“Everything’s Agreed” – Katie Taylor v Delfine Persoon undisputed fight close
A deal has been reached and now all that stands between Katie Taylor [13(6)-0] and an undisputed fight is a signature.
Taylor added the WBO lightweight title to her WBA and IBF belts last Friday night when she stopped Rose Volante in the ninth round in Philadelphia, becoming Ireland’s first ever three-belt unified champion in the process.
READ: Katie Taylor beats Rose Volante
However, all thoughts and talk is of a fight for ‘all the marbles’ with long-reigning WBC titlist Delfine Persoon [43(18)-1(1)] and Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn believes that official confirmation is imminent.
Taylor’s promoter claims that terms are in place with the Belgian’s team, revealing on Saturday that there was a “verbal agreement” and adding today that they are just awaiting Persoon to sign the contract.
This agreement would be for an undisputed showdown on Saturday June 1st in New York on the Anthony Joshua v Jarrell Miller undercard at the Madison Square Garden Arena, live on Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN.
On Taylor-Persoon, Hearn told IFL TV that “I’m trying to make that fight for that date [June 1st].”
“We have a deal in principle, it’s just whether they sign the contract.”
“Everything’s agreed.”
Should the fight be signed and sealed it will bring to an end something of a saga.
Ever since Taylor turned pro back in 2016, Persoon has been identified as the ‘the woman’ at lightweight and the likely final stop on her ‘road to undisputed’ journey.
Things started to look rocky late last year when a fight with Volante in December fell through and Taylor and manager Brian Peters would lash out at the Brazilian and Belgian beltholders for their apparent lack of willingness to face the Bray boxer.
Offers of $100,000, $130,000, and $170,000 would come in from Team Persoon for Taylor to go to Belgium for the fight but these were brushed off – with Taylor reportedly pocketing $750,000 for her exploits last weekend.
Over the course of a messy few weeks, Persoon would soften on her insistence of a home fight and admitted that a summer showdown with Taylor in New York would appeal – as well as attempting to suggest that Taylor had been avoiding her. The Flemish fighter then made a ninth successful defence of her green belt with six-round domination of Haitian Melissa St Vil on March 9th.
Meanwhile, Volante eventually relented and agreed to take on Taylor at the Liacouras Center, with everything seemingly clicking into place and Hearn indicated that he will be providing Persoon with an offer of “several hundred thousand” for the four-belt battle.
The comments today would look to indicate that this smooth sailing has continued but, as always, nothing is confirmed until the dotted line is signed.
