Eddie Hearn backs Katie Taylor to deal with pressure and set up Undisputed clash

All the pressure is on Katie Taylor going into this Friday’s world title unification clash claims Eddie Hearn, yet the Matchroom boss isn’t worried.

The WBA and IBF world lightweight champion can add the WBO strap to her collection if she beats Rose Volante in Philadelphia tomorrow night and while Hearn believes she has both pressure and a tough motivated opponent to deal with, he is confident of a Taylor win.

Hearn points out that the added pressure comes from the fact a win on a card topped by Jono Carroll’s challenge of IBF super feather champ Tevin Farmer, looks likely to set up a massive undisputed clash with Delfine Persoon.

However, he is adamant he has the pound-for-pound female #1 on his books and backs Taylor [12(5)-0] to past a tough test live on Sky Sports and DAZN.

“She’s got a tough fight against Volante,” said Hearn. “She’s got a good team, is incredibly strong.”

star in Brazil now. She’s 14-0, she’s been flawless as a professional, she’s extremely strong, she punches very, very hard, by far the toughest test of Katie Taylor’s career so far.

“They are bang up for this fight, all the pressure is on Katie Taylor, but we know she’s a beast,” Hearn pointed out before noting his undisputed plans.

“We know she is, in my opinion, pound-for-pound the best female fighter in the world, and her long-time objective was to be the undisputed champion. She’s effectively two fights away from that.

“That could happen on June 1st, if she’s successful on Friday.””

Hearn has previously revealed he held talks with long-reigning WBC champion Persoon with regard to a fight for all the belts on the Joshua-Miller card set for New York and Madison Square Garde.

The Belgian retained her title with victory over Haitian-American Melissa St Vil and the English promoter is hopeful and keen on a massive undisputed bout between the pair come June 1st, noting that he will be providing an offer of ‘hundreds of thousands’.

Hearn explained that “Delfine Persoon actually won at the weekend, impressive stoppage, and if Katie can get past Volante at the weekend, we want to make the undisputed fight on the AJ card at Madison Square Garden.

“It would just be the most amazing occasion.”