Katie Taylor is a highly accomplished Irish professional boxer and former footballer. From 2019 to 2024, she reigned as the undisputed and lineal world lightweight champion, and since 2023, she has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight title. A beloved figure in Ireland, Taylor is recognized for significantly elevating the profile of women's boxing both nationally and internationally. She is widely considered the preeminent Irish athlete of her time.
In July 1986, Katie Taylor was born and would later become a highly successful Irish professional boxer and former footballer.
On July 2, 1986, Katie Taylor was born in Bray, County Wicklow, to Bridget (née Cranley) and Pete Taylor.
In 1998, at the age of 12, Katie Taylor began boxing, coached by her father at St Fergal's Boxing Club.
In 1999, Katie Taylor began attending St. Kilian's Community School in Bray.
In 2001, at 15, Katie Taylor fought in the first officially sanctioned female boxing match in Ireland and defeated Alanna Audley.
In 2002, at age 15, Katie Taylor appeared on RTÉ's Sport Stream to discuss her Olympic dreams.
On September 25, 2003, Katie Taylor scored four goals for the Republic of Ireland under-19s in a UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualifier against Macedonia.
In 2003, Katie Taylor played for St James's Gate in the DWSL Premier Cup final, where they lost 3–2 to Dundalk City after extra time.
In 2004, Katie Taylor played for the Republic of Ireland under-19s in a UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualifier.
In 2005, Katie Taylor advanced to the quarter-finals at the World Amateur Championships, where she lost against Kang Kum-Hui.
In 2005, Katie Taylor finished attending St. Kilian's Community School in Bray.
In 2005, Katie Taylor played for Peamount United in the FAI Women's Cup final, but they lost 1–0 to Dundalk City.
In 2005, Katie Taylor won the gold medal at the European Amateur Championships, defeating Eva Wahlström.
In April 2006, Katie Taylor made her senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team against Switzerland in a 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier, winning 2–0.
In 2006, Katie Taylor became Ireland's first World Champion at the World Women's Boxing Championship, defeating Erica Farias in the final.
In 2006, Katie Taylor had stopped Caroline Barry in the final of the World Championships in New Delhi.
In 2006, Katie Taylor won her second successive gold medal at the European Amateur Championships and also collected the tournament's Best Boxer award.
In 2007, Katie Taylor secured her third successive European Championship title in Denmark.
On 21 March 2009, Katie Taylor won against Caroline Barry at The Dublin O2.
On September 24, 2009, Katie Taylor made her final international appearance, coming on as a substitute in a 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan.
In 2009, Katie Taylor defended her European Union title, defeating Bulgaria's Denitsa Elisayeva in the July tournament hosted in Pazardzhik.
In 2009, Katie Taylor was a coach on RTÉ's Charity Lords of the Ring.
In 2009, Katie Taylor was part of the St Catherine's squad that reached the FAI Women's Cup final, though she missed the final due to boxing commitments.
In 2010, Katie Taylor, along with other players, was a member of the Peamount United squad that won a treble: the Dublin Women's Soccer League, the DWSL Premier Cup, and the FAI Women's Cup.
In 2011, Katie Taylor appeared in a Lucozade Sport advertisement with Tinie Tempah and Travis Barker.
In 2011, Katie Taylor made her final international appearance, coming on as a substitute in a FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan.
On 19 May 2012, Katie Taylor won her fourth successive World title at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship, defeating Sofya Ochigava.
In August 2012, Katie Taylor won her Olympic semi-final against Tajikistan's Mavzuna Chorieva, securing her place in the final.
In 2012, Katie Taylor achieved a victory over Great Britain's Natasha Jonas at the London Summer Olympics, securing a place in the semi-final.
In 2012, Katie Taylor defeated Natasha Jonas in the quarter-finals at the London Olympics.
In 2012, Katie Taylor qualified for the Summer Olympics in London.
In 2012, Katie Taylor won an Olympic gold medal in the lightweight division at the London Olympics, after being the flag bearer for Ireland at the opening ceremony.
In 2012, Katie Taylor's father also coached Adam Nolan, who, like Taylor, represented Ireland at the Summer Olympics.
In 2012, Katie Taylor's illustrated memoir "My Olympic Dream" was published.
On 24 November 2014, Katie Taylor secured her fifth straight lightweight title at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in South Korea, defeating Yana Allekseevna of Azerbaijan.
