Is Katie Taylor Ducking Amanda Serrano?
It’s no secret that boxing and controversy run together like poverty and missed meal cramps. This is a reality that Irish boxer and WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO world lightweight champion Katie Taylor (14-0, 6 KO’s) is learning very early in her professional career. The trouble started for the amateur standout this June 1 in her last bout against Delfine Persoon (43-2, 18 KO’s).
Initially, many expected the unification bout to be a highly competitive prizefight that would push Taylor to her limit. The fight would appear to go a step beyond and actually push Taylor well past her limits! In the eyes of most boxing fans, she clearly lost the contest. Nevertheless, she received the victory on the scorecards by a narrow margin. Directly after the scorecard reading, a distraught and crying Persoon would scramble from the ring without providing a post-fight interview.
In situations like this an immediate rematch to clear up the confusion would have been the best option. Team Taylor opted to forego that route. Not only did Taylor seemingly sidestep the Persoon rematch, she chose to move up in weight. Currently, the Irish fireball is on schedule to face WBO world super lightweight champion Christina “Medusa” Linardatou (12-1, 6 KO’s) on November 2. Even in this fight, there is a bit of controversy. For some odd reason, in the final contract, there is a guaranteed rematch for Katie Taylor if she loses, but Linaratou, the champion, is not! This both atypical and insulting.
NO TAYLOR v SERRANO?
Before the completion of the irregular deal with Team Linardatou however, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (37-1-1, 27 KO’s) would open claims that Taylor is ducking her. It was reported in October of 2018 that the two women had entered into a three-fight deal to face one another. Each would participate in two preparation bouts and then face-off in the third bout. Taylor’s promoter, Eddie Hearn and Serrano promoter, Lou DiBella loosely discussed this arrangement in the media.
Serrano subsequently defeated Eva Voraberger and Heather Hardy. Meanwhile, Taylor fought Rose Volante, then had her rough outing against Delfine Persoon. Yet, rather than take on Serrano as planned, Taylor took her talents up to the super lightweight. Confused and peeved by the apparent duck move, Amanda Serrano aired her grievances on her Twitter account.
Between the subpar performance against Persoon, avoiding the immediate rematch, denying Linardatou a rematch clause and apparently ducking Amanda Serrano, Taylor is not looking the powerhouse she is advertised to be. One thing is for certain, Katie Taylor better look damn good in against Linardatou! The favorable media support that she enjoys will only help so much if she continues to struggle in the ring and perceptibly ducks her toughest opponents.
By: Bakari Simpson
