Katie Taylor is an Irish professional boxer who holds the undisputed and lineal world lightweight champion title since 2019. In 2023, she also became the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight champion. Prior to her boxing career, Taylor also played professional football.
Katie Taylor was born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland in July 1986 to parents Bridget and Pete Taylor.
Katie Taylor was born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland in July 1986.
Katie Taylor's boxing journey began in 1998 at the age of 12, training under her father at St Fergal's Boxing Club in Bray.
Katie Taylor attended St. Kilian's Community School in Bray from 1999.
At the age of 15, Katie Taylor participated in the first officially sanctioned female boxing match in Ireland in 2001, defeating Alanna Audley at the National Stadium.
In 2002, a 15-year-old Katie Taylor shared her dream of competing in the Olympics during an appearance on RTÉ's Sport Stream, offering a glimpse into her aspirations at a young age.
Representing the Republic of Ireland under-19s women's national football team, a 15-year-old Katie Taylor showcased her football prowess by scoring an impressive four goals against Macedonia in a UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualifier in September 2003.
Katie Taylor's passion for sports extended beyond boxing, with a successful youth and amateur career in association football. In 2003, she played for St James's Gate in the Dublin Women's Soccer League (DWSL) Premier Cup final. Despite their efforts, St James's Gate faced a narrow 3-2 defeat against Dundalk City after extra time.
At just 14 years old, Katie Taylor began her journey with the Republic of Ireland women's national football team, playing for the under-17s squad. A year later, she progressed to the under-19s team, with her boxing training proving beneficial in bridging the age gap due to her enhanced physical strength.
After attending St. Kilian's Community School in Bray, Katie Taylor graduated in 2005.
In 2005, Katie Taylor, playing for Peamount United, reached the FAI Women's Cup final. However, they fell short of victory, losing 1-0 to Dundalk City. This marked another significant milestone in Taylor's early football career, showcasing her talent and competitiveness.
Katie Taylor marked a significant milestone in her boxing career by securing her first major win at the 2005 European Amateur Championships in Tønsberg, Norway. She won the gold medal by defeating Eva Wahlström of Finland in the lightweight class final.
Katie Taylor's participation in the World Amateur Championships in Podolsk, Russia, in 2005, saw her reach the quarter-finals in the 60 kg weight class. There, she was defeated by Kang Kum-Hui, marking her only loss at the World Championships.
Katie Taylor marked a significant milestone in her football career on April 22, 2006, making her senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland against Switzerland in a 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier at Richmond Park. The Republic of Ireland secured a 2-0 victory.
Katie Taylor etched her name in Irish boxing history by becoming the country's first World Champion at the 2006 World Women's Boxing Championship in New Delhi, India. She defeated Tatiana Chalaya in the semi-final and Erica Farias of Argentina in the 60 kg final.
In a display of her exceptional boxing prowess, Katie Taylor clinched her second consecutive gold medal at the 2006 European Amateur Championships in Warsaw, Poland. She defeated reigning world champion Tatiana Chalaya of Russia and received the tournament's Best Boxer award.
Katie Taylor's victory against Caroline Barry in 2009 came after she had previously stopped Barry in the final of the 2006 World Championships in New Delhi.
On April 1, 2007, Katie Taylor celebrated a memorable moment in her football journey by scoring her first senior international goal for the Republic of Ireland. Her goal contributed to a 2-1 victory against Hungary at Tolka Park during a UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifier.
Katie Taylor further cemented her dominance in European boxing by securing her third consecutive European Championship title in Denmark in 2007.
In February 2008, during a UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifier match against Italy, Katie Taylor scored her second international goal for the Republic of Ireland. However, the match ended in a 4-1 defeat, and Taylor was also sent off during the game.
Katie Taylor added another accolade to her collection by winning her first European Union gold medal at the tournament held in Liverpool, England, in August 2008. She emerged victorious over Cindy Orain of France.
Katie Taylor showcased her boxing prowess once again at the 2008 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in Ningbo, China. She defeated China's Cheng Dong in the 60 kg final, marking her 100th bout and securing her second World title.
Katie Taylor's boxing journey took her to The Dublin O2 on March 21, 2009, where she triumphed over three-time Pan-American champion Caroline Barry of the United States. This fight was part of the undercard of a pro WBA super bantamweight world title fight.
On September 24, 2009, Katie Taylor made her final international appearance for the Republic of Ireland in a 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan. Coming on as a substitute, this match marked the end of her time representing her country in international football.
Katie Taylor took on the role of a coach on RTÉ's Charity Lords of the Ring in 2009, showcasing her involvement in charitable initiatives and her connection to the world of boxing.
Katie Taylor's football journey continued with St Catherine's, where she was part of the squad that reached the FAI Women's Cup final in 2009. However, due to her burgeoning boxing career, she was unable to participate in the final match.
Katie Taylor continued her reign as European Union champion in 2009 by successfully defending her title in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria, where she defeated the home favourite, Denitsa Elisayeva.
Katie Taylor added another remarkable accomplishment to her name on September 18, 2010, by claiming her third consecutive World title at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in Barbados. She defeated China's Cheng Dong in the 60 kg final, which also marked her 100th career win.
