Katie Taylor to step back from boxing due to 'personal matters'

Katie Taylor has surprised the boxing world by announcing she is stepping away from the ring.

The Bray native told the World Boxing Council she plans to take some time away from boxing to "attend to personal matters".

This comes after she opted to vacate her World Boxing Council (WBC) world super-lightweight title. Katie also got married recently, and her husband spoke about her for the first time just a few days ago.

The WBC have named Katie as their Emeritus Champion, meaning she will be recognised as Champion in Recess.

The 39-year-old had until Thursday to either vacate her WBC super-lightweight title or agree terms to fight Chantelle Cameron for a third time. Katie had already been given a three-week extension in relation to this matter.

Now that Katie has opted to take some time away from the ring, the WBC will now order English boxer Sandy Ryan to face Chantelle Cameron for the WBC super-lightweight world title, the Irish Mirror reports.

“She let us know that she plans to take some time away from the ring to attend to personal matters," WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán said. "The fight she was obligated to take was against Chantelle Cameron; by naming her Champion in Recess, we will order Sandy Ryan to fight Cameron to ratify the WBC super lightweight world title."

"The WBC Board of Governors unanimously voted in favour of appointing Katie Taylor as WBC Emeritus champion," he added on social media.

"We wish our proud champion great success in the future and she may return to the ring in case she decides to do so to continue representing the Green Belt."

The WBC explained that a Champion in Recess title is a special recognition granted to boxers who have achieved a stellar career. This honour is given to boxers by the WBC in situations such as injuries, personal issues that keep boxers away from the ring for a time, or for those moving up in weight class. It is not a title that can be defended against in a ring, as it is a lifetime honour.

The Champion in Recess designation allows the title to be vacated so other fighters can compete for it, while allowing the boxer who has stepped away to come back and fight for the belt in the future.

Doubts over whether Katie Taylor would fight again emerged last week, after Katie previously said that a fight at Croke Park might be the only thing that could get her back in the ring.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said it could be next year before Katie decides whether she will fight again.

"She said after the Serrano fight, 'if I fight again', and it's the first time I've ever heard her say that," Eddie said.

"I thought after the fight, what a great time to retire, now a bit of time passes and I don't know. I would say she's 50-50 in her head.

"Katie can fight anyone, but if you go to Croke Park, obviously it's going to have to be a big, big fight.

"She's definitely not going to fight again this year or early next year so in her head right now, she's going to have Christmas and I don't think she'll make an actual decision this year because time will enable you to make a decision so give yourself time.

"How you feel today will probably be very different to how she feels in January or February. The worst thing to do is to retire and then in January go 'I think I'll have another fight'."