Katie Taylor defeats Delfine Persoon by way of majority decision!
Following ten exciting rounds WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight world champion Katie Taylor retained her belts after winning by majority decision.
In doing so, she collected a distraught Delfine Persoon’s WBC lightweight world title strap. The final ruling of 95-95, 96-94 twice is being looked at as a dubious ruling.
In the opening round, Taylor moved well and clearly controlled the pace of the fight. The Irish fighter continued this success in the second round, however in the second half of the period she slowed a fraction.
The deceleration was enough for Persoon to catch up and land a number of impactful punches.
From this round forth the match was a rather gritty prizefight.
Throughout the contest, Taylor had the better foot movement and did the most moving and holding. While the Irish Taylor may have been fleeter of foot, the pressure that Persoon put on her was obviously troublesome.
Whenever they got close the Belgian Persoon would mug, push, use her shoulder and lean her body weight on Taylors neck. She meant to make it a rough and tumble scrap and was very successful at it.
Just as it seemed like Taylor was starting to find a good groove in the fourth and fifth rounds, Persoon came roaring back in the fifth and sixth periods. Down the stretch Persoon appeared to edge the bout out with her non-stopped punching, pressure attack.
On the stool in between the eighth and ninth periods Taylor looked like she was ready to pass out. Although both women were swinging for the fences up until the final bell, it seemed like it was only Persoon who wanted to some more. Taylor seemed to be ready to go home.
After the cards were read, a heartbroken Persoon near instantly fled the ring. It did appear that the wrong fighter got the nod. To her credit, even though she has a potential money fight with Amanda Serrano available, or rematch with unified junior welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill, Taylor said that she was open to giving the Belgian fighter a rematch.
Given the high competitiveness of the bout, combined with the memorable action, staging a immediate rematch might be the right thing to do.
By: Bakari Simpson
