The American Dream – Peters hopes perfect Katie Taylor opponent can make breakthrough

It is often said by some in her team that Katie Taylor’s long-term future lies in America.

An Irish fighter, the U.S. East Coast could be a fertile hunting ground for the WBA lightweight champion who made a well-received Stateside debut in New York last July.

The oft-cited roadblock to super-stardom for the decorated amateur legend is a lack of legitimate threats and challenges.

Manager Brian Peters believes that this roadblock can be overcome while simultaneously boosting Taylor’s appeal, and he has pin-pointed the perfect foe.

Peters feels Top Rank fighter Mikaela Mayer is the leading potential future rival for the Bray boxer, and wants to see the rangey Californian developed.

World Championships bronze medalist Mayer turned pro last year with big backing, and has raced to 3-0 on big undercards. The promotional might of Top Rank are investing a lot into the 27 year old – much like Matchroom with Taylor – and a match-up down the line makes sense to Peters.

“Yeah a very good fighter,” Peters said of Mayer. “That’s probably a fight…like anything we’re thinking who is Katie going to fight next year, four or five times.”

“I have got to have a list of opponents and she [Mayer] could be down the road a bit. England’s Chantelle Cameron and Natasha Jonas also feature on that list.

“I’d love her [Mayer] to get a world title, a belt and get a unification fight. There’s talk of Mikaela headlining on ESPN. She could be main event on ESPN herself – that would be huge.”

“Katie’s profile is bigger than a lot of these fighters. I’d like to see their profiles get built up a lot more, generate a lot more interest.”

In more immediate terms, next up for Taylor is most likely an Irish homecoming at the 3Arena in April.

A unification bout looks to be on the table for Taylor [8(4)-0], and Peters reiterated promoter Eddie Hearn’s indication that IBF champion Victoria Noelia Bustos will be in the opposite corner come fight night.

While Peters admits that the Argentinian may not be as good a ‘sell’ as some of the elite amateurs that have turned pro recently, time dictates that Taylor must face those who are at the top currently.

The Meath manager described how “if you are going to the 3Arena, or the RDS you need someone who is going to sell it. [Anahi] Sanchez, who Katie beat [for the WBA title] wasn’t the best to sell a fight. Bustos, she is also from Argentina and has the belt. Katie wants the belt. She’ll be the front-runner for it.”

“April would be my preference for Katie and in the 3Arena and against Bustos.”