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Katie Taylor Faces Final Hurdle on Road to Undisputed

Since making her debut in the professional ranks back in 2016, Ireland’s Katie Taylor has shot to boxing stardom and brought a whole new audience to the women’s game. 

The Wicklow native had her 2016 Olympic dream ended by controversial officiating, alongside then Irish teammate Michael Conlan during the Games in Brazil, but has overcome that setback towards the end of her amateur days to become the biggest female name in the sport. 

Taylor has been nothing short of superb in each and every bout she has entered in the paid ranks, having linked with Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn when turning over three years ago. Never one to miss a great business move, Hearn clearly saw the potential that ‘KT’ brought to female boxing and she’s rewarded such faith in her with top results on massive fight nights. 

Next up will be the final hurdle on her initially outlined goal of becoming the undisputed world champion. The 32-year-old will act as the co-feature to Anthony Joshua’s latest heavyweight title defence, as the British superstar makes his long-awaited debut in the United States of America on June 1st. 

Taylor will take to the ring on that date as the odds-on 1/16 favourite with bet365 in the boxing betting to come out on top and achieve her initial target of becoming the undisputed champion of the world against a seemingly tough challenger. 

Meanwhile, her opponent Delfine Persoon is regarded as the 8/1 outsider to pull off what would be a massive upset on American soil this summer in front of her home supporters. 

Katie_Taylor_Enters_2012_Summer_Olympics

Katie Taylor Enters 2012 Summer Olympics by cormac70 (CC BY 2.0)

But it looks likely that Taylor will cement her name in women’s boxing history by overcoming Persoon by adding the WBC belt to her collection of the other three major organisations’ titles and rallying to undisputed lightweight queen. 

While the Irish talent will enter proceedings unbeaten in her 13 bouts to date, including six ending inside the distance, Persoon has lost on just one occasion across her 44 ring outings, proving her experience and mettle in the division.

But Taylor has racked up three world titles in her short 13-fight spell and looks more than capable of closing out her undisputed goal in New York City’s Madison Square Garden this summer.

Only in March of this year, she produced perhaps her best performance to date when dismantling Rose Valente and taking the WBO strap in Philadelphia. 

That admirable victory saw her set up a showdown with Persoon, who is widely regarded as one of the leading women’s pound-for-pound fighters on the planet. 

So, while unified world heavyweight champion Joshua looks to impress on his debut on American territory on June 1st, Taylor will be aiming to steal some of the headlines with another decisive showing under the lights at ‘the Mecca of Boxing’. 

Taylor is already regarded as an Irish sporting legend and this potential triumph will only add to that evergrowing legacy. 

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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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