Katie Taylor never needed a global health crisis to live out a life of isolation.
The undisputed World lightweight queen and self-admitted introvert has long grown accustomed to working in her own space. The rest of the world has been forced to embrace such a lifestyle in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, with lockdowns enforced around the world.
For the superstar boxer from Bray, Ireland, it’s just another day in the life.
“My whole life has been a quarantine,” Taylor (15-0, 6KOs) quipped during a recent interview on Instagram Live hosted by her promoter, Eddie Hearn. “I said to my family that you realize you’ve been in isolation so much when you have to go into quarantine and nothing has changed in your personal life.”
Taylor’s work life has changed, unfortunately.
The two-time Olympian and 2012 Olympic Gold medalist has since emerged as a two-division and reigning lightweight champ, becoming one of just seven boxers in history to claim undisputed status in the four-belt era (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO). The 33-year old was due to defend her World lightweight crown versus seven-division titlist Amanda Serrano in a superfight that was due to take place May 2 at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
The bout has since been pushed back to July 4 due to all boxing events having been removed from the schedule since mid-March, wiping out April and now biting into May’s schedule.
Rather than dwell on the negative, Taylor submits to a higher power to maintain serenity and patience, confident of a firm plan in place no matter how long it takes to resume boxing as we once knew it.
“For me, it’s obviously awful what’s happening with the coronavirus. The whole world is on lockdown right now. But there’s a lot of good things that are happening as well,” Taylor observers. “People’s lives have been forced to slow down. They’re reconnecting with their families again. Even online, there’s church services Saturday online every single weekend.
“For me, it’s time to spend more time with God, to read His word. That’s mental health for me. I get great comfort from that. I’ve always said from a very young age, it’s where my confidence comes from. It’s where my strength comes from. It’s why I don’t need to talk before these big fights or talk trash. From a very early age, I loved this bible verse (Isaiah 30:15), it says, ‘In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.’ It’s why I feel the need… just be myself.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox