TAYLOR LINES UP BRAEKHUS SHOWDOWN
KATIE TAYLOR says than an ideal 2019 will see her become the undisputed lightweight champion of the world before facing the undisputed welterweight champion, Norway’s Cecilia Braekhus in a historic, ground-breaking showdown by the end of the year.
Taylor added the WBO title to her IBF and WBA crowns in Philadelphia last weekend and her undisputed title bout with Belgium’s WBC champion Delfine Persoon is expected to take place in Madison Square Garden on June 1 as chief support bout to Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title defence against Jarrell Miller.
If Taylor wins, she will become the first Irish boxer to be an undisputed champion of the world; she is already the first to hold three of the four major title belts. However, the Bray native, at home after stopping Rose Volante in the ninth round last Friday, accepts that Persoon will be her toughest test yet.
The 34-year-old Belgian has fought 44 times as a professional and only lost once. She has knocked out 17 of her opponents.
‘This will be the toughest fight of my career and I will have to be at 100 per cent going into this fight. She is a long-reigning world champion and a great champion. She punches nonstop for 10 rounds,’ Taylor said. Aside from Persoon and Braekhus, Amanda Serrano is the other name that has been bracketed with Taylor. The Puerto Rican has won world titles at seven different weight divisions. ‘A fight between myself and Amanda has been talked about a lot,’ Taylor agreed. ‘It is something we have both expressed an interest in, but we will have to wait and see.’ However, the true mega-fight would see Taylor (below) face Braekhus, probably at a catchweight of 140lbs. The Norwegian, one of only five fighters ever (male or female) to hold all four major title belts simultaneously, has long been considered the best pound-forpound women’s boxer in the world. Meanwhile, Taylor admitted that a homecoming bout in Dublin seems unlikely in the shortterm, at least. ‘I would love to have one of those mega-fights home in Dublin but at the moment, the next couple of fights will be in America,’ said Taylor.