2020 Vision – Katie Taylor adamant she wants Serrano and Persoon next year
Katie Taylor has unfinished lightweight business and will drop back down to make two of the biggest fights women’s boxing has ever seen in 2020.
The undisputed lightweight world champion has taken a break from 135lbs action for a November 2nd history project.
The Bray fighter moves up to 140lbs and light welterweight in a bid to become a two-weight world champion.
If she emerges victorious from her world title fight with Christina Linardatou on the top of a Manchester Arena-hosted bill, the female fight trailblazer will drop back down in weight for two 2020 mega fights.
Important for Taylor is the rematch with June opponent Delfine Persoon, but possibly the bigger fight will be against seven-weight world champion and Brooklyn resident Amanda Serrano.
Speaking to IFL TV after the official press conference to announce her two weight world champion bid, Taylor confirmed ‘there is unfinished business in the lightweight division’.
The Olympic gold medal winner and five time world amateur champion would love the chance to beat Belgian rival Persoon more comfortably and believes the former WBC champ is deserving of a rematch.
“I think the fight was just too close it deserves a rematch. I definitely have to beat her a lot more convincingly. The Persoon rematch has to happen next year sometime. I think I deserved the win. It was a very very close fight, but I came out deserved winner. I just want to be involved in big fights and this fight is a fight people want to see,” Taylor explained.
The Persoon return looks likely for Spring or early Summer of next year, but Serrano is the one the Brian Peters-managed fighter wants after Linardatou.
“I thought it [Serrano’s performance against Heather Hardy] was very very impressive. She always comes out very strong. It’s a fight I absolutely want. That fight has to happen after this fight. That’s the one I want.”
Taylor has struggled with the call out nature of top end boxing since turning over, but has become more comfortable with talking about future fights and sharing her ‘big fight’ remit.
She was ok doing that again on Tuesday afternoon, but was keen to reassure she wasn’t over looking the Greece-based Dominican Republic native.
“I am aware there are huge fights out there but I am focused on November 2nd,” she stressed.
“She is a very very tough opponent. She has a big right hand, she is very aggressive, it’s going to make for a very exciting fight. It could make for a toe-to-toe war if I don’t move my legs.”
