Katie Taylor 'to attend to personal matters' as announcement made

Katie Taylor has told the World Boxing Council she plans to take some time away from boxing to attend to personal matters after opting to vacate her WBC world super-lightweight title.

The WBC have announced that Taylor has been named their Emeritus Champion, meaning she will be recognised as Champion in Recess.

The 39-year-old had until Thursday, after being given a three-week extension, to either vacate her WBC super-lightweight title or agree terms to fight Chantelle Cameron for a third time.

Having decided to take a period of time away from the ring, the WBC will now order Sandy Ryan, whose fights Taylor has attended, to face Cameron for the WBC super-lightweight world title.

“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."

Mauricio added on Instagram: "The WBC Board of Governors unanimously voted in favour of appointing Katie Taylor as WBC Emeritus champion.

"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 is a special recognition granted by them to boxers who have had an outstanding career and achieved elite status in the sport.

It added that it is not a regular championship title defended in the ring, but rather a lifetime honour given in specific situations, such as injuries, personal issues that will keep them away from the sport for a period, moving up in weight class.

The Champion in Recess designation allows the title to be vacated so other fighters can compete for it and keep the division active, while granting the boxer a special status and the possibility of returning to fight for the belt in the future.

Taylor joins fellow boxing greats Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in receiving the honour from the WBC. It comes two months after she defeated Amanda Serrano for a third time.

The Bray Bomber has suggested that a fight at Croke Park might be the only thing that could get her back in the ring. However, it could be next August at the earliest before such an event could take place.

Speaking ahead of Lewis Crocker's IBF world welterweight title win over Paddy Donovan in Belfast last week, Eddie Hearn said it could be next year before Taylor decides if she will fight again or not.

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

"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."

He added: "I think the Chantelle Cameron fight is a big fight. I believe Holly Holm is fighting for the world title against Stephanie Han later in the year. Holly Holm has got the kind of profile that would be a big fight.

"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'."