Joy Roxborough reflects on Katie Taylor’s retirement from boxing and the Christian faith that has underpinned her remarkable career. She considers what Taylor’s example can teach us about perseverance, humility and trusting God when life gets tough.
Legendary female Irish boxer Katie Taylor exited the professional boxing ring for the final time on 5 September 2026, having achieved her third claim to the title of ‘undisputed champion’.
The much-anticipated fight with the, until then, undefeated French boxer Flora Pili played out to a historic crowd of 83,000 at Dublin’s Croke Park. It was reportedly the largest-ever crowd for an individual female sporting event. Tickets were sold out within 30 minutes of becoming available. As well as the crowds at Croke Park, thousands more watched the match on live streams.
Katie’s father introduced her to boxing when she was only 10. Since then, she has excelled to achieve what some reporters and commentators have described as a ‘magical’ and ‘fairytale’ retirement from the sport, aged 40.
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As many fans who have championed Katie over the 30 years of her career will know, the signature thing about her is her Christian faith.
As many fans who have championed Katie over the 30 years of her career will know, the signature thing about her is her Christian faith. Katie has said her faith underpins everything she does. So, for instance, she has been known to turn down sponsorships from gambling companies and others that she deems to be at odds with her faith. She would never compromise those convictions, even when her finances were in jeopardy.
More visibly, ever since she was a teenager, Katie has consistently highlighted her faith by wearing ‘Psalm 18’ as an emblem on her boxing shorts. She said she took Psalm 18 as God’s promise to her throughout her career.
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In her farewell speech following the match, Katie quoted chunks of the Psalm. She zeroed in on verses 32–35 and declared to a rapturous crowd that it was God who arms her with strength, who makes her way perfect, who makes her feet like the feet of a deer, and who trains her arms for battle. She acknowledged the ability in her arms to bend a bow of bronze and ended with the certainty that God gives her a shield of victory, His right hand sustains her and He stoops down to make her great.
Katie ended with, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord, for all we’ve accomplished together. I give you all the glory and all the honour.”
As I viewed the emotional clips, I couldn’t help but feel that Katie’s speech was not the customary politically correct thank God but all glory to me speech. No, it was truly all glory to God. Even as she was asked to walk around the ring and then place her gloves in the middle to signify her retirement, Katie was a picture of grace, humility, joy and gentleness. She shared the moment with several family members and supporters who joined her for hugs in the ring.
It made me think of the verse that says, ‘I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’ (2 Tim. 4:7)
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While some may question the legitimacy of engaging in a violent sport in the name of Christ, it is, after all, just that – a sport.
While some may question the legitimacy of engaging in a violent sport in the name of Christ, it is, after all, just that – a sport. I had to interrogate my own biases and could not honestly come up with a tangible argument against it. But wherever one may stand on the question, one thing is certain: Katie certainly epitomised Col. 3:17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” That, I believe, is commendable.
But not everyone gets to live life to applause or gets to proclaim to crowds that God helps them to achieve the feats that they do. Many are soldiering on in less glamorous roles, with no recognition or thanks, and they no doubt experience weariness at times. But we could all take a cue from Katie in terms of never giving up, but rather trusting God and leaning on Him when things get tough.
God kept His promise to Katie and set her feet on her high places (Ps. 18:33). And He will certainly help the battle-weary wherever they are and whatever their tasks – whether raising children, caring for elderly parents, dealing with health issues or difficult work situations, whatever it is. He is never more than a prayer away.
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