Tayla Harris’ boxing mentor says Carlton AFLW star can be as big as Ronda Rousey

SHE’S a star of the AFLW but many wouldn’t know Tayla Harris is among the world’s top female middleweight boxers and a major bout is being planned for Melbourne in April.

Carlton AFLW star Tayla Harris is also a talented boxer. Picture: Getty Images

TAYLA Harris has made her mark in women’s AFL and her boxing future looms large with a major bout being planned for Melbourne in April.

Her boxing mentor tips she can be as big a star as Ronda Rousey, who drew 56,000 people to see her loss against Holly Holm in Melbourne in 2015.

After just two professional fights in her old neighbourhood of Eatons Hill on Brisbane’s northside, Tayla is ranked in the top 20 among the world’s female middleweights (72kg) and mentor Shannon King says she has the potential to be at the top of two sports simultaneously.

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The former Brisbane Lions star won last year over Brisbane’s Margarite Butcher and Kiwi Tessa Tualevao.

King, a former Australian 70kg champion, says it is only the start.

“Tayla is such a brilliant athlete and a natural for boxing,’’ he said.

“I think she can be a major star in the two sports and take women’s boxing to new heights, just like the women’s AFL has rocketed ahead.

A major boxing bout in Melbourne is being planned for Tayla Harris. Picture: Liam Kidston

“There were more than 40,000 people to see a women’s match in Perth recently and Tayla can ride that popularity in boxing as well. She can be bigger than Ronda Rousey on the world scene.

“We are already looking at a big fight for her in Melbourne in April after the women’s AFL grand final. She has the talent to win a world title and dominate the sport.’’

Harris, 20, took up boxing three years ago to improve her fitness for Aussie rules and says it has worked wonders as she trains in the off-season with Australian champ Faris Chevalier at King’s Corporate Box gym in Lutwyche.

“Boxing training is definitely the toughest sports training you can get,’’ she said.

“And the footwork you need to be a boxer has definitely improved my footwork on the footy field.’’

Women’s boxing in Queensland has received a boost with Shara Romer to coach Australia’s female boxers at the Commonwealth Games.

Tayla Harris the footballer. Picture: Alex Coppel

Originally published as Tayla Harris’ boxing mentor says Carlton AFLW star can be as big as Ronda Rousey