Delfine Persoon set for tough test before Summer Showdown with Katie Taylor
Delfine Persoon [42(17)-1(1)] will have to come through a tough fight if she is to face Ireland’s Katie Taylor in a mega unification this summer.
The WBC champion is close to confirming the next defence of her green belt and it looks set to be the Belgian’s toughest in years.
Persoon will look to defend her title for a ninth time on March 9th at the XPO XXL in Kortrijk, Belgium, with Hatian-American Melissa St Vil the likely foe.
WBA and IBF champion Taylor [12(6)-0] had been in negotiations with Persoon for a unification in Philadelphia on March 16th but, with talks stalling, the WBC foisted a mandatory upon the Flemish veteran.
While the talks had been arduous, there did seem to be a bit of clarity when Persoon indicated that she would be willing to face Taylor in the summer – meaning that the Bray boxer will have to target WBO titlist Rose Volante next if she wants to be undisputed soon.
The Olympic gold medalist is extremely keen to win the two remaining straps before facing soon-to-be-seven-weight world champion Amanda Serrano before the year is out.
Ever since Taylor debuted, Persoon has been spoken of as a target but faces a tough task in St Vil [11(1)-3(0)-4].
The outspoken New Yorker is a former WBC super featherweight title challenger, losing a contentious majority decision to recent Taylor foe Eva Walstrom last year, and has often been mentioned as a potential opponent for the woman temporarily known as ‘The Bray Bomber’.
While Persoon would be a strong favourite out of the home corner, St Vil looks to be her toughest opponent since she defeated Maiva Hamadouche back in 2015 when the Frenchwoman, who is now IBF super feather champion, was a relative pro novice.
However, it should be noted that St Vil has yet to put pen to paper and officially agreed to the fight.
Persoon’s coach and manager Filiep Tampere said that “the contract has been sent to the management of St.Vil for a long time, but we still did not receive a signed contract.”
Tampere also reiterated his desire for his charge to take on Taylor in the summer – with a New York fight on an Anthony Joshua undercard having been previously mooted.
The Belgian fight boss outlined how “Taylor is boxing in March and if she wins then Delfine might be able to box in July, or it will still be a big question mark.”
