A TWIST IN THE TAYL BUT HOME BOUT ON CARDS
KATIE TAYLOR hopes a world title victory this weekend in Cardiff will tee up a home defence in Ireland next year.
Bray woman Taylor challenges WBA world lightweight champion Anahi Esther sanchez of Argentina on Anthony Joshua’s undercard on saturday night.
Promoter Eddie hearn had previously claimed that Taylor’s first shot at a professional world title would come at home after the five-time world amateur champion joined the paid ranks late last year.
however, with the 31-year-old building a 6-0 record, hearn and manager Brian Peters have since opted to maintain Taylor’s promotional links with Joshua.
And so, on saturday night, Taylor will feature on a sky Box office pay-per-view bill topped by the current world heavyweight champion for the third time in her fledging pro career.
While that decision may have been disappointing for her Irish fans, Taylor hopes a win this weekend will lead to a title defence in Dublin next year, with a late spring or early summer date the most likely.
“I suppose, ideally, a title fight in Dublin or Ireland would be perfect really – to get the home crowd behind me as well, but I find it hard to be disappointed because this is my first world title fight,” said Taylor.
“I’m boxing on the undercard of one of the biggest stars in boxing at the moment. It’s going to be a sell-out stadium and I expect to be high up on the card as well, so I can’t really be disappointed with that. I’m just very excited to put on a really good show.
“hopefully I get the win and I can defend the belt at home in Dublin then.”
The Wicklow fighter is a heavy betting favourite to defeat sanchez, despite the fact that her 26-year-old opponent is a two-weight world champion with a 27-2 pro record.
Taylor arrived in Cardiff on Tuesday, taking part in a public workout last night having spent the past weekend at home. The Bray native will meet sanchez face to face at today’s final pre-fight press conference where Joshua will also encounter Carlos Takam – a replacement opponent for the injured Kubrat Pulev – for the first time.
Taylor prepared for her title shot with an 11-week camp at trainer ross Enamait’s Connecticut base before flying back to Europe.
Manager Peters (inset) believes his fighter is ready to peak on saturday night.
“she’s had a good long camp, a great lead-up,” he said.
“This is a good champion she’s facing and that’s what Katie wanted – a real challenge – because we’ve had difficulty getting opponents.”