Wahlstrom has the credentials to test indomitable Taylor
WHEN Katie Taylor first crossed paths with Eva Wahlstrom, it didn’t even register in the Irish sporting psyche. A teenage Taylor had travelled to the Norwegian city of Tonsberg for the European championships, returning with her first major medal. There was no fanfare. Details of their European lightweight final didn’t even make the next day’s newspapers.
Much has changed in the intervening 13 years. The Bray native has been established as a national treasure since claiming Olympic gold in London. Her greatness was recognised a long time before she took the leap into the professional ranks with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable, but there are still some who search for caveats.
Cindy Serrano’s reluctance to engage in Taylor’s last defence of her WBA and IBF lightweight titles did women’s boxing no favours. Serrano gave the impression that she only arrived in Boston’s TD Garden to pick up a pay-cheque as Taylor comfortably won every round. The champion grew so frustrated with her over-matched opponent that she beckoned her on during the bout, even putting her hands behind her back at one stage.
There’s no fear of a repeat when the Bray boxer fights in Madison Square Garden for the first time next Saturday. Wahlstrom is a dangerous opponent. She’s a renowned figure in Finland where she is the country’s most successful professional boxer and, even though the WBC superfeatherweight champion is moving up a weight, Taylor is expected to be tested more than she has been in her previous 11 bouts.
‘After what happened last time, it was vital to get an opponent of note,’ admits Brian Peters, Taylor’s manager. ‘Eva is a very accomplished fighter. She is undefeated in 23 professional bouts, she is a big star back in Finland and she will test Katie. She will definitely take rounds off her. This could be quite close.’
Wahlstrom, 38, was in her mid-teens when she first laced up boxing gloves. In a decorated amateur career, she won 10 national championships, four Nordic championships and two European silvers.
She turned professional in 2010 but has struggled with health issues, almost retiring in 2012 after suffering a pulmonary embolism (a blockage in the artery of the lungs). By December 2013, Wahlstrom was back in the ring, beating the Polish former world kickboxing champion Anna Sikora in her return bout. Two years later, she beat Argentina’s Natalia Aguirre to claim the WBC superfeatherweight title.
Even though the bout was only confirmed 11 days before the card, Wahlstrom had been in camp as she was due to defend her title in St Petersburg later this month (her opponent, Firuza Sharipova withdrew because of injury). And this was too good an opportunity for the Finn, and Taylor’s team, to pass up.
Matchroom had always had a space cleared for Taylor on the Canelo Alvarez-Rocky Fielding undercard, but the issue, as always, was finding a suitable opponent. With an expected massive audience in the United States, they needed a bout that would showcase the best of women’s boxing. ‘I believe Katie and Eva will showcase what women’s boxing is,’ Peters says. ‘And they will do it on a show that is headlined by boxing’s biggest star. But even with Canelo fighting, Katie wants to steal the show.’
Ideally, Taylor would have faced WBO champion Rose Valente, as she remains determined to unify the division. But there have been difficulties in getting the Brazilian to the negotiating table. However, there will be concerted efforts to make fights with both Valente and WBC titleholder Delfine Persoon in the New Year.
‘We will unify the division. That will be the goal in the first six months of the year. Katie will win the other two belts,’ Peters proclaims.
Norwegian superstar Cecilia Braekhus is currently the only female undisputed champion at welterweight, and the first women boxer to hold all four major belts simultaneously (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO). Taylor wants to be the second and the hope is that the pair could eventually face each other in the ring at a catchweight in a super-fight.
There’s also the possibility of Holly Holm, Amanda Serrano and Mikaela Mayer in Taylor’s future. ‘There are plenty of fights to get excited about,’ Peters insists.
All of those big fights will come in the second phase of Katie Taylor’s pro career, which begins when she faces Eva Wahlstrom in Madison Square Garden.