Eddie Hearn – “It’s crunch time” for “very nervous” Katie Taylor

Eddie Hearn claims it’s ‘crunch time’ for Katie Taylor and suggests there is a bit of nerves from the camp ahead of her World title fight this weekend in Cardiff.

Just 11 months after her first professional fight, Taylor will challenge champion Anahi Sanchez for the WBA lightweight title on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight title fight against Carlos Takam at the Principality Stadium.

Securing a World title fight in such quick fashion just proves how well Taylor has adapted to the pro game and, while most predict she is more than ready to fight at World level, Hearn has indicated he has felt some nerves ahead of the clash with the two weight World champ.

Regardless the promoter expects one of his leading stars to shine.

“It’s crunch time isn’t it?” postulated Hearn during an appearance on RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland.

“She’s had a wonderful start to her career, obviously debuting last November and now 11 months on, she’s thrown in the deep end in a real fight for a world title against a two-weight world champion in Anahi Sanchez.”

Noting the nerves. Hearn stated that “I think the team are a little bit on edge arriving in Cardiff, but Katie has been under pressure before and she has come through the other side and I expect her to become world champion on Saturday.”

“I expect her to win and go on to unify the division.”

“She’s very nervous, but she’s well-prepared and ready to go.”

Taylor’s historic bout has yet to fully capture the attention of the mainstream media on mass in Ireland as of yet. It certainly hasn’t even flirted with reaching the heights of the mania that gripped the Nation during the lightweights run to Olympic success, but Hearn believes a win on Saturday could just be even bigger than the London 2012 gold medal winning moment.

“She is talking about this as the biggest moment of her career so far. I think she is someone that lives in the present. The Olympic gold medal was a huge occasion for her. But I think now she sees herself as a professional fighter and this is important to her.2

“To win a world championship as a pro would be extremely important in terms of her targets so this is a crunch fight for Katie Taylor. She is expected to win.”

“I’ve spoke to Anahi Sanchez’s camp and they are very confident. They think she [Taylor] is very inexperienced in the pro game and they certainly are here to win.”