Katie Taylor Eager to Set the Record Straight with Delfine Persoon
If given her choice of opponents, undisputed world lightweight champion Katie Taylor (15-0, 6 KO’s) would be fighting seven-division world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (38-1-1, 28 KO’s) in her next assignment. Unfortunately, like a stick of sticky green in Snoop Dogg’s hand, that fight quickly went up in smoke.
Forced to move on to other options, the Irish sensation opted to rematch her one-time foe Delfine Persoon (44-2, 18 KO’s). Although, following all the twists and turns on the business side, this unforeseen substitution still is a very pleasing fight for Taylor as she explained at their final presser.
THE DO-OVER
When the two talented females first locked horns on June 1, 2019, most folks felt that Persoon had won the fight. The trouble is that the three opinions that truly mattered did not swing in her favor. The reading of the cards revealed that one judged viewed a draw while the other two had Taylor winning by two rounds.
The final call by the judges has largely been ridiculed in boxing circles. Now, Taylor has more than a solid year of hearing the same message and she is tired of it. This is what makes the second opportunity to prove that she truly is the better of the two is so appealing.
“I guess I just want to prove that I am the best. And I think that there is going to be criticism whether you win or lose in a fight anyways. So I don’t really take too much notice of what people are saying outside the ring.”
“But I do want to prove that I am the best and this is why I trained so hard. That’s why I am in boxing for; I want to be the best and I want to be known as pound for pound number one.”
NO DISTRACTIONS
The only real draw back to the upcoming affair is the fact that there will be no audience. In their premiere battle the roaring crowd was a large part of the overall spectacle. This time around, as far as the noise levels are concerned, it will be a drastically different atmosphere. Let her tell it though, Taylor couldn’t be less concerned and is still very excited.
“I hadn’t really thought about it to be honest. I don’t think it’s an advantage or disadvantage for either one of us. I’m just going to go in there and try to produce a great performance. But boxing in front of no crowd, you have all the bells and [lionesses], the purest form of boxing that we’re going to see really.”
“And that is what I love about this and you’re not going to see a purer form of boxing, you know? It’s just two champion fighters stepping up, taking a huge risk and in front of no crowd, it’s absolutely incredible.”
By: Bakari Simpson
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