of Drogheda to honor her achievements and is a permanent reminder that the woman who was forced to leave her hometown and country to pursue her dreams never has to leave again...
