PURE CLASS: IT’S 10 OUT OF 10 FOR KATIE
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KATIE TAYLOR yet again proved her undeniable class as she defended her two world lightweight titles at a sell-out O2 Arena in London.
The Bray bruiser made it 10 from 10 in her professional boxing career thanks to a third round TKO victory over Kimberley Connor but Taylor didn’t emerge completely unscathed and some battle scars were visible on her eye.
Taylor, who turned 32 in July, will take on Cindy Serrano in Chicago in October.
‘All week the atmosphere has been amazing and it carried on tonight (Saturday),” Taylor told reporters after her fight.
‘The UK fans have got on board from the start and really taken me on as their own and I didn’t expect to be on these big bills every time. It has been perfect so far, which is a nice surprise.
‘It was nice to get the knockout tonight. I was calm and patient and it was important to stamp my authority early on. I let her know who was boss I guess.
‘Kimberly was tough,” add- ed Taylor. “I happened to catch her with a good shot, stayed composed, and got a good finish.
Taylor’s eye was swollen afterwards and as she iced it in her changing room, she acknowledged the physicality that the American brought to the table but the ever-learning Taylor was always in control.
‘I knew I had a bump on the eye but it wasn’t going to affect me. I’ve got two belts.
Two more to go.
‘I thought the finish was definitely a huge improvement. In previous fights, when I hurt someone I would have rushed in but I stayed nice and composed today.
‘I’m very happy with the finish obviously. Especially seeing as I got a lump under my eye, I was happy to finish early,’ Taylor explained to iFL TV.
Taylor continued to comment that her competitors seem to raise their game when they step into the ring with the Olympic champion but on Saturday it proved irrelevant as Connor was stopped in her tracks nonetheless.
‘Every opponent that comes in boxes above and beyond what they can do. She boxed very well I thought. She was aggressive early on and I was actually quite surprised by her. I didn’t know she was going to be as aggressive as that early on.
‘I’m delighted with the stoppage. I needed that stoppage today. And I can now focus on the Cindy Serrano fight.”
Serrano has been stoking the fire in the media, claiming that Taylor was scared to face her younger - and higher ranked - sister Amanda Serrano but Taylor joked that she would take on both if they wanted to.
‘Now I’m looking forward. It’s a huge night for me and a huge fight. People I think are really excited about this one.
‘I think the clash of styles is going to be great. It makes for a very exciting fight.
‘Afterwards, we can get the other sister (Amanda) or else if she wants to fight on the same night I can do that as well.’