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Taylor v Wahlström fight is “huge” for women’s boxing


The best of women’s boxing will be on show in Madison Square Garden tonight according to Katie Taylor [11(5)-0].

The ‘Bray Bomber’, as she is now being called, was left disappointed in Boston last time out as Cindy Serrano didn’t produce the kind of courage she is noted for and went into survival mode during her IBF and WBA lightweight world title challenge.

Former Taylor amateur foe and sparring partner Eva Wahlström [22(3)-0-1] provides the opposition on the undercard of the DAZN and Sky Sports-broadcast New York show tonight and the London 2012 Olympic gold medal winner is predicting a showing worthy of the iconic venue.

Indeed, the unified world champion believes the Finn, who is unbeaten WBC super featherweight champion, will prove her toughest test as a pro so far.

“This is definitely my biggest test to date, but I feel well prepared for this type of challenge. I have been training hard over the last few months. After the Cindy Serrano fight I just went straight back into camp for this fight so I am definitely ready,” Taylor told Fight Hype.

“These are the kind of fights that I want. These are the challenges that I want and on Saturday night I think your going to see the best of women’s boxing. This is going to be huge.”

Although Wahlström has been billed as Taylor’s toughest test, other names and future fights have been put to the Wicklow native throughout fight week. 

Amanda Serrano, younger sister of Cindy, has confirmed she will try and make history when she challenges for a world title in seventh weight class in January and has stated she has agreed to trade leather with the Matchroom puncher in 2019.

The First Lady of Boxing, Cecilia Braekhus, who successfully defended all four of her welterweight titles on HBO’s last boxing broadcast last weekend is another big name to be put the way of Taylor and the Brian Peters-managed fighter is open to both.

“I think that is one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing right now. It’s a fight that we both want and next year I think that’s a fight that is going to happen. That would be a huge fight for the sport and I would absolutely love that fight,” said of Serrano before commenting on Braekhus.

“That’s a fight that she has expressed she wants too. I think if that fight can be made at 140 or 142 or some catchweight I’d definitely be willing to make that fight. That is a huge fight and I have always said I want to be involved in the biggest fights possible. I want to create history in this sport, I want to leave a great legacy and I want to fight everyone that there is out there.”

Watch Katie Taylor’s interview with FightHub below:

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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