Kriti Mehrotra
With Netflix’s ‘Countdown: Taylor vs. Serrano’ revolving around the two elite titular boxers as they prepare for the finale of their trilogy of matches, we get a documentary unlike any other. It actually spans everything from their respective rises in the once non-existent world of female professional boxing to the adversities they have had to face, and from their prior controversial ring battles to all their hopes for the future. Therefore, of course, Katie Taylor’s first-ever trainer as well as father, Pete Taylor, plays a rather significant role throughout this original production, making us wonder more about him.
Pete Taylor Inadvertently Led His Daughter Into the Ring
Although a native of Yorkshire, England, Pete Taylor was reportedly just a young man when he relocated to the coastal town called Bray for good, around 10 miles south of Dublin, Ireland. He seemingly did so to work alongside his father in the amusement arcades on the seafront, unaware he would soon find himself falling utterly head over heels in love with a local woman named Bridget Cranley. This young couple happily tied the knot not a long while later, following which they welcomed four beautiful children into this world – Lee Taylor, Sarah Taylor, Peter Taylor, and finally, Katie Taylor on July 2, 1986.
That same year, in 1986, is when Pete evolved into a national sensation by having successfully turned his passion for boxing into a solid career and becoming a Light Heavyweight Champion. According to records, he continued down this path for a few years before establishing his own boxing club in 1995 to not only help coach others but also make a name for himself as a personal trainer. Little did he know this would turn everything upside down as he soon realized his youngest had an innate talent for the sport, which he discovered purely by chance after taking her to work one evening.
As per Peter’s own accounts, he had let Katie accompany him to the club on that fateful day since he couldn’t find a babysitter, only for her to become completely enamored by the sparring. That’s how she got on the mats herself, resulting in her father noticing her promising aptitude and starting to formally coach her even though female boxing was practically unprecedented at the time. Then, to ensure she got the practice she needed, he used to enroll her in all national competitions by hiding her hair in her helmet, keeping her identity a secret until the end of every match.
Personal Issues Led to Pete Taylor and His Daughter Parting Ways in 2016
While it’s undeniable that Pete and Bridget backed Katie’s every dream, even if it was to be an Olympic athlete when female boxing wasn’t even a part of it, their dynamics eventually changed. However, this wasn’t before the sport finally made its debut at the 2012 Olympics in London, England, where the then-26-year-old was not only Ireland’s flag bearer but soon also managed to secure Gold. Her father was in her corner this entire time as her trainer, following which he further helped her reach new heights across Europe, yet they parted ways just prior to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
According to the aforementioned original, Peter actually left his wife of over three decades around early 2016 for someone else, causing the breakdown of personal and professional relationships. He has since conceded that while he doesn’t regret his decision and wholeheartedly understands Katie’s reasoning for cutting him out of her life, losing her did hurt him in a way he never expected. “(Katie) has good morals,” he said on the ‘No Shame’ podcast. “She said, ‘If you’ve split up with my mother, then I don’t want you in my corner.’ She knew what the outcome would be.
Pete continued, “She knew that she’d be missing me in the corner, but she still had the morals to go ahead and do that. You’ve got to respect that. She was reared good… She backed her ma …although it’s hurtful for me – but I’ve still got to take my hat off to her.” It wasn’t until 2019, three years after the fact, that Katie and her father were seen together in public for the first time, inadvertently paving a path for them to find their new normal. However, in January 2025, they found themselves training together once more when she was briefly back in her hometown, opening doors for them to begin healing and restoring their bond. This has led to now, when, at age 63, it appears as if Pete is back in his daughter’s camp once again, albeit more as a supporter rather than a full-fledged coach – that job is Ross Enamait’s.
Despite Having Gone Through a Trauma in 2018, Pete Taylor Continues to Work Hard
While Pete did cease training Katie ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he continued running his own boxing club in Bray, Ireland, as a professional coach/personal trainer. Thus, as time passed, other boxers ended up approaching him, soon resulting in him training Seán Turner, Gary Cully, as well as David Joyce, all of whom were signed under the banner of MTK Global management. This did cause a bit of controversy for him since MTK Global is co-founded by Daniel Kinahan, a well-known Irish boxing promoter and an alleged suspected crime boss. Yet, the trainer has always maintained he has had no direct connection to or dealings with MTK or Daniel; he is just a coach.
What Pete never expected, though, was that a strange man would suddenly come into his Bray Boxing Club and open fire on the morning of June 5, 2018 – it was at 6:55 am, to be exact. While gym member Bobby Messett sadly died from a bullet wound to the head, another named Ian Britton sustained injuries on both legs. As for the owner, the bullet fired at him shattered a bone in his upper arm before exiting right through his chest, missing his heart by 3mm. Pete was subsequently rushed and treated at St Vincent’s Hospital, from where he left with a full metal brace on his arm for protection. The assailant, Gerard Cervi, was later identified, arrested, charged, and convicted in early 2023, but his motive was never established.
It was initially reported that Pete was the intended target, but this is something he himself questioned since there were several other times he could have been found alone, and even the authorities couldn’t figure out a concrete motive. In the aftermath of it all, he and his long-term girlfriend-turned-wife, Karen Brown, did decide to leave Ireland owing to concerns over their safety, but now, it appears as if they split their time between Dublin, Ireland, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. After all, Peter is still devoted to his work as a boxing coach as well as a personal trainer. He currently works at a few gyms in the Netherlands, all the while also offering classes through various other establishments and his own website – he offers various different programs, which you can choose from as per your specific requirement. As if that’s not enough, we should also mention that this outdoor and travel enthusiast owns-operates a boxing-themed healthy cafe called KO Fit Food, the menu for which he himself designed.
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