Katie Taylor stops Rose Volante in the ninth
Katie Taylor faced the toughest opponent of her career while defending the WBA and IBF lightweight titles. In arguably the best performance of her career, she out-boxed and wore down the WBO champion.
She adds the WBO title to her collection by way of ninth round stoppage in Philadelphia.
Volante knew her only chance to win was to come forward and land power shots and that’s how she would begin the fight. However, Taylor rudely met her with skill and power. She put Volante down two minutes into the round by way of a short right-hand to the chin.
Towards the end of the round, Taylor stunned her again with a right hand.
In rounds two, three and four Taylor showed her class and greater speed by out-boxing Volante. Though willing and continuously pressing forward, the WBO champion was not on Taylor’s level.
Sensing fatigue from her oppoenent at the start of the fifth, the unified champion really opened up; landing tremendous power punches to the head en route to a dominant round.
Clearly the superior fighter, Taylor spent the middle rounds controlling the fight by doing anything she wanted. In the ninth round the Brazilian fighter was visibly bothered by a head-butt she received to the nose.
At this point, referee Benjie Esteves Jr. had seen enough, as Volante had taken tremendous punishment and decided to call a halt to the contest 1:40 seconds into the round.
Looking Ahead
Now the with three of the four world titles, the Irish phenom said her goal is to capture all four belts.
She will get her chance to achieve her goal, as it’s anticipated she will next face WBC champion Delfine Persoon for the undisputed lightweight championship of the world.
It’s anticipated the showdown will take place June 1 on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden!
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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