Katie Taylor undercard fighter is boxing great's cousin who was a star in another sport

Katie Taylor won't be the only member of her family fighting at Croke Park on Friday night, as her cousin Molly McCann will compete on the undercard.

The Liverpudlian former MMA fighter turned professional boxer revealed earlier this Summer that she was related to the legendary Irish star, telling the BBC that it was the "best kept secret" in boxing.

"It was the best kept secret in combat sport because Katie doesn't speak much and I didn't want to look as if I was riding off her coat-tails," McCann said.

"You will have always seen me at the fights and supporting but it's just for us, just for family.

"She means everything, 80,000 people will be unbelievable. It's amazing what she's done as a woman in sport but it's the last one, so how sad is that. The second I've won I'll be a blubbering mess to the end, it's a real bittersweet moment for the sport."

While McCann's revelation hit the headlines earlier this summer, she actually spilled the beans almost a decade ago.

In an interview from 2018, 'Meatball Molly' said: I’ve got family in Ireland, in Bray actually."

"You won’t believe this, but I’m actually related to Katie Taylor.

“We traced our family tree and it turns out that my granddad is her granddad. One day it will all come out and hopefully we will be able to meet, but I don’t want to seem like I’m trying to jump in while she’s riding the crest of a wave. She’s done a lot of hard work to get to where she.

“The craziest thing is, I got into boxing because I love Katie Taylor."

McCann emerged as one of the biggest UK stars in MMA during her stint with the UFC. Her last fight with the organisation was in 2025, and since then, the 36-year-old has devoted her full attention to professional boxing and has wracked up a 4-0 record.

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