“Massive step” – Katie Taylor discusses next World Title Unification

Katie Taylor [12(5)-0] is delighted to be taking a ‘massive step’ toward becoming undisputed world lightweight champion on what she predicts will be a special night in Philadelphia on Friday March 15th.

The Bray fighter aims to add the WBO title to the WBA and IBF belts that already decorate her waist when she fights Brazilian Rose Volante on a heavily Irish-influenced St Patrick’s Weekend fight card at the Liacouras Centre.

Victory over the undefeated Brazilian on a night that also sees Jono Carroll challenge for a world title – ‘King Kong’ will attempt to dethrone IBF super featherweight champ Tevin Farmer in the headline fight – leaving her just one victory away from achieving her undisputed goal.

The champion’s put their titles and unbeaten records on the line in The City of Brotherly Love, and the winner will target Belgian WBC ruler Delfine Persoon for all the belts afterwards.

Should Taylor win, a summer showdown with the Belgian is already in the pipeline to allow her claim undisputed status before taking on seven-weight champ Amanda Serrano in a super fight at the end of the year.

No fight, however, can be overlooked, and Taylor’s focus is on the Queen Rose.

“Ever since I won my first World title as a pro my goal has been to unify the lightweight titles so this is obviously a massive step towards that,” said the Bray 32-year-old.

“Volante is unbeaten so I’m expecting a tough fight but that’s exactly the kind of challenge I want. I think the better the opponent and the bigger the challenge the better I will perform,” she added before commenting on the Irish feel to the occasion.

“It’s a great card to be on especially with so many Irish fighters on the bill on St. Patrick’s weekend in Philadelphia so I’m sure it will be a special occasion.”

If the London 2012 Olympic gold medal winner does manage to beat Volante [14(8)-0] and bulk up her belt collection, she will then target Persoon, who up and until now has proved hard to tempt into the ring.

Taylor is hopeful that the early indications prove true and that she gets the chance to win the fourth title in the Summer before defending the straps against Serrano.

The Connecticut-based Wicklow fighter outlined how “for now my focus is on Volante but of course after that fight I would love to have all the belts as soon as possible.”

“Hopefully the Persoon fight can finally be made for the summer and then there are some other huge fights out there as well for the rest of the year.”