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Road to Undisputed – Katie Taylor targets all 4 belts by end of the year


She joined Carl Frampton and Ryan Burnett as just the third Irish fighter in history to unify world titles with victory in New York last night, but Katie Taylor wants to out do her the talented duo and make history of her own.

The Bray sensation put in a stunning display to defeat long-reigning champion Victoria Noelia Bustos to add the IBF title to the WBA crown she brought into the ring with her.

However, straight after the fight the 31-year-old set her sights on more and wants to stand out as an Irish boxing history maker.
It’s a case of two down two to go for Taylor [9(4)-0], as the lightweight who set so many amateur records sets her sights on becoming the first Irish fighter of the multi-belt era to become undisputed world champion.

Indeed, the Brian Peters-managed star wants all the belts before the year is out.

“I want all the belts by the end of this year for sure,” she said after the entertaining bout at the Barclays Center.

“I’m there to fight anyone, any of the champions. I said before, I’m so lucky to have some great champions in my weight division. There’s some great, great fights out there to be made.”

Considering the only Irish fighters to unify are still active suggests we are in a golden period for the pro side of the game on this island.

Taylor is not our only world class fighter currently trading leather but is best placed to achieve undisputed status.

Frampton, who unified with victory over Scott Quigg before moving up in weight is currently without a belt and a bit away from having all the featherweight titles. Burnett’s mandatory obligations meant he had to vacate one of his bantamweight titles, but depending on who enters the World Super Series he may be afforded the chance to unify before the Summer of 2019.

For Wicklow’s Taylor, she would have to dethrone WBC champ Delfine Persoon [40(16)-1(1)] of Belgium as well as claim the pink WBO belt currently held by Brazilian Rose Volante [13(7)-0] who stopped the grossly overweight Lourdes Borbua last week.

Taylor certainly has her sights set on having the four major titles at her weight before 2018 is out but that aspiration doesn’t mean she didn’t appreciate Saturday’s achievement.

“It’s always been my dream to unify this title. A tough, tough contest. I had to work for every second of every round there. She was obviously a proven champ coming into this fight so I knew I had to be sharp. I’m just so, so happy right now.”

The victory wasn’t all that caught fight fans eyes. The five time world amateur champ and London 2012 gold medal winner’s performance was cited as the best of her career. A mixture of fight and flair once again proved not only is the Bray BC graduate a one of the world’s most skilled operators but rubber stamped her great entertainer status.

“Possibly, because I knew the quality of the opposition was much higher than before,” she responded when asked if it was indeed her best ever performance.”

“It was definitely a tough, tough contest. I had to be clever right up from the start. She’s a very good counter-puncher and she came on strong near the end as well.”

“She just kept coming and coming, really, but I knew it was going to be hat way, I had prepared for a tough ten rounder.”

“I probably stood too much, there’s probably a bit too much fight in me sometimes but it’s great to entertain the crowd as well.”

“I think I mixed it up well between boxing and fighting her tonight.”

“I was really sharp for the whole ten rounds and I have to thank my whole team for the great camp and Ross [Enamait, coach] is definitely the mastermind behind everything I do, I wouldn’t be in this position without him.”

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