Katie Taylor has been recognised as 'Champion in Recess' by the World Boxing Council as the undisputed super-lightweight world champion takes time away from the sport.
The WBC strap is one of the belts currently held by the Bray boxer alongside the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring titles, all of which she retained following her victory in the trilogy fight against Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden, New York in July.
Chantelle Cameron was due to be the mandatory challenger for her WBC belt - an opponent that Taylor lost to by majority decision in May 2023 at the 3Arena before avenging what remains her only professional defeat six months later at the same Dublin venue.
However, the WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has announced that Taylor will not be taking on Cameron because she intends to step away from the sport for a time in order to deal with "personal matters".
He said: "She let us know that she plans to take some time away from the ring to attend to personal matters. 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."
According to the WBC, the 'Champions in Recess' status is afforded to boxers who "have had an outstanding career and achieved elite status in the sport" and is regarded as a lifetime honour that is designated in specific circumstances such as injuries, personal issues that lead to time away from sport or moving up in weight class.
While Cameron and fellow English fighter Sandy Ryan will now fight each other for the vacant WBC belt, the 'Champion in Recess' desgination would allow Taylor the chance to contend for the belt upon her return to the ring.
After her victory over Serrano two months ago, Taylor had played down suggestions that she was planning to retire but remained coy on her future intentions.
"I don't know. I’m just going to enjoy this victory right now, sit back and reflect and then I’ll make a decision," she responded when asked if that could be her swansong.
"I will make a decision on whether I will fight again in the future."
