Fighting spirit: Taylor helps honour former slave turned boxer 200 years after his death

Champion move: Katie Taylor spars with Meabh O’Halloran, from Ballybane, at the event in Mervue cemetery, Galway city. Photo: Aengus McMahon

Breda Heffernan

World champion boxer Katie Taylor has unveiled a headstone to honour an African-American bare-knuckle fighter who was buried in an unmarked grave in Galway more than 200 years ago.

In the summer of 1818, Tom Molineaux, a former slave turned boxing champion, was discovered sick and destitute on the city's streets.