Pentecostal Christian Undisputed World Champion Women’s Boxer sounds like an unbelievable oxymoron. But 38-year-old Irishwoman Katie Taylor is the real deal.
She’s considered the best pound for pound female boxer on the planet — some say the best of all-time — and arguably the most loved sporting personality on the Emerald Isle.
Away from the ring she personifies Godly humility. “I love the fact that God chooses the lowly ones,” she told the Irish Times two years ago.
Katie narrowly managed to hold on to her WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO light-welterweight belts after securing a win over arch rival Amanda Serrano in the co-main event of last Friday’s Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul fiasco in Texas.
The Mirror writes: “Despite the twists and excitement of the fight, where both women showcased their prowess over an intense 10 rounds, the verdict of 95-94 by all three judges sparked some controversy, especially since there was a point deduction against Taylor due to a head collision which made a previous cut worse.”
The Irishwoman simply declared: “This is an amazing moment in women’s boxing. Thank God for another amazing fight.”
The Guardian reports: “Taylor remains the quiet, pioneering Christian who has done more than anyone for female boxers around the world while drawing on her incredible will to prevail in one brutal fight after another.”
“My granny had a tough life but she is such a fantastic woman. There’s not a bitter bone in her body. She grew up in poverty and we were the same. We wouldn’t have had a lot of money growing up. We were a very, very poor family living in the roughest area, but God chose our family and did something with us,” Katie told the Irish Times.
“I have two brothers and one sister and we all became successful. But nobody would have looked at our family or our house and thought: Success will come to them.”
“My granny is the most generous and soft-hearted person you could meet — my mam is the exact same — and such a strong person. She’s the reason why we grew up believers in God and she brought us to church. I am the person that I am today because of gran.”
Former Irish WBO title holder Andy Lee believes Katie gets her strength from her faith. He told the Untouchable podcast: “I think because she is such a humble person, her having that faith, it makes it easy for her to reconcile with her achievements.”
“Being so humble, I think she has to give power to something else beyond herself. She can’t take responsibility for all she has achieved so she gives it up to God because she believes what she is doing she wouldn’t have achieved without her faith,” he observed.
Katie has walked out into the ring to the worship song I Raise A Hallelujah in front of a TV audience of millions. But before that she prayed. She prays with her mother ahead of every bout.
She told the Irish Times: “I actually don’t know how people get through difficult moments without God in their life. That’s my anchor, my rock and there are definitely times I cling onto the word of God.”
“One of my favourite verses is in the Book of Romans and the gist of it is that whatever you’re going through there’s a defining moment you can actually use for your benefit. I believe that.”
Katie also draws inspiration from Psalm 18 which her mother encouraged her to read when she was 17. She now reads it before every fight:
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Little is known about Katie’s private life. She attends an Assembly of God church in Dublin and admits: “I’m always such a quiet person anyway. I always keep myself to myself and don’t reveal too much. It’s actually very easy to live a quiet life regardless of the spotlight on you. We are a very private and quiet family and that’s the way I like it.”
The Guardian writes: “The softly spoken and deeply religious woman from Bray, just outside Dublin, can cut a figure of rare purity in this dirty business. But Taylor is a fighter to the very bones of her being.”
After her latest victory over her Puerto Rican friend and nemesis Serrano, she declared: “I’m standing here as a victor again. I’m 2 and 0 against Serrano and I’m very, very happy.”
“Taylor personifies class and grace. She smiled before slipping back into the more discreet shadows of victory,” reported The Guardian.
“It was another really close fight. We’ve had two epic fights, two very close decisions, and I’m just proud to be part of another huge night for women’s boxing,” the Christian fighter proclaimed.
At 38, Katie Taylor could be close to retiring from her professional career. After growing up in poverty, she can afford to do so after reportedly earning A$10 million from Friday’s bout. She’ll no doubt be seeking God’s advice on her future.
Photo: Facebook – Katie Taylor
