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Euro Champ wants a fight with ‘the greatest’ – “La Reyna” latest to call out Taylor

The queue of fighters looking to fight Katie Taylor gets increasingly longer by the day.

It was only late last year that Team Taylor and manager Brian Peters in particular were bemoaning the lack of willingness of a host of lightweights and indeed names in and around the weight to trade leather with one of female boxing’s standout stars.

The Meath man, who played a vital role in the Bernard Dunne days and managed Matthew Macklin to world title shots, called on a host of fighters not only to step up to the plate, but to play their part in creating public appetite for a potential meeting.

It seems a host of fighters have listened or got wind of the purses Taylor’s stardom is generating for her opponents.

eddie hearn katie taylor

The amount of call outs in the last few weeks alone have increased ten fold and it makes a stark difference to the deafening silence of last year.

Natasha Jonas, who last year was talking about her ‘own journey’ when asked about Taylor last year has now set her long term sights on her London 2012 rival.

Unified welterweight champion Cecilia Breakhus last week put the Bray native on top of her wish list and was soon followed by the ‘Pink Tyson’ Kallia Kourouni. 

Now after claiming the European lightweight title, Miriam Gutierrez [10(4)-0] wants to fight ‘the greatest’. 

 “La Reyna”, who is another with an interesting back story and has become an idol at both the social and sporting levels in Spain, defeated Sam Smith for the Continental crown in late March and is now keen to face Taylor.

She stated that “I would like to fight against the greatest, which is Katie Taylor. I would like that very much because she is world class.”

“She has been in London, Brazil and at the Olympics and now she’s become a pro. She has a lot of titles and she is a world champion.”

Fighting Taylor would not just be dream for the domestic abuse campaigner because of the titles on offer. It turns out the Matchroom fighter is her hero.

When asked who her favourite fighter was she replied,

“In women’s competition is Katie Taylor. That is why I really want to fight her. And in men’s boxing, (Vasyl) Lomachenko.”

A bout with the European champion may happen further down the line but for now the IBF, WBA and WBO world lightweight champion has a summer date with WBC title holder Delfine Persoon.

Amanda Serrano is next on the wish list and potentially next in line while there is talk of a clash with Breakhaus before the year is done. 

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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