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CONFIRMED – Opponent, Date and Venue for Katie Taylor’s next fight

Katie Taylor [14(6)-0] will top a star-studded bill in Manchester on Saturday November 2nd as she bids to become a two-weight world champion.

Irish-Boxing.com can reveal the undisputed lightweight champion of the world will challengeĀ Christina ā€˜Medusaā€™ Linardatou [12(6)-1(0)] for her WBO light welterweight title in a headline fight at the Manchester Arena.

November 2nd has long since been the date Eddie Hearn has muted for the Irish sensation’s first fight since unifying the lightweight division in New York in June.Ā 

The promoter also hinted the trail blazing star would look to move up in weight in a ‘make more history’ move.

However, most predicted London as the venue before Irish-Boxing.com revealed Manchester would host the fight late last month.Ā 

Questions as to who Taylor would fight also remained with a host of potential opponents being mentioned before a process of elimination hadĀ Linardatou as most people’s front runner.Ā 

Having spoken to parties involved in making the deal, Irish-Boxing.com can reveal the Dominican Republic-born puncher, who fights out of Greece, has agreed terms with Matchroom and will be present at a press conference to officially announce the show tomorrow afternoon.

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We can also reconfirm Manchester, and the Manchester Arena, will host the clash – and the five-time amateur world champion will be the main event for the second time in her pro career – but this time in a venue that holds over 20,000 extra people.

Itā€™s a massive achievement for the Wicklow native and indicates just how popular she has become. Itā€™s also another significant statement for womenā€™s boxing and female sport in general.

READ: ‘Bloodthirsty savageā€™ and Ali v Frazier style fight await Katie Taylor in November

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The arena formerly known as the MEN has had some massive names as headline acts. The 22,000 seater indoor venue was the home of Ricky Hatton, and has played host to massive fights for David Haye, Naseem Hamed, Anthony Joshua, Mike Tyson, Chris Eubank and many many more.

The arena was also deemed big enough to host Carl Froch versus George Groves I, as well as Joe Calzaghe versus Jeff Lacy ā€“ not to mention Carl Framptonā€™s super bantamweight unification versus Scott Quigg.

Also from an Irish perspective, Taylor will follow in the footsteps of Steve Collins, Eamonn Magee, Frampton and Paul McCloskey as fighters from these shores to cross the water and headline at the sizeable venue ā€“ while Taylor herself has previously appeared on two undercards in the city centre arena.

Any worries with regard to whether it will be a sell or not will be quashed if, as rumoured, Anthony Crolla will have a farewell fight on the undercard.

However, to increase the potential of an Irish invasion, Hearn may look to add some Irish fighters to the undercard – although a lot of the potential pugilists look set to go down different avenues.

James Tennyson is set to fight a week prior in London, he may be open to moving his British title final eliminator versus Craig Evans further north. Tommy McCarthy, who also could have benefited from Mark Dunlopā€™s relationship with Hearn, has a big Matchroom Italy promoted European Union title fight to look forward too.

Matchroom fighter Jono Carroll has been linked with Scott Quigg this week, but Hearn has suggested that would suit the undercard of Andy Ruiz versus Anthony Joshua II.

TJ Doheny as the other Irish name on Matchroom’s book may be an option. The Portlaoise fighter did tell Irish-boxing.com he had news in the pipeline, but it’s more likely he will fight Stateside.

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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