Molly McCann kept Katie Taylor family link quiet to avoid coat-tail claims

Molly McCann has revealed she kept her family connection to Katie Taylor secret for years to avoid accusations of using the boxing star's name for her own MMA career.

“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”

— Molly McCann, via BBC Sport

What Molly McCann said

McCann, a former UFC flyweight, told BBC Sport the pair share a family relation but chose not to publicise it. Taylor rarely discusses her personal life outside the ring, and McCann said she wanted her own career judged on its merits rather than through association with one of boxing's biggest names.

What it moves

The disclosure explains years of silence around a link between two prominent figures in women's combat sport. McCann has now stepped away from active competition, removing any perception that revealing the connection could benefit her professional standing.

Source: bbc.co.uk. Full Molly McCann fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.