Taylah Gentzen: “A world title isn’t just a dream. It’s the mission.”

Taylah Gentzen: “A world title isn’t just a dream. It’s the mission.”

The story may differ, but boxing always seems to find a way in when it is most needed. Taylah Gentzen was perhaps in desperate need of the Noble Art when boxing came into her life. A toxic relationship had left her on the brink. At the time, Gentzen called boxing her escape. Now, it is something a little more.

“I grew up in Werribee, Victoria, a working-class suburb where you had to be tough in one way or another,” Gentzen says of her formative years. “My family were hard workers, and they taught me the value of showing up, putting in the effort, and never cutting corners. That work ethic shaped me today.”

The entry into boxing came at a time when she needed it the most. “Boxing was always in the background of my life. My uncle was a boxer, and I took it up when I was younger, but my family wouldn’t let me fight, so I moved on to other sports.

“Years later, I was in a bad relationship and going through a rough time. I felt stuck, like I had no real outlet. A mate convinced me to walk into a boxing gym to let off some steam, and from that moment, I was hooked. It gave me structure, an escape, and eventually, a purpose.”

“Boxing strips you down and builds you back up,” Gentzen adds when I dig a little deeper into what her sport gives her. “It’s so raw! It teaches discipline, mental toughness, and self-belief. There’s something about pushing past what you thought were your limits and realising you have so much more to learn and give. That applies to life just as much as it does to the ring. Inside the ring is where I feel most at peace, and it’s just an incredible feeling. That’s what my tattoo on my leg represents – the heart vs. the brain.”

It’s apparent what boxing gave her at the start. But now it’s morphed into much more.

“I’ve had about sixty amateur fights and won the Australian welterweight national title two years running,” Gentzen says of her amateur record. “The amateur system has given me experience against different styles, sharpened my skills, and taught me how to adapt under pressure. The amateurs will always mean a lot to me because an amateur world title is something I’ve dreamt about for the last fourteen years. And finally I have the opportunity to fight for my country and secure my dreams.”

Gentzen is chasing her amateur dreams alongside similar aspirations in the professional ranks. Gentzen turned professional in 2023 and is currently seven fights into that professional journey.

“Going pro was another level,” Gentzen told me. “The training, the mindset, the stakes. Everything is different. I’m still adjusting to transitioning from the fast-paced three-minute amateur rounds to the longer ten two-minute professional format. But I love the pro ranks because it’s more of a show. It’s entertainment, and I feel a lot of freedom to be myself inside the ring.

“I won the professional Australian title in July and then the WBA Oceania lightweight title, which put me in the top 10 WBA rankings and number nineteen in the world. It’s been a crazy ride, but I know I’m only just getting started.”

Gentzen won her first six professional fights, but she suffered her first reversal at the hands of the talented lightweight prospect Shauna Browne in January, losing her unbeaten record on a split decision over ten hard rounds.

“The last fight didn’t go my way,” Gentzen says of her first setback as a professional. “That’s part of the game. I’ve never been one to say no to a fight or an opportunity. It was an amazing experience to be part of such a big event and to step in with an experienced opponent like Shauna. That fight was a dream come true.

“I had the chance to prove I belong on the world stage, and hopefully, I did that. I have signed to Tasman Fighters, and there are big things to come! No excuses. I’ll learn from it, come back stronger, and keep moving forward. You either let losses break you, or you use them as fuel. I know which one I’m choosing.”

“On Monday, I’m heading overseas with the Australian team to compete in two international tournaments,” Gentzen adds when I ask what is next for her. “I’ll be back in the ring in May, fighting for my spot on the World Games amateur team. Then, in July, I should be back in the pro ring, fighting for another title.

“This is a huge moment for me because, after fourteen years of collecting silver medals, this will be my first time wearing the Australian uniform and competing for my country.”

That loss to Shauna Browne certainly hasn’t dimmed the lofty ambitions of the Australian. If anything, it has motivated her even more.

“A world title isn’t just a dream,” Gentzen told FightPost. “It’s the mission. I want to be the best, not just in Australia but on the world stage. I want my name in the history books for the right reasons.”

Her chosen sport is only part of the Taylah Gentzen story. “Before boxing, I made history in another way. I was the first woman to pass Infantry IETs and be posted to a Battalion as an infantry soldier. That experience taught me a lot about resilience, proving people wrong, and breaking barriers. It’s something I carry with me into boxing every day.

“On top of that, I’m not just a full-time athlete. I’m a fiancée, a mum to our beautiful daughter, and I work full-time in the Australian Defence Force as a physical training instructor.”

“I also love horses. I started riding when I was six, and I have an advanced diploma in equine management. Additionally, I used to hate my hands. I was always self-conscious. I thought they were too big, too masculine, and I used to bite my nails constantly (I still do). But over time, I’ve come to love them because they tell my story. Every scar, every callus is proof of the hard work I’ve put in.”

Maybe hard work is the defining word in all of this. You could also add ambition and perseverance. Everything combined could very easily result in that ‘mission’ of a world title being realised in the not-too-distant future.