Shocking Symptom Leads to Devastating Diagnosis
Australian boxing icon Shannan Taylor, the 53-year-old Bulli Blaster, faces stage-four bowel and liver cancer after a alarming symptom appeared during a routine night out on the New South Wales south coast.
Taylor recalls visiting Beaches in Thirroul for dinner when he noticed significant blood during a bowel movement. He sought medical help promptly, visiting a doctor two days later. Initial blood tests showed no signs of cancer, providing temporary reassurance.
However, his mother’s insistence led him to another doctor, who uncovered the grim reality. ‘My mum sent me to her doctor and they discovered the cancer,’ Taylor states. In the hospital, he turned to his girlfriend Kathy, sister Kirsty, and mother Karren, declaring, ‘I’ll fight it. It’s just another title fight now.’ A specialist echoed this fighting spirit.
Treatment Begins Amid Tough Battle
Taylor wastes no time in his response. He undergoes surgery to install a port in his chest this Wednesday, followed by chemotherapy starting Thursday. The treatment duration remains uncertain but could span several weeks.
The former world title challenger, who once faced Shane Mosley for the WBC welterweight crown in Las Vegas and clashed with Anthony Mundine in a blockbuster 2009 bout, channels his ring-honed resilience into this personal showdown.
Financial Ruin from Fraud Complicates Fight
Compounding his health crisis, Taylor grapples with financial hardship stemming from a fraud scheme by his former promoter, convicted in New South Wales courts for property and mortgage fraud and imprisoned.
‘I lost my house. I made the last payment on the house and he made a line of credit of $570,000,’ Taylor explains. ‘I’ve been struggling since 2007. It’s scary.’ This betrayal has left him rebuilding from scratch, intensifying the challenges of affording treatment and daily needs.
Family and Boxing Community Rally Behind Him
Family fuels Taylor’s determination. His children—Chase, 18; Rush, 20; and Nathalia, 22—top his motivations. ‘They’re my world. I’m not going to leave them here. I am definitely fighting for them,’ he affirms. Girlfriend Kathy and mother Karren provide unwavering support, with his mum handling medications daily.
The boxing world unites in solidarity. Legends Danny Green and Jeff Fenech back Taylor publicly. Close friend and promoter Jamie Myer organizes a fundraiser, urging community aid. ‘Stage four is tough, but he has given so much to the sport over 30 years,’ Myer says. ‘Boxers hope everyone supports him with funds or moral encouragement.’
‘It’s overwhelming that everybody is getting behind me,’ Taylor adds. Despite wishing circumstances differed, the support bolsters him as he battles on.