On 27 June 2015, Katie Taylor won the lightweight title in Azerbaijan at the inaugural European Games, defeating Estelle Mosely of France.
In May 2016, Katie Taylor qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics after defeating Victoria Torres but lost to Estelle Mossely in the semi-finals, ending her quest for a sixth World title in a row.
On 15 August 2016, Katie Taylor lost 2–1 in the quarter-finals to Mira Potkonen of Finland and did not advance at the Rio Olympics.
On 26 November 2016, Katie Taylor made her professional debut, scoring a third-round technical knockout (TKO) over Karina Kopińska at the Wembley Arena in London.
On 10 December 2016, Katie Taylor won her second professional bout against Viviane Obenauf by a six-round points decision (PTS) at the Manchester Arena.
In 2016, Katie Taylor became the brand ambassador for Its4women, appearing in television and YouTube advertisements.
In March 2017, Katie Taylor achieved two more wins, one against Monica Gentili via fifth-round TKO and the other against Milena Koliva via PTS over eight rounds.
On 29 April 2017, Katie Taylor faced Nina Meinke for the vacant WBA International female lightweight title, winning via TKO in the seventh round.
On 28 October 2017, Katie Taylor won the vacant WBA female lightweight title by UD against Anahí Ester Sánchez at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
In 2017, Katie Taylor won the WBA lightweight title.
On 28 April 2018, Katie Taylor secured the IBF female lightweight title with a UD victory against Victoria Bustos at the Barclays Center in New York City.
On June 15, 2018, Katie Taylor's father, Pete, was a victim in the Bray boxing club shooting, where he was shot but survived.
In 2018, Katie Taylor made three successful defenses of her titles; defeating Kimberly Connor, Cindy Serrano, and Eva Wahlström.
In 2018, the documentary Katie was released, chronicling her early life and journey to her first title shot.
In April 2019, Katie Taylor agreed to a lightweight title unification bout with Delfine Persoon, scheduled for June 1 at Madison Square Garden.
In November 2019, Katie Taylor defeated Christina Linardatou via unanimous decision to win the WBO female junior-welterweight title, becoming a two-weight world champion.
In 2019, Katie Taylor became the undisputed and lineal world lightweight champion.
In 2019, Katie Taylor defeated Rose Volante by TKO to unify the female lightweight titles.
In 2019, Katie Taylor initially won the WBO title from Christina Linardatou.
In May 2020, Katie Taylor's scheduled lightweight title defense against Amanda Serrano was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In November 2020, Katie Taylor defended her titles against Miriam Gutiérrez at The SSE Arena in London, winning by unanimous decision.
On May 1, 2021, Katie Taylor won against Natasha Jonas by unanimous decision at the AO Arena to defend her undisputed lightweight titles.
In December 2021, Katie Taylor defeated Firuza Sharipova by unanimous decision to defend her undisputed lightweight titles for the fifth time.
In April 2022, Katie Taylor defeated Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden by split decision to retain her titles. The fight was named Fight of the Year by Sports Illustrated and Event of the Year by The Ring.
In October 2022, Katie Taylor defeated Karen Carabajal by unanimous decision at the OVO Arena, Wembley to defend her undisputed lightweight titles for the seventh time.
In late February 2023, the rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano was cancelled due to Serrano's injury.
As of March 2023, Katie Taylor is ranked as the world's best active female lightweight by BoxRec and the best active female boxer, pound-for-pound, by The Ring and BoxRec.
In November 2023, Katie Taylor beat Chantelle Cameron in Dublin for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC, and WBO titles.
In November 2023, Katie Taylor defeated Chantelle Cameron by majority decision to become the undisputed super-lightweight champion, making her a two-weight undisputed champion.
In 2023, Katie Taylor became the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight champion.
On July 20, 2024, Katie Taylor's super lightweight title defense in a rematch against Amanda Serrano was originally scheduled as the co-main event on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card but was postponed due to Mike Tyson's health issue.
On November 15, 2024, Katie Taylor defeated Amanda Serrano by unanimous decision in a rescheduled bout at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, marking it as the most-watched women's professional sporting event in U.S. history with an "average minute audience" (AMA) of 47 million in the United States.
In 2024, Katie Taylor's reign as undisputed and lineal world lightweight champion ended.