Taylor is down for July title defence in London

KATIE Taylor will defend her WBA and IBF world lightweight titles against American Kimberly Connor at London’s O2 Arena next month.

The fight will be the main support bout on the undercard of Dillian Whyte’s heavyweight clash with former WBO world champion Joe Parker, which will be broadcast on Sky Sports Box Office on July 28.

The experienced Connor is ranked the third in both the WBA and IBF middleweight rankings. She challenged Victoria Bustos for the IBF belt in Argentina last year but lost on points.

The 37-year-old also fought the five-weight world champion Amanda Serrano, whom Taylor hopes to face in the future, but was stopped in the second round. IRELAND failed to hold the Netherlands in yesterday’s T20 international in a tight run chase at the VOB Ground in Rotterdam. Roelof van der Merwe stood out among the Dutch bowlers, taking 2-24 from his four overs and claiming the important wickets of Simi Singh and Kevin O’Brien. Netherlands have become a bogey team for Ireland, having now recorded wins in their last five encounters. Ireland will have two days’ break and then head into two matches against Scotland on 16 and 17 June 2018. NEW ZEALAND teenager Amelia Kerr set a new world batting record in women’s one-day cricket with her unbeaten 232 against Ireland in Dublin yesterday. Kerr, 17, broke the record total during the third match of the series, a few days after the White Ferns scored 490-4. Ireland were bowled out for 135, chasing a huge 441 to win.