Katie Taylor on marriage to Sean McCavanagh and reconciliation with father Pete

Irish boxing champion Katie Taylor has opened up about her marriage to Sean McCavanagh and reconciliation with father Pete Taylor in a Late Late Show interview, while also discussing her first career break

Boxing champion Katie Taylor has opened up about how “love snuck up on her” following her marriage earlier this year.

The Bray native explained that her intense commitment to boxing has meant there’s been little space for romance throughout her life.

However, that all changed when the 39 year old fell for real estate agent Sean McCavanagh in Connecticut, where she’s been based since 2016.

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The couple wed earlier this year and made their relationship public in September when Sean joined Katie on a visit back to Wicklow.

Speaking on the Late Late Show, Taylor said: “I think since I was a teenager, I’ve been so focused on boxing, I left very little room for relationships.”, reports the Irish Mirror.

“And honestly, even the thought of a relationship was out of the question for me. So it’s so lovely that love snuck up in the later stages of my career.

“Myself and my husband Sean live a lovely, quiet life in Connecticut. And we’re very happy, thank God.”

She joked: “His name is Sean McCavanagh, so he is very, very Irish himself. Well, he thinks he’s Irish. You know, one of those Irish-Americans who think they’re Irish.”

During the extensive interview, Taylor shared that she’ll be celebrating Christmas at home in Ireland and discussed how much family means to her.

The boxer learnt the sport from her father, Pete, who trained her to become an outstanding amateur, leading to her gold medal triumph at the 2012 London Olympics. However, the father-daughter relationship became strained for several years following that achievement, with Taylor parting ways with her father as coach before the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she endured what she has called the darkest point of her sporting life.

She said: “There was a lot going on in family life. Family can be complicated and beautiful at the same time.

“But there were moments where I missed my dad, missed having him in the corner. Thank God I bounced back. That disappointment, which almost crushed me, was actually the door to the greatest season of my life. I wouldn’t have turned pro if it wasn’t for that loss.”

After making the switch to professional boxing, Taylor has emerged as the sport’s leading female figure, playing a pivotal role in elevating women’s boxing onto the world stage, whilst also repairing her relationship with her father.

She said: “I stepped away from my dad as a coach, but he never stopped being my dad. We’ve been good for many years. My trust in him as a coach is second to none.

“He taught me how to box. Having him with me in Connecticut for a few weeks helping me prepare for the [Amanda] Serrano fight was a full-circle moment. It was so special.”

Taylor also paid tribute to her mother Bridget, who has attended every one of her professional bouts since 2016.

“She’s been one constant through all the ups and downs of my life and career. She’s devoted all her life to helping me achieve my dreams.

“She’s the most selfless person you’ll ever meet. She lays her life down for her family. We’d be lost without her.”

Taylor last stepped into the ring in July, defeating Amanda Serrano in their trilogy bout at Madison Square Garden.

Since then, she has taken a hiatus from boxing and scaled back her training routine, something she concedes has been challenging.

She further stated: “I think this is the first time I’ve taken a break in my whole career, both amateur and professional.

“When you have 20 years of routine, the routine is so automatic, it’s in your bones.

“So I actually have to put effort into not training like I’m preparing for a fight. But the time to relax and reflect with family has been amazing. It’s been a really lovely time for me.”

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