Who is boxer Katie Taylor?

KATIE TAYLOR boasts an impressive history as a boxer, with several titles under her belt.

The Irish boxing star, whose professional career started with a DM to promoter Eddie Hearn, has been so successful, in fact, that she only tasted defeat for the first time in May 2023.

Irish boxer Katie Taylor pictured before her May 2023 showdown with Chantelle CameronJames Chance/Getty Images

Who is Katie Taylor?

Katie Taylor is an Irish professional boxer and former football player.

She was born on July 2, 1986, in Bray, a coastal town in north County Wicklow, Ireland, and turned 36 in 2022.

Taylor first began boxing when she was just 12, and was trained by her father, Peter, who was also a boxer.

Peter also trained Katie’s two older brothers, Lee and Peter, and went on to coach Olympic boxer Adam Nolan.

Katie attended University College Dublin but chose to leave her studies once her sporting career took off.

In 2001, she fought in the first officially sanctioned female boxing match in Ireland.

Taylor won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the first time women’s boxing had been included in the event.

A keen footballer, Taylor represented the Republic of Ireland women’s national football team at under-17, under-19 and senior levels.

She made her final international appearance during the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan.

Taylor’s professional boxing career began in 2016 when she signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom banner, and within a year she became lightweight world champion.

Hearn told The Sun that he initially took a meeting with Taylor out of respect but was soon blown away by the star.

He said: “There was no market for women’s boxing, there was no interest from broadcasters or fans. I just had the meeting out of respect for her. 

“But it was during that meeting I just thought, ‘Wow, you’re amazing. I’d quite like to be part of this, we could be a hero with you in just completely changing the game.’”  

Notable victories from Taylor’s professional career include wins over Delfine Persoon, Amanda Serrano, Jennifer Han and Firuza Sharipova.

Following her victory over Persoon in 2019, Taylor became one of only eight boxers in history to hold all four major boxing world titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO) simultaneously.

How many matches has Katie Taylor won?

Taylor has won 22 of her professional boxing bouts, including six knockout wins.

She was defeated for the first time in her career by Chantelle Cameron, the undisputed super-lightweight world champion, in May 2023.

The match, which took place in Dublin and had Conor McGregor in the audience, was Taylor’s first home fight as a professional.

Speaking after her loss, Taylor said: “It’s not how I wanted my homecoming to go. I’m just so grateful for the support regardless.

“Congratulations to Chantelle on a fantastic performance, thanks so much for the opportunity to fight for your belts, and looking forward to the rematch.”

Is Katie Taylor married and does she have children?

Taylor keeps her personal life private, and has not spoken publicly abut being in a relationship or having a family.

She previously revealed how she doesn’t like being quizzed on her romantic life in interviews.

When asked which question she “hates” being asked, Taylor told The Athletic: “Probably the question about relationships. That’s another question people always ask. I guess people are just interested in my personal life.

“I get it all the time. It’s a bit annoying at times but I’m just polite and get on with it. I don’t think male boxers get asked it, though.”

She also said in the past that she is too busy with her career to think about a relationship.

Speaking to The Irish Mirror in 2019 she said: “I’m not [seeing anyone] at the moment, I really genuinely haven’t got the time.

“I’m just out in America training hard at the moment but who knows what could happen in the future.”