Irish boxer and Christian believer Katie Taylor successfully defended her undisputed world lightweight title against Puerto Rican Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden in New York on 30 April - her 21st win in her 21st professional bout.
Last November, she spoke to the Irish Times about the key part her faith plays in her sporting career, and how it defined her tough upbringing:
“I love the fact that God chooses the lowly ones,” Katie Taylor says quietly in a conversation that is very different to the punishing dialogue she produces in the ring. She might be the most loved sporting personality in Ireland, and ranked the best pound-for-pound woman boxer in the world, but Taylor retains her humility.
“We were a very, very poor family living in the roughest area but God chose our family and did something with us. 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’.”
Taylor’s mum, Bridget, always prays with her before she steps into the ring.
“It’s always the same and that’s one of the most important parts of the preparation. She prays over me before every fight. It will be the same this fight. 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.”
Photo: BBC Sport