Two down, two to go – now Katie aims to unify all belts this year
“YOU are a great champion.”
And with those words, Ireland’s Katie Taylor showed she too is a great champion, and person, as she handed defeated Victoria Bustos back her belt in New York.
Dominant Taylor defeated Bustos over 10 rounds at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn on Saturday night as the Argentine surrendered the belt she had held for five consecutive years.
The Bray boxer is now the unified lightweight champion, holding two belts in the division. However, she wants all four by the end of the year.
After the fight, classy Taylor entered Bustos’s dressing room and handed back the belt, saying: “You are a great champion, thanks so much.”
While it’s normal practice for a champion to hold onto the belt despite a loss, it’s unusual for it to be returned by the person who has just won it.
Promoter Matchroom Boxing confirmed a new belt would be making its way to Ireland.
And Katie, who will aim to become the undisputed world lightweight champion when she takes on Brazilian Rose Volante in England in July, celebrated her weekend win in simple style – with a slice of chocolate cake.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the bout, she admitted it was a “tough contest”.
“I had to work for every second of every round there,” she said.
“She [Bustos] was obviously a proven champ coming into this fight so I knew I had to be sharp. I’m just so, so happy right now.”
Asked if it had been her best performance as a professional so far, she replied: “Possibly, because knew the quality of the opposition was much higher than before.
“It was definitely a tough, tough contest. I had to be clever right from the start. I She’s a very good counterpuncher and she came on strong near the end as well.
“I think I mixed it up well between boxing and fighting there tonight.
“She just kept coming, I was prepared for a tough 10 rounds.
“I have to thank my whole team for the preparations, we had a great camp,” she added.
The 31-year-old unbeaten boxer is now halfway towards fulfilling her dream of becoming the undisputed queen of the 135lb division, having secured the WBA version of the title in Cardiff last October.
Speaking in New York, she said: “I’m there to fight anyone, any of the champions. I’m so lucky to have some great champions in my weight division and there’s some great, great fights out there to be made.
“I want all the belts by the end of this year, for sure,” she added.
A large contingent of Irish fans attended the 18,000-seat Barclays Centre to cheer on Taylor, who was defending her WBA belt for only the second time.
Following her win, she flew back home to Ireland.