SEAN MCCOMB firmly believes that Pete Taylor, the father of Katie Taylor, has not only elevated his career, but is also the greatest tactician that this sport has to offer.
The pair have been working together for the best part of three years, building their fighter-trainer relationship to a point where it is now considered a well-oiled machine.
During that time, McComb, 19-2 (5 KOs), has outpointed several sturdy operators, including Sam Maxwell and Kaisee Benjamin, but perhaps most notably found himself on the wrong end of an egregious decision against Arnold Barboza Jr last year.
Back then, many were left not just scratching their heads, but experiencing a jolt of pure disbelief, after judges Tom Schreck and Don Trella awarded the home fighter with a truly bewildering split decision victory.
Barboza, of course, would eventually go on to fight for a world title, while McComb, on the other hand, was left in the dark, unsure as to when his next opportunity would come to fruition.
But still, regardless of the result that was given in New York, the Belfast man came away with an even greater appreciation for the tactical ingenuity of his head coach.
“We really understand each other,” McComb says of Taylor. “We have the same outlook on scoring systems, and when it comes to certain fights, we just always seem to agree with each other.
“When you have a friendship with your coach, there’s always going to be trust. And when you trust a coach, with anything, the bond is only going to get stronger.
“I’ve said this many times, but I believe that Pete is the best coach in the world. He knows the game inside out, and whatever tactics he puts forward, he’ll always reassure me that I can do them to the best of my ability.
“There’s never been a fault in any of my performances since I’ve been with Pete, so I’m very fortunate to have that connection with him.”
Taylor has also worked the corner of his daughter, Katie, on countless occasions, and perhaps most crucially brought his ideas to the table ahead of her last outing in July.
Many expected Taylor’s trilogy showdown with Amanda Serrano to deliver an all-action war, much like their first two encounters, but instead, the Irish phenom adopted a far more measured approach before emerging victorious.
In many ways, the tactical nous of her father was clear to see in that performance, and with Katie now back training alongside Pete, McComb has only benefited from their flourishing relationship.
“Pete was on board in terms of the tactics, and getting Katie back to doing what she does best,” McComb says. “He’s been saying to me, for a long time, that Katie can make fights so much easier for herself.
“I think he had a conversation with her and said, ‘Look, you can’t keep doing this. You’re standing toe-to-toe but it’s not about the spectators; it’s about you and your career.’
“On fight night [against Serrano], her performance showed the influence of Pete.
“It’s great to have her around, and I think she brings the best out of Pete. Whenever Pete and Katie are working together, Pete brings other ideas into the gym that benefit us.”
Once again, McComb and Pete appear to have locked themselves away in the lab, fiddling around with all kinds of concoctions, with a view to piece together the perfect game plan ahead of his showdown with Ben Crocker.
The two super-lightweights will square off this Saturday, headlining a GBM Sports show in Sheffield, England, where McComb expects to encounter a style of opponent that might have previously posed a series of challenges.
“[Crocker] didn’t have to take this fight, but the fact that he did just shows the confidence from his team,” the 33-year-old highlights. “They believe that they have a way to beat me, so with mine and Pete’s tactics combined, we’re going to have to prove them wrong.
“He’s Welsh, and Welsh fighters are very similar to the Irish. They’re tough, and while they might not always be technically gifted, they can make up for it with balls, durability and strength.
“I know all too well, because when I fought Gavin Gwynne, I came in under-prepared and paid the price. But I won’t let that happen again.”
Indeed, McComb came unstuck against the typically industrious Gwynne, suffering a seventh-round stoppage defeat back in 2021.
Since joining forces with Taylor, though, ‘The Public Nuisance’ insists that he has discovered the most effective formula to nullify any fighter that boasts a similarly relentless style.
“I’ve taken a lot of experience from that [defeat] and, if I come up against that style again, then happy days, because I know exactly how to beat it,” says McComb.
“That’s the only style that has ever beaten me in my career.”
