Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WBA LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT TAYLOR MADE FOR THIS
Katie ready for ‘biggest night of career’
KATIE TAYLOR claims she is ready to mix it up on the “biggest night” of her career at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. The 2012 Olympic champion takes on Argentina’s Anahi Esther Sanchez for the WBA lightweight world title on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title defence against Carlos Takam tomorrow night.
The 31-year-old Bray boxer will be aiming to build on the success of Ireland’s only reigning world champion, Ryan Burnett, following his unification victory over Zhanat Zhakiyanov in Belfast last weekend (right).
And the five-time amateur world champ will take inspiration from her compatriot’s gritty win. “It was a super performance,” said Taylor on Burnett. “Such a physical fight as well, going toe-totoe for 12 rounds… It was incredible really.” Taylor is prepared for a similarly gruelling battle this weekend in the scheduled 10-rounder.
“That’s the plan, to go in there and mix it up,” said Taylor. “There are going to be stages in the fight when I am going to be toe-totoe with her.
“Hopefully, I will make it a small bit easier on myself. We’ll see how the fight is going. She is very experienced and she is very rough and rugged when she does get in there as well. She likes to get in close, so I would be expecting all that but I’m prepared for that.
“This is the biggest night of my career, without a doubt, and I’m so excited about it.”.
While Taylor is heading into her seventh paid fight, 25-year-old Sanchez carries a 17-2 record – although both of the Buenos Aires native’s defeats came in Europe in her only bouts outside of Argentina.
Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium’s roof will be closed on fight night, but the champion is adamant that she will rain on Taylor’s parade as Sanchez aims to make a mockery of her 12/1 underdog odds.
“Everybody is thinking that Katie is coming to lift the belt over here, but they’re wrong,” said the Argentine.
“It won’t be a walk in the park - It will be a dark and rainy night for Katie.
“I am coming for 10 rounds… I want to show the quality of boxer than I am. If it is 10 rounds, I will fight to the end.
“I’m not worried about the crowd, the stage, the people or the publicity. I know the importance of keeping that belt.
“When I go into the ring, I will not be intimidated by 78,000 people. I will only be close up with my opponent,” added the champion.