Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon look to become only the third female undisputed champion in boxing history!
On June 1, we have one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing history; Katie Taylor vs Delfine Persoon for the undisputed lightweight title!
Taylor holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO lightweight titles in only 14 fights. The 32-year old who won gold in the 2012 Olympics is going for her fourth title to become the first Irish undisputed champion.
Persoon, age 34, is from Belgium who is the reigning women’s WBC lightweight champion. She has been the “woman to beat” in the division since 2014.
Persoon isn’t just a fighter. She’s also a full time police officer in her country and spends most of her time in international races and training other officers.
For this fight she had to do some special training herself. She saved up her overtime money and took off from work so she could focus more on this fight. She understands this is the biggest fight of her career and a fight she says her management team has been trying to get her for two years!
Her last fight was a win over Melissa St. Vil, where she became the first woman to stop the Brooklyn native.
However, Taylor is no St. Vil and Persoon will need to establish her jab early and dictate the pace. Mix it up by showing some prowess not just on the outside but on the inside as well. However, do not get caught with your hand in the cookie jar for too long or it could be a short night.
While Taylor has the faster hands, Persoon will have the height and reach advantage. She will have an opportunity to relegate her opponent into a one-dimensional fighter attempting to get inside all night if she executes the correct game-plan.
In Taylor’s last fight, she stopped the undefeated then IBF champion Rose Volante in the ninth round where a headbutt broke her nose and she chose not to continue.
The fast-handed Taylor is the favorite in the fight. She will need to use her superior boxing skills, hand speed, and inside game to win. The Belgian champion will have to do all she can to prevent her from getting into a rhythm.
If not, this will be another dominating victory for Taylor en route to becoming the third women’s undisputed champion in boxing history!.
By: Jordan Whitehead
