OBENAUF WARNS OF TAYLOR SHOCK
VIVIANE OBENAUF has warned Katie Taylor she’s not coming to Manchester as the support cast to the Bray lightweight’s march toward a world title.
“I do not go to participate, I come to fight and of course with 100 per cent thoughts to win,” said the Switzerland-based orthodox fighter.
The Brazil-born Obenauf meets Taylor over six rounds on the Anthony Joshua versus Eric Molina undercard live on Sky Sports Box Office at the 21,000 capacity Manchester Arena on Saturday night.
Obenauf has won nine (4 KO) of her 10 fights so far, her only defeat arriving at the hands of Italian world champion Vissia Trovato in November, 2015.
Since that reversal she’s claimed three straight victories in 2016.
Obenauf, who has never fought outside Switzerland, believes Taylor’s inexperience in the pro ranks can be exploited.
“I think yes, of course. She has not yet seen how pro boxing is, the hits are hard,” she said.
Taylor stopped Poland’s
Karina Kopinska in the third round last month in London, right, in an acclaimed pro debut for the former Olympic and five-time World Elite champion.
Obenauf, who earned a unanimous decision over Kopinska after six rounds in Berne in October, was impressed with Taylor’s first outing in the paid ranks.
“Katie is a very good boxer. I have a lot of respect. And she felt it when Karina got angry. Katie is a very experimental boxer, very good. I know only I should give everything and must.”
Taylor, ranked No1 in the World at lightweight by the international Boxing Association, the governing body for amateur boxing, for 10 uninterrupted years, is being fast tracked to a world title in under 10 fights, according to her team.
Taylor said:“boxing in front of 21,000 is a new experience for me, and I’m looking forward to the next step of the journey and hoping to entertain the fans at the Manchester Arena.”
Promoted by Eddie Hearn and managed by Brian Peters, Taylor is also due to fight at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 18, although she could fight again before St Patrick’s weekend.
Stephen Espinoza, Showtime Sports chief in the USA, has had talks with Hearn about Taylor and is also watching the progress of two-time Olympic champion Claressa Shields who has also switched to the paid ranks.
Espinoza said: “Katie Taylor, we have an eye on her, and Claressa is a really interesting prospect as well. There are plenty of options. There is talent out there. We just need to find the slots and dates for them.”