No disputing it – Persoon win would trump Olympic glory for Taylor

Katie Taylor claims becoming undisputed world champion would become the brightest light in probably the most glittering career in boxing.

The Bray native is as decorated as any operator in terms of both amateur and pro success winning five World Championships golds, 6 medals of the same metal in the European Champions, 6 top podium places between the EU’s and the European Games, and of course is an Olympic champion.

The Matchroom fighter, who is said to have changed the face of female boxing, has blazed a similar trail in the pro ranks winning the IBF, WBA and WBO world lightweight titles in just 13 fights.

The 32-year-old will have the chance to add a fourth world title to her list of trinkets when she fights WBC champion Delfine Persoon for all the straps on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s U.S. debut on June 1st – and claims victory in Madison Square Garden next month will be her greatest achievement of all.

Considering the Olympics was Taylor’s dream from a young age, not to mention the fact she was key ensuring female fighting was an Olympic thing most would point to the success of London 2012 as the ultimate for the athlete often voted Ireland’s most respected sports star.

However, defeating Delfine Persoon to become Ireland’s first ever undisputed world champion would eclipse even that, claims Taylor.

“As I said I want to make great waves in women’s boxing. It has been incredible in the last few years as a professional boxer. I think it’s been the most exciting period of my whole career and if I do become undisputed champion on June 1 that is going to exceed anything that I have ever done in my whole career as an amateur or a professional fighter. This is a huge huge night for me,” explains Taylor. 

The platform for the potential win also seems to play a part for the Brian Peters managed star.

Taylor will co feature alongside heavyweight Anthony Joshua live on DAZN and if she wins the remaining lightweight world title she will do so under massive spotlight at one of boxing’s iconic venues, Maddison Square Garden.

Those factors seem to be big for the Wicklow fighter.

“To fight for undisputed and the Ring Magazine belt in the mecca of boxing Madison Square Garden I don’t think you could right a better script really. This is an absolute dream.”

Whilst been questioned on what is a historic fight for Taylor and Irish boxing the Olympic gold medal winner did allow herself the chance to reflect on the significance of the occasion.

However, she claims that is never the case when she is in camp. Taylor points out she is focused on Persoon and the job in hand not on what is at stake on June 1.

“It’s great for me to have this opportunity to become undisputed champion, but I think everyday in camp I am pretty much just focused on the job at hand. I probably won’t sit back and think about it until after I have achieved it. That is usually how it is with me I am very much focused.”