Katie Taylor opponent Viviane Obenauf – “I don’t fear fighting her”

While debut foe Karina Kopinska may have entered her clash with Katie Taylor last month in journeywoman mode, the same can not be said of Viviane Obenauf [9(4)-1(0)].

The Swiss-based Brazilian faces Taylor tonight live on Sky Box Office at the Manchester Arena on the Anthony Joshua v Eric Molina undercard, and the 30 year old has come to win.

Indeed Obenauf is used to winning, and actually defeated Kopinska in her previous bout back in October. The Birsfelden-based boxer has only tasted defeat once, losing a six-round points decision to Italy’s current European featherweight champion Vissia Trovato, although her efforts in this bout were hampered by a fractured hand suffered in the second round.

Ranked #12 in the world with Boxrec.com and #18 with WBC – both at lightweight, one weight north of where Taylor will initially target titles – Obenauf represents an extremely strong second opponent for the Bray super featherweight.

However, such is the talent of Taylor [1(1)-0], she enters the bout as an unbackable 1/66 favourite (1/200 with some bookmakers).

The size of the task facing Obenauf does not intimidate the South American, and she claimed “I don’t fear fighting her.”

“I don’t think I will [necessarily] stop Katie winning a world title, but I’m here and I’ll try.”

“I’ll give everything and my aim is to win. I’m here to fight.”