Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
A KATE WITH DESTINY
Two-weight World champ Taylor mulls over more big tests in 2020
KATIE TAYLOR reverted to the tactics that made her a star and emerged as an icon on Saturday night.
The Bray woman dethroned Christina Linardatou at the Manchester Arena to claim the WBO super-light title and become a two-weight World champion.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic as the Dominican Republic-born puncher won the first, seventh and
10th rounds of a fiery showdown.
But Taylor – who redeployed her slick hit-and-move, counter-punching skills – claimed seven of the 10 frames on two cards and six rounds on another to join Steve Collins and Carl Frampton as Ireland’s two-division world titlists.
Linardatou was left shaking her head when Taylor’s hand was raised in victory. But it was hard to see what her gripe was as most of the clean and accurate work was from the gloves of the Irishwoman.
Cecilia Braekhus or Amanda Serrano are expected to be next for the Wicklow orthodox, who now holds the IBF/WBA/WBO/WBC lightweight belts and the WBO super light strap.
Unbeaten Braekhus recently signed with Eddie Hearn, who promotes Taylor, and a catchweight showdown is inevitable.
Serrano, a multiple weight champion, is itching for revenge after Taylor ran rings around her sister Cindy in New York in 2018.
Hearn reckons Taylor will be happy to take on anyone, claiming: “She will never duck a challenge, 2020 will be huge, she will continue making history. Congrats to a true icon.”
Saturday’s victory was her third at the Manchester Arena and improved Taylor’s record to 15 wins since making her pro debut three years ago.
The London 2012 champion nearly lost her titles after being drawn into a brawl with Delfine Persoon at New York’s Madison Square Garden last June.
But the 33-year-old indicated after the weekend’s victory
that she will be boxing clever from here on in. “I don’t want to be dragged into a fight the way I did in the last fight,” Taylor said.
“I boxed beautifully on the outside, I got smart for a change instead of getting stuck into a fight.
“We knew from the start this was going to be a very tough fight.
“We said Christina was the best 140-pounder in the division.
“I dug deep against Persoon and came out with the victory.
“I’m now a two-weight world champion.
“I can’t wait for the rematch with Persoon and also a huge fight with Amanda Serrano as well.”
Taylor doesn’t mind who her team of Ross Enamait and
Brian Peters sign up to sit on the opposing stool in 2020.
“I don’t know who is next, I just do what I’m told,” she laughed.