Katie Healy: “I will take every opportunity that comes my way, and I will do it for as long as possible.”

Katie Healy: “I will take every opportunity that comes my way, and I will do it for as long as possible.”

By Lewie Laing

While the majority of people prefer home comforts and familiar territory, boxer Katie Healy relishes travelling abroad and testing herself in the boxing ring. Healy will again be packing her bags and boarding a plane, this time to Barcelona, where she will challenge Tania Alvarez for the Super Bantamweight European title on April 12th. 

Healy’s first title in the professional ranks, the WBF World Title, a title held by the likes of Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones Jr. in years gone by, was won abroad, in South Africa. In her last six fights, Healy has fought in both South Africa and the Cayman Islands and while they were not places Healy had ever intended on visiting, she has taken any opportunity that has come her way so far in the pro ranks and is looking forward to a busy 2025 and the timing of this fight couldn’t be any better.

“I am challenging for the European title, away from home in Barcelona, which is becoming a common occurrence. I’ve fought in the Cayman Islands and South Africa in my last few fights, I enjoy fighting away from home, I get on the plane and it’s like something switches, there’s no stress, it’s just pure focus. I don’t have to sell tickets or any of that, I just turn up and fight. Obviously, there are other challenges like getting used to the climate and different time zones, but I am becoming familiar with it all now.

“I feel it is perfect timing for me. There is a smaller pool of fighters, which is growing significantly all the time, but when you look at my 5th fight, the WBF world title fight, that is pretty much unheard of in the men’s game. It’s exciting. It will be a good fight and is a great opportunity, win or lose because it gets my name out there and opens doors. I am feeling good and focusing on my game. Alvarez has beaten all of her past opponents other than Skye Nicholson, it will be a tough fight but this is what I want now, I have spoken to my team and I want these kinds of challenges moving forward.”

Boxing’s call can often come at the most surprising moments, with little to no notice, and the opportunities are a mixed bag. Healy has taken every fight offered so far, some on short notice and even dropping weight to take on Nina Hughes in the sole defeat of her professional career. 

For her upcoming fight, Healy has been given more than enough time to prepare and is already feeling the benefits, seven weeks from fight night. 

Boxing is a tough and lonely sport, made hard for the vast majority of fighters who also work outside of boxing while having to market themselves, sell tickets, and travel for training and sparring. Healy is someone who has found a set-up that works for her and, unlike most, is glad to have a normal working routine outside of boxing in her life. 

“Following Christmas, I was back in the gym anyway before we got the news for this fight. Coming into 2025, I wanted this to be a busy year following a slower year last year. It worked out for the best as I was able to work on myself and my boxing. But coming into this year, me and my team have hit the jackpot really, such a big fight so early on in the year. We jumped at the chance when we got the call and I feel like camp is going great, I am probably ahead of plan which is really nice, and being able to have a full camp makes such a difference. I have taken fights in the past on as little as three weeks’ notice, but this time, I have a full camp and the time to build a solid game plan.

“I really like the balance and often joke it’s a Hannah Montana feeling, the best of both worlds. When I am at work, I am focused on work, no matter what is going on in boxing or life. Then, when I’m in the gym, I am focused on my boxing. I can split things in my mind but it is tough, I can’t sugarcoat it, and it isn’t easy to fit everything in every day but over the years, I’ve created a good routine, I have structure and I enjoy having that balance. You see it often with fighters when it comes to trying to retire. They can really struggle. That is why I love working,  I will still have a routine in life when I retire. I won’t be losing everything at once. I think more needs to be done for fighters when they retire.”

Boxing was not always the main sport in Healy’s life, and when she was younger, she would get involved in whatever sports were available. Her first taste of combat sports was in the form of kickboxing, in which she became a 3-time world champion. Boxing seemed the logical next step, and while Healy struggled to find love for the amateur circuit, she has not looked back since turning professional. 

Most boxers share the same goals and aims when turning professional, to become World champions, unify world titles and for some, capture World titles in more than one weight division. Healy is no different but is more honest and upfront than most with what boxing means to her, what her aims are, and why she climbs between the ropes regularly.

“I was always a sporty kid, running and swimming, and then started kickboxing when I was 11. I was sick during my first competition when I was 15 because of how nervous I was, but from that very first session, I was hooked. I felt like I had taken kickboxing as far as I could. Boxing seemed the next step. When you get committed to boxing, it becomes a part of who you are.

“When I first gave professional boxing a go, I didn’t know how it would turn out. These last four years have flown by, and I have had some fantastic opportunities. It isn’t just the fights, but the people I have met, boxing is a community full of good people. I have been to some amazing places, and I am grateful for where I have got to this early in my career, it is something I will be proud to tell the grandkids one day. It has been a lot of hard work, but it has been worth it, and there is a lot more to come.

“It’s difficult because every boxer probably says they want to win the world title and then win all the world titles in their weight class. For me, it is the same goal as day one, to be honest. I will take every opportunity that comes my way, and I will do it for as long as possible, as long as I have a love for the sport. I do not want to box for the sake of it. This fight for the European title is just a bonus. Keeping the love for boxing and taking on any challenge is the priority. Belts and World Titles are there and I want to win as many as possible but I have to have a love for the sport because this is a dangerous sport.”

While fighter safety is improving all the time and is a prime focus of any fight with precautions taken at every opportunity, boxing is indeed a dangerous sport.  This is something that could not be emphasised more of late, following the tragic passing of Irish boxer John ‘The Kid’ Cooney, who sadly succumbed to his injuries sustained in a bout in which he was defending his Celtic Super Featherweight title earlier this month. Such tragedies are a huge loss to the boxing community Healy spoke of earlier and make you stop and wonder whether all of this is worth it. Some fighters do not let such possibilities enter their heads, but for Healy, this is something that plays on her mind. 

“Don’t get me wrong, the medicals we have yearly and the medical assistance on fight night is probably the best it has ever been, but it is always a concern. I know if I was ever in trouble in the ring, my coach would throw the towel in, and I would expect him to. The recent tragedy with John Cooney does make you sit and think. It is certainly a battle in your head, it is always a concern and as boxers, we know the risk but as long as you have the right team around you and trust them while following all the safety protocols, that’s all you can do. When you are in the ring and taking a lot of shots, you don’t know whether it is Monday or Sunday, but your team knows your team and coach are so important. I have always had a goal that once I reach a certain age I will be done, you have to put your health first.”

Boxing can be unforgiving, but it can also propel people to places they never knew existed, both physically and mentally. For all the risk, the sport continues to pull people of all ages between the ropes, with the rewards of winning, overcoming personal battles, and improving too tempting to turn down. 

 It is because of her love for boxing that Healy would advise anyone to try it out. You do not have to fight, spar, or even get hit. You can simply go to any local boxing gym for fitness, the community, or the routine it offers. Healy did, and it has helped create a life with opportunities that she previously had never imagined. 

“The most important piece of advice I would give anyone would be to give it a go. If you have never stepped into a boxing gym or through those ropes before, give it a go. If you don’t enjoy it, you don’t go back the next time. The best thing you could happen is you end up with something that you love doing. All in all, if you love something and are passionate about it, give it your all because you only live once.”