Anthony Taylor was a relative unknown when he landed in Dublin ahead of his Bellator 169 meeting with 20-year-old SBG Ireland prospect James Gallagher. Although the inexperienced American brought some interest to the bout by labeling the John Kavanagh protégé “a little boy,” it was a comment he made at the event’s pre-fight press conference that really struck a chord with the Irish masses.
“You’re not even Irish,” Taylor said, firing his words in Gallagher’s direction before murmurs broke out in the assembly at the Gibson Hotel. “Why are you talking about being Irish?