Taylor keen to take step towards unifying division with first world title defence
KATIE Taylor is determined to make the first defence of her WBA lightweight title tomorrow night so she can ensure a “big 2018” and pursue her ambition of unifying the division.
The 31-year-old Bray woman meets America’s Jessica McCaskill at London’s York Hall, having won her first professional title in October on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s defeat of Carlos Takam.
Taylor (right) tops a professional bill for the first time in her eighth fight, following a decorated amateur career, and said at a London press conference: “My dream is to unify the division.
“I’m not looking past Wednesday, my aim is to win to set me up nicely for a big year in 2018.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen this quickly that I would headline a card. This is the sort of platform I’ve always wanted. It’s such a wonderful card to be boxing on in such an historic venue. I can’t wait.”
Chicago ace McCaskill (33) insists she has discovered “mistakes” in the highly-respected champion’s make-up.
“A lot of the good things you see about Katie Taylor are in highlights,” she said. “If you watch the fight there are a lot of mistakes.
“There are opportunities there and I intend to take advantage.” Meanwhile, Tyson Fury has urged UK Anti-Doping to do the “right thing” when his hearing finally restarts.
Confusion reigned yesterday as his hearing appeared to meet with yet another delay, despite being scheduled to restart after a four-month wait. Neither Fury or UKAD arrived at a planned arbitration panel in London, leaving the boxer’s status shrouded in mystery.
The former unified champion has not fought since his stunning world title triumph over Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, after he tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in February 2015.
He denies the nandrolone charge, claiming that the positive result was due to his eating of an entire wild boar.
“Hopefully they will do the right thing. I want to get back out there,” said Fury.