Summary

Katie Taylor Word on the Week 5th September 2026.
There has been an increasing buzz in the town as the hour approaches when the consummate boxer, Katie Taylor, enters the ring for the last time. The GAA’s Croke Park has been sold out, which means 80,000 people will be present to see complete her professional career.
She always wanted to fight in Croke Park. The ground is seen as sacred by many, requiring numerous applications over the years to stage a fight in its vaulted precincts. Her final request was granted and her dream of fighting there is about to be fulfilled.
It’s been a long journey from the childhood Katie working out in the family garden shed in her home town of Bray to tonight when she enters the ultimate stadium of Ireland. Likewise, there was not much by way of female boxing when she started but she has put it securely on the athletics map.
Early in her career she represented Ireland in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. It was a memorable occasion as she was the first female amateur boxer to represent Ireland. The UK boxer had been beaten but the home crowd remained in the stadium to cheer this Irish girl on to victory as the lightweight Olympic champion.
Since then Katie has won at every level she entered and has the biggest collection of Victor’s trophy belts possible! She is the undisputed super lightweight professional world champion. From such an elevated position you would think she would choose whom she wished for her last fight and engage a weak opponent.
Not so with Katie for in choosing the Frenchwoman Flora Pili she has chosen a hard opponent. Flora has won all her previous fights and at age 29 must be a difficult proposition for the 40 year old Taylor. This is the way Katie has always wanted it to be and win or lose she will give it her all.
Some have wondered at Katie’s profession of faith in Jesus Christ. The physically subduing of your opponent is a stumbling block for them. But the sport is governed by strict rules and closely refereed. In a similar vein to that other Christian Athlete, Eric Liddell who said when challenged about the time he spent running, ‘God has made me fast and I feel close to Him when I’m running’: Katie says that God is in her corner!
It would be wonderful if Katie won, thus completing her unblemished record, but win, lose or draw we can be sure that she will thank the Lord for His presence with her all through her career (2 Timothy 4 verse 7/8).