In 2010, Katie Taylor achieved a remarkable feat in football, contributing to Peamount United's treble-winning season. Alongside teammates such as Nicola Sinnott, Áine O'Gorman, Sara Lawlor, and Louise Quinn, Taylor played a key role in securing the Dublin Women's Soccer League title, the DWSL Premier Cup, and the FAI Women's Cup.
Between 2006 and 2009, Katie Taylor earned 11 caps and scored 2 goals for the Republic of Ireland senior women's national football team. Notably, she participated in a prestigious friendly match against the United States and contributed to the team's efforts in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers.
Katie Taylor further solidified her status as a boxing champion in 2011 by securing the gold medal at the EU Women Boxing Championships in Katowice, Poland.
Katie Taylor's rising profile was evident in 2011 when she appeared in a Lucozade Sport advertisement alongside English rapper Tinie Tempah and American musician Travis Barker, highlighting her growing recognition and appeal as an athlete.
Katie Taylor continued her dominance in the boxing world by winning her fourth successive World title at the 2012 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in Qinhuangdao, China. She defeated Russian southpaw Sofya Ochigava in the 60 kg weight class.
In August 2012, Katie Taylor secured a dominant victory against Mavzuna Chorieva from Tajikistan in the Olympic semi-final, winning with a score of 17-9. This win guaranteed Taylor at least a silver medal and propelled her to the final round.
Katie Taylor achieved a historic win in August 2012 by defeating Sofya Ochigava from Russia in the Olympic final with a score of 10-8. This victory secured Taylor the gold medal and made her the first-ever female Olympic lightweight champion.
In 2012, during the quarter-finals of the London Olympics, Katie Taylor faced off against Natasha Jonas. This fight marked a significant point in both their careers, showcasing their talent on an international stage.
Katie Taylor made her Olympic debut on August 6, 2012, at the Summer Olympics in London. She secured a resounding victory over Great Britain's Natasha Jonas, securing her place in the semi-final and guaranteeing herself at least an Olympic bronze medal.
Katie Taylor's "illustrated memoir," titled "My Olympic Dream," hit the shelves in 2012. Co-authored with The Irish Times sports writer Johnny Watterson, the book provided insights into her journey and experiences leading up to the Olympics.
Pete Taylor, Katie Taylor's father and coach, also coached Adam Nolan, who represented Ireland alongside his daughter at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
2012 marked a triumphant year for Katie Taylor, as she served as the flag bearer for Ireland at the London Olympics opening ceremony. She then went on to secure an Olympic gold medal in the lightweight division.
Katie Taylor achieved a major milestone in 2012 by qualifying for the Summer Olympics in London, marking the first time women's boxing was included in the Games. Her qualification sparked widespread celebration in her hometown of Bray, Ireland, and even inspired a song called "Katie Taylor Ireland's Boxing Legend" by Coddle.
Katie Taylor continued her winning streak in November 2014 by defeating Yana Allekseevna of Azerbaijan with a score of 40-36, 39-37, 39-37. This victory in South Korea marked Taylor's fifth consecutive lightweight title at the 2014 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships.
Katie Taylor triumphed at the inaugural European Games in June 2015, securing the lightweight title by defeating Estelle Mosely from France. The final score was 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37, showcasing Taylor's dominance in the ring.
In May 2016, Katie Taylor achieved two significant milestones. She qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics by defeating Victoria Torres in the quarter-finals of the lightweight division at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships. However, her quest for a sixth consecutive world title ended with a semi-final loss to Estelle Mossely in the same tournament.
Katie Taylor faced a setback in August 2016 when she lost 2-1 to Mira Potkonen from Finland in the quarter-finals of the Summer Olympics. This defeat prevented her from advancing further in the tournament.
Katie Taylor began her professional boxing career in November 2016 with a decisive third-round technical knockout (TKO) victory at the Wembley Arena in London.
Katie Taylor secured her second professional win in December 2016 against Viviane Obenauf at the Manchester Arena. Taylor's performance, including a second-round knockdown of Obenauf, resulted in a unanimous decision victory with a score of 60-53.
Katie Taylor's professional boxing career began in 2016 under Matchroom Boxing.
In 2016, Katie Taylor's influence extended to the business world as she became the brand ambassador for Its4women, an online insurance company targeting young women. Her involvement included appearances in television and YouTube advertisements for the company.
Katie Taylor continued her winning streak in March 2017 with two significant victories. She won against Monica Gentili by a fifth-round TKO and secured a points victory against Milena Koliva after eight rounds.
Katie Taylor claimed the vacant WBA International female lightweight title in April 2017 by defeating Nina Meinke at Wembley Stadium. Taylor's speed and combination punches dominated the fight, leading to a seventh-round TKO victory and securing her place as a WBA female lightweight title eliminator.
Katie Taylor won her first world title in October 2017 after defeating Anahí Ester Sánchez at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Sánchez, the reigning WBA female lightweight champion, was stripped of her title for failing to make weight. Taylor's dominance in the ring secured her a unanimous decision victory with a score of 99-90.
