Boxing legend faces her biggest challenge yet as she takes on motherhood role following her marriage
The Sunday World can exclusively reveal Katie’s new husband is father to two sons and three daughters, aged from 11 to 23.
We can also disclose that Sean’s former wife Alicia and mother of their kids died unexpectedly in October 2023.
Our pictures today show Katie, Sean and Alicia on holidays together with family members and pals in Boston four years ago.
While there, the group attended a Boston Red Sox baseball game in the city’s Fenway Park. Sean and Alicia also attended Katie’s fights in 2017, as did several members of their families.
Katie with husband Sean
Alicia, whose maiden name was Velardo, was tragically only 43-years-old when she died.
We also publish or the first time pictures of Katie (39) and Sean McCavanagh (47) at their red-carpet debut at a Game Undisputed boxing event in London in February, which she also attended with manager Brian Peters.
Back then she wore a wedding ring. However, she surprised the country when she brought her new husband two weeks ago to Tiglin Men’s Centre in her home county of Wicklow, a rehabilitation facility for those affected by addiction.
She was also seen wearing a wedding band at press events before her latest bout with Amanda Serrano in July.
Katie stunned the sporting world on Thursday when she announced she would be taking a break from boxing “to attend to personal matters”.
It is believed that world champion first met real estate agent Sean and Alicia through her Pentecostal Church links near her adopted hometown of Vernon in Connecticut in America.
Religious
Alicia was a member of the Rockville Church of the Nazarene, as is deeply religious Katie.
The Church began as a small bible study in Rockville in 1986 and was founded by Pastor Ramond ‘Flick’ Grezel and his wife Susan.
“With much prayer and going door to door, the community quickly responded to Flick’s teaching in God’s word and many people were saved,” says the Church on its website.
Katie pictured with Sean’s late wife Alicia
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“Today the Church continues to focus on reaching people in the community who are outside the typical church circles.”
Alicia was also active in a children’s support group, and enjoyed walks, arts and crafts and also cooking elaborate meals for her family and friends.
She previously spoke how “I am THANKFUL for a fantastic marriage” and how “my kids make me a better person”.
Last week, we disclosed that Sean was the agent who helped buy Katie’s new five-bedroom house in December 2023 in Connecticut, for which she paid $535,000 (€455,000)
Speaking to the Sunday World for the first time about being married to one of the most famous people in Ireland, he replied: “It’s the best ever, she’s the best!.”
He laughed when asked if he had a good time in Ireland.
“How could you not?” he said. “I loved my time in Ireland, I’m home now.”
It is believed the couple married in Ireland, with just close family and friends in attendance.
But Sean did not want to give further details about notoriously private Katie’s wedding, which caught many observers by surprise.
In a 2018 documentary film on her career she made a rare revelation about her love life.
“Sometimes I think I’m a bit too single-minded where I only think about the next fight,” she said. “I’m not too sure whether I want to get married, whether I want to have kids.”
She added with a laugh: “I don’t think I’d be able for that. I can hardly look after myself.
“I’ve definitely had opportunities where I’ve been in relationships with guys and stuff, but it’s never really worked out.”
Purchases
Katie moved to Connecticut nearly a decade ago and lives in Vernon, about 20kms from the State’s capital city, Hartford.
Last week’s Sunday World described how the couple had met
Her company, KT Sports USA, is registered in the town and she has been involved in a number of property purchases in the area.
Her new husband’s family are based in the nearby town of Manchester and have long-standing ties to the real estate business.
During her visit to Tiglin, Katie spoke about her journey to becoming the undisputed women’s world champion.
‘The Bray Bomber’ spoke to residents in the centre, many of whom are working to rebuild their lives after struggling with addiction through Tiglin’s residential rehabilitation programme.
Her father Pete, with whom she lately reconciled after a falling out, confirmed in July that his daughter had married when speaking on the Anything Goes podcast with James English.
“I was reading somewhere that Katie Taylor never got married because of her father, he wouldn’t let her.
“Katie’s married, you know, and I’m thinking, ‘Where are you getting this from?’” said Pete.
Senator Aubrey McCarthy, founder of Tiglin, gave the couple and Katie’s mother a tour of the facility, with Sean said to be “doting” on his new wife.
Discipline
“We were humbled to welcome the undisputed world champion, Katie Taylor, her husband, and family to Tiglin,” he said.
“Her quiet strength and powerful message uplifted everyone in the room. Katie reminded us that recovery, like boxing, demands courage, discipline, and heart,” he added.
Katie was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight championship since 2023.
She won Olympic gold for Ireland at the 2012 games in London in lightweight, carrying the Irish flag at the opening ceremony, and is considered by many experts to be the best female boxer of all time.
She turned professional in 2016 and is currently ranked as the world’s best active female super lightweight by BoxRec and the best active female boxer, pound-for-pound, by The Ring and BoxRec. She is known for her fast-paced, aggressive boxing style.
Katie is the daughter of Irish mother Bridget (née Cranley) and English-born father Pete Taylor, and has an older sister and two older brothers.
Collapsed
Her father first visited Bray to work with his dad in the amusement arcades on the seafront and after meeting and marrying Bridget, he decided to settle in the Co Wicklow town.
In 1986, he became an Irish senior light heavyweight champion boxer.
Originally an electrician by trade, he eventually became Katie’s full-time boxing coach.
Bridget also developed an interest in boxing and became one of the earliest female referees and judges in Ireland.
Katie and Pete experienced a falling out after her parents’ marriage collapsed in 2016 and led to him being removed from her coaching staff.
This estrangement lasted for about nine years, during which time Katie turned professional and trained with Ross Enamait.
They have since reconciled, working together again in the lead-up to Katie’s trilogy fight against Amanda Serrano in July this year.
Katie at a boxing event in London with husband Sean
News in 90 Seconds – September 21st