Image source, Getty ImagesKatie Taylor won Olympic gold in 2012
Katie Taylor’s career was soaked in blood, tears and triumph.
The Irishwoman has stepped away from the sport aged 40 after 27 fights and 26 wins after a memorable night at Dublin’s Croke Park.
Making her amateur debut in 2001, Taylor won every medal and title she could have and more importantly had a lasting effect on women’s boxing and women as athletes.
BBC Sport takes a look back on some of the best pictures from her iconic career.
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor helped legalise women boxing in Ireland, competing in the first sanctioned female fight in 2001 aged 15
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor won five world championships as an amateur including in 2012 when she also won Olympic gold in London
Image source, Getty ImagesHer father Peter, who had been her long-time coach, was there to celebrate with her
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor is one of 15 Irish athletes to win gold at an Olympics in any sport and was the only Irish gold medallist in 2012
Image source, Getty ImagesShe returned in 2016 but suffered a shock exit in the quarter-finals
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor quickly moved on, convincing Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn to sign her as a professional. Taylor was the first female fighter Hearn signed
Image source, Getty ImagesShe made a winning debut at Wembley Arena in November 2016, which was packed with Irish fans
Image source, Getty ImagesShe took just 11 months to claim her first world title – the WBA lightweight belt
Image source, Getty ImagesIn her bid to become Ireland’s first four-belt world champion at Madison Square Garden in 2019, she was almost beaten by Delfine Persoon
Image source, Getty ImagesThe wounds of war were obvious on Taylor’s face after the battle with Persoon
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor returned to MSG in 2022, this time to face Amanda Serrano. Years of talks finally bore fruit as the rivals finally stepped in the ring together at a sold-out MSG. It was the first time two women had headlined a boxing fight at the iconic New York venue
Image source, Getty ImagesA 10-round classic could have been very different for Taylor, had she not stayed on her feet and edged a split decision points win
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor and her mother Bridget, a constant figure by her side, shared a moment backstage at MSG
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter nine years without a fight in Ireland, Taylor finally got her chance in front of her home fans in November 2024
Image source, Getty ImagesA hugely emotional night turned into disaster as England’s Chantelle Cameron produced a masterclass to strip Taylor of her undefeated record
Image source, Getty ImagesBut from devastation…
Image source, Getty Images…to joy six months later
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor outpointed Cameron in rematch in Dublin to become a two-weight undisputed champion
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor has had countless famous visitors to her dressing room down the years
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor went back on the road to fight Serrano again in 2024, this time in front of 60,000 people in Texas and live on Netflix
Image source, Getty ImagesThe rivals produced another classic decided on the smallest of margins as Taylor prevailed
Image source, Getty ImagesDespite beating Serrano twice, Taylor agreed to a trilogy at MSG…
Image source, Getty Images…and closed out the trilogy with a clean sweep
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor was on top of the world as undisputed light-welterweight champion and looked ready to sail off into retirement…
Image source, Getty Images…but there was one itch left to scratch – Dublin’s iconic Croke Park
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor soaked up every moment of her final fight week and made Clodagh Keating’s dreams come true when she invited the 10-year-old to join her for some boxing drills at the public workout
Image source, Getty ImagesTaylor made her final ringwalk to over 80,000 at Croke Park
Image source, Getty ImagesBridget Taylor’s smile beamed from ear-to-ear as she added another WBC belt to the collection following Katie Taylor’s unanimous decision win over Flora Pili
Image source, Getty ImagesThat’s all she wrote. Taylor laid her gloves down in the centre of the Croke Park ring to bring the curtain down on her illustrious career
