Taylor seals world-title bout against Brazilian in March

KATIE TAYLOR will bid to secure a third world title when she faces 36-year-old Brazilian Rose Volante, the current WBO lightweight title holder, in Philadelphia on March 15.

Her promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed last night that the contracts had been signed for the fight which will be the chief support contest on a bill which may include some of Ireland’s leading professional fighters, including Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan, Jono Carroll, Jason Quigley, Niall Kennedy, John Joe Nevin and the McKenna brothers from Monaghan, who are based in LA.

“I’m over the moon to confirm contracts are signed for Katie Taylor to unify against WBO champ Rose Volante on our big Paddy’s Day weekend show in Philly in March. Full card announced soon – the road to undisputed is on,” declared Matchroom boss Hearn in a tweet.

In reply, Katie – who is currently enjoying a break in Ireland – simply said: “Let’s go”.

The announcement comes less than 24 hours after Taylor’s career received a significant boost when BoxRec, the sport’s official record-keeper, announced that they now rated her as the best pound-for-pound female professional boxer in the world.

Three belts will be on the line in March when Taylor steps into the ring. She will be defending her IBF and WBA lightweight crowns as well as chasing Volante’s WBO belt, which is regarded as the least prestigious of the four titles in the 135lb weight category.

Delfine Persoon will defend her WBC belt in her native Belgium in early March.

Ever since she turned professional in late 2017, Taylor has repeatedly said that her primary objective is to unify the lightweight divisions.

Initially it had been hoped to announce the fight against Volante before Christmas but the negotiations hit a snag.

A native of San Paulo, Volante won the WBO belt in December 2017 in Argentina and has successfully defended it on two occasions.

She is unbeaten in the professional ranks, winning 14 fights – eight inside the distance.