Australian boxing icon Shannan Taylor, the 53-year-old Bulli Blaster, faces stage-four bowel and liver cancer after a shocking symptom emerged during a routine night out. Now broke from a long-ago fraud, Taylor draws on his fighting spirit for this ultimate battle.
The Alarming Symptom and Swift Diagnosis
Taylor first noticed trouble at Beaches in Thirroul on the NSW south coast. During dinner, he experienced significant blood while using the restroom. He visited a doctor two days later for blood tests, which initially showed no cancer.
Family concerns persisted, and his mother urged further checks. Her doctor uncovered the cancer, leading to hospitalization. Taylor immediately rallied his loved ones—girlfriend Kathy, sister Kirsty, and mother Karren—declaring, “I’ll fight it.” A specialist reinforced his resolve, calling it “just another title fight.”
Treatment Begins Amid Determination
Taylor starts aggressive treatment soon, with a chest port scheduled for Wednesday followed by chemotherapy on Thursday. The regimen may last several weeks. The former world title challenger, who faced Shane Mosley for the WBC welterweight crown in Las Vegas and clashed with Anthony Mundine in 2009, channels his ring toughness into recovery.
His children—Chase (18), Rush (20), and Nathalia (22)—fuel his motivation. “They’re my world,” Taylor says. “I’m not going to leave them here. I am definitely fighting for them.” Kathy and his mother provide unwavering support, with Karren handling daily medications.
Financial Devastation from Fraud
Compounding his health crisis, Taylor has struggled financially since 2007 due to betrayal by a former promoter. Convicted of multiple fraud charges including property and mortgage scams, the promoter accessed a $570,000 line of credit on Taylor’s house right after his final payment, costing him his home.
“I’ve been struggling since 2007,” Taylor reveals. “It’s scary. [It’s all gone] not because of anything I’ve done, it’s because of him.” This hardship intensifies the challenges of treatment costs and daily survival.
Boxing Community Rallies Behind Taylor
The boxing world unites for Taylor. Legends Danny Green and Jeff Fenech offer strong backing. Close friend and promoter Jamie Myer organizes a fundraiser, stressing Taylor’s contributions over 30 years.
“Stage four is tough, but I hope he gets through it,” Myer states. “He has given so much to the sport, always helping others. Boxers hope everyone supports him—with funds or moral encouragement.” Taylor feels the surge: “It’s overwhelming that everybody is getting behind me.”