Katie Taylor's journey to becoming a boxing legend included winning the WBA lightweight title in 2017.
Katie Taylor added the IBF female lightweight title to her collection in April 2018 by defeating the reigning champion, Victoria Bustos, at the Barclays Center in New York City. Taylor's speed and agility earned her a unanimous decision victory with scores of 99-91 and 98-92.
On June 15, 2018, tragedy struck when Katie Taylor's father, Pete Taylor, became a victim of a shooting at the Bray boxing club. Shot in the chest and arm, he thankfully survived the ordeal.
In December 2018, a controversy arose when Katie Taylor accused Delfine Persoon of declining a substantial offer to fight her. Persoon countered that she had offered Taylor $100,000, which Taylor's manager dismissed as insufficient.
Katie Taylor defended her titles successfully three times in 2018. She defeated Kimberly Connor by TKO in the third round, won a unanimous decision against former WBO female featherweight champion Cindy Serrano, and triumphed over former WBC female super-featherweight champion Eva Wahlström in December.
In 2018, the documentary "Katie" was released, offering a captivating look into Katie Taylor's life and career. The film chronicled her early years, the challenges she overcame, and the path she paved to her first title shot.
After a public dispute over fight offers, Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon agreed to a lightweight title unification bout in April 2019. The fight was scheduled for June 1st at Madison Square Garden, putting all four sanctioning bodies' titles and The Ring magazine belt at stake.
In November 2019, Katie Taylor moved up in weight class to face Christina Linardatou for the WBO female junior-welterweight championship. The fight, held at the Manchester Arena, was a tough challenge for Taylor, who faced a strong start from Linardatou. Despite facing difficulty in the middle rounds, Taylor rallied to secure a unanimous decision victory, making her one of only three Irish boxers to win world titles in two weight divisions.
In 2019, Katie Taylor defeated Delfine Persoon at Madison Square Garden to become the eighth boxer in history to hold all four major world titles in boxing—IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO—simultaneously.
In 2019, Katie Taylor faced WBO female lightweight champion Rose Volante in Philadelphia. Taylor's powerful performance, including a first-round knockdown and relentless attacks, led to a ninth-round TKO victory, earning her the WBO title, her third world title.
Katie Taylor achieved the status of undisputed and lineal world lightweight champion in 2019.
In May 2020, Katie Taylor's scheduled title defense against Amanda Serrano at the Manchester Arena was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fight was initially rescheduled for July at a different venue but faced further postponements and eventually fell through.
Katie Taylor successfully defended her lightweight titles against Miriam Gutiérrez at The SSE Arena in London in November 2020. Taylor's dominant performance, including a fourth-round knockdown, earned her a unanimous decision victory, further solidifying her position in women's boxing.
Katie Taylor faced Natasha Jonas in a rematch in May 2021, defending her undisputed lightweight titles. The fight, held on the undercard of Derek Chisora vs. Joseph Parker, was a closely contested bout, with Taylor emerging victorious via a narrow unanimous decision.
In December 2021, Katie Taylor further solidified her dominance in the lightweight division by defeating Firuza Sharipova at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool. The unanimous decision victory marked her fifth successful defense of her undisputed lightweight titles.
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano made history in April 2022 by headlining the first women's boxing match at Madison Square Garden. Billed as one of the biggest women's fights in history, Taylor retained her undisputed lightweight titles in a thrilling split decision victory, solidifying both fighters' legacies. The bout's significance was underscored by its recognition as Fight of the Year by Sports Illustrated and Event of the Year by The Ring.
Katie Taylor secured her seventh successful defense of her undisputed lightweight titles in October 2022 with a unanimous decision victory over Karen Carabajal at the OVO Arena in Wembley. This victory further cemented Taylor's status as a dominant force in women's boxing and set the stage for future high-profile fights.
In February 2023, plans for a rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano were disrupted due to an injury sustained by Serrano. Seizing the opportunity, Taylor issued a public challenge to undisputed super-lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron, which Cameron accepted.
By March 2023, Katie Taylor's exceptional boxing skills earned her recognition as the world's best active female lightweight by BoxRec and the best active female boxer, pound-for-pound, by The Ring and BoxRec.
Katie Taylor added to her long list of accomplishments by defeating Chantelle Cameron in Dublin in November 2023 to win the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC, and WBO titles. This victory marked the second time she held all four major world titles simultaneously.
Katie Taylor faced Chantelle Cameron in a highly anticipated rematch in November 2023 at the 3Arena, aiming to avenge her previous loss and claim the undisputed super-lightweight title. In a remarkable turn of events, Taylor emerged victorious via majority decision, handing Cameron her first professional defeat and becoming a two-weight undisputed champion.
Katie Taylor further solidified her dominance in boxing by becoming the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight champion in 2023.
Katie Taylor's planned undisputed super lightweight title defense against Amanda Serrano, scheduled for July 20, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, was postponed due to a health issue affecting Mike Tyson, whose fight was also on the card.
Following its postponement, the highly anticipated rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for the undisputed super lightweight title was rescheduled for November 15, 2024, at the same venue, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.