Katie Taylor manager hits out at rivals – wants them to “do their bit”

Stop hiding behind excuses and let’s make the super fights – that’s the message from Brian Peters to those that manage the careers of the other female fight champions and big names.

Katie Taylor’s manager has previously bemoaned the fact that some of the game’s female stars and beltholders have been avoiding or pricing themselves out of a clash with the WBA and IBF lightweight world champion.

The man behind the Bernard Dunne-era reiterated the point ahead of the 2012 Olympic gold medalist’s seemingly routine title defence against American Kimberly Connor which is set for the Dillian Whyte v Joseph Parker PPV card in London tomorrow night.

The Meath man’s patience seems to wearing thin and, speaking to Sky Sports Toe2Toe podcast, he all but demanded the ‘super fights’ be made.

Peters believes bouts with the two remaining world champions at the weight, Rose Volante and Delfine Persoon, a rematch with Natasha Jonas, a fight with Barry McGuigan-managed Chantelle Cameron, and Top Rank’s Mikalea Mayer are all fan friendly mega fights and are fights that have to happen.

“What you need now is to start building up some super fights. Katie will fight everyone, everyone that’s out there will get their chance. Katie wants all the belts and all the fights,” said the experienced promoter and manager.

“There are some big, big fights out there that need to be made. You’ve got the WBC champion Delfine Persoon, Amanda Serrano, Natasha Jonas, Chantelle Cameron, Mikaela Mayer, so there are big, big fights there,” he added before calling on the people who manage the careers of said fighters to act quick.

“These fights just need to happen. I don’t know why everyone is waiting, just make the fights and let’s get going. Many is the slip between the cup and the lip.”

“I’ll tell you now Katie would fight Amanda Serrano, Delfine Persoon, Rose Volante, Natasha Jonas, she would fight them all one after the other.”

Peters is aware Taylor has brought more glamour, prestige, revenue, and even respect to the female side of the sport.

The Irish sporting legend has fought live on PPV cards, topped bills, won titles and impressed pundits and fans alike on both sides of the Atlantic in her short nine-fight career.

However, Peters points out it’s unfair to expect 32-year-old Taylor to carry the torch for female fighters on her own and for other punchers to just see her as a pay day. Indeed, he called for those looking for well-paid fights with the former amateur standard setter to do their part in building these bouts and for the female side of the game in general.

“All those fighters need to do their bit. They have to get fighting they have to fight regularly. Their managers and promoters have to do their job, they can’t just be jumping on the back of Katie. They got to build up their reputations and go out there and do it.” 

Taylor goes into her clash this weekend a massive favourite and with a fight against Cindy Serrano, elder sister of five-weight champ Amanda, already lined up for October 6th in Chicago.

A win is expected and while Peters claims two-time world title challenger Connor will prove tough opposition, he does suggest it’s something of a keep-busy defence for the talented Bray boxer.

“Kimberly is Katie’s mandatory for the IBF title. She wouldn’t have been our first choice but Katie was never giving up the belt so we had to fighter her.”

“Look, she is tough, experienced, and this is still only Katie’s tenth fight.”

“It’s more experience on a big show and it’s just to keep Katie busy. It’s good to keep busy and Katie loves that, that’s what she likes. ”

Listen to this week’s Toe2Toe Podcast in full here.