The 39-year-old has fallen in love with real estate agent Sean McCavanagh in Connecticut, where she has lived since 2016
Katie Taylor on the Late Late Show
Boxing superstar Katie Taylor has admitted that “love snuck up on her” as she reflected on getting married earlier this year.
The Bray woman explained that her supreme dedication to boxing has allowed very little room for romance over the years.
But that changed when the 39-year-old fell in love with real estate agent Sean McCavanagh in Connecticut, where she has lived since 2016.
The pair married earlier this year and went public with their relationship in September when Sean accompanied Katie on a trip home to Wicklow.
Taylor said on the Late Late Show: “I think since I was a teenager, I’ve been so focused on boxing, I left very little room for relationships.
“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.”
Katie Taylor with her husband Sean (wearing cap), mother Bridget and Senator Aubrey McCarthy
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.”
In a wide-ranging interview, Taylor revealed that she will be spending Christmas at home in Ireland and spoke about the importance of family to her.
The boxer was taught the sport by her father, Pete, father, who coached her to become a brilliant amateur, culminating in her winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics.
But the pair drifted apart for some years after that success, with Taylor dropping her father as her coach ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Rio, at which she suffered what she described as the worst moment of her career.
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.”
Since turning professional, Taylor has become the biggest name in women’s boxing, helping to put the sport on the global map, and along the way she has also reconciled 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.”
Katie Taylor with her dad Pete (Image: ©INPHO/Gary Carr)
Taylor also spoke glowingly about her mother Bridget, who has been an ever-present at her fights since she turned professional in 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 fought in July, beating Amanda Serrano in their trilogy bout at Madison Square Garden.
Since then, she has taken a break from the ring and eased her training routine, something she admits has not been easy.
She added: “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.”