Katie Taylor’s Next Fight – First Details Emerge
Katie Taylor [14(6)-0] and Brian Peters were back in front of the media yesterday and details are starting to emerge regarding the undisputed lightweight world champion’s next fight.
The Wicklow fighter was at a Sky VIP event at the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin where Ross Whittaker’s Katie documentary was screened.
Unsurprisingly, Taylor did not watch the award-winning feature but engaged in plenty of media work alongside manager Peters.
The first big news came regarding the timeframe of the 33-year-old’s next fight.
Another Anthony Joshua undercard appearance was initially mooted following her disputed undisputed win over Delfine Persoon on the Joshua-Ruiz bill in New York last month.
However, this does not look to be the case. Joshua and Ruiz are set to be rematch in either Wales or New York in late November or early December and Team Taylor have confirmed that their next outing will be in October.
There were no hints, however, regarding location. It’s fair to assume, sadly, that the bout won’t be in Ireland and, considering her last few fights, the East Coast of America would be a safe bet but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Whether, as previously planned, Taylor will be afforded the chance to headline – considering the issue of opposition that will be discussed below – remains to be seen.
In terms of opponent, there were a lot of names mentioned last night – although few, if any, are realistically in the frame for October.
Indeed, the interviews served more to rule out potential opponents rather than suggest who it may actually be.
Inevitably, there was talk of a rematch with Persoon [43(18)-2(1)] – who many felt deserved the nod over Taylor last month at the Madison Square Garden Arena – but Peters would reiterate that this will not be next, even suggesting that the Belgian should fight separately on a Matchroom show first.
Then there is controversial seven-weight champ Amanda Serrano [36(27)-1(0)] who Taylor admits is the dream fight. The Puerto Rican, however, is currently embroiled in some promotional and contractual turmoil and will definitely not be ready for October. Serrano is one fight into a three-fight deal with DAZN, with Taylor earmarked as the third – but the second of these bouts is yet to be arranged.
Former opponent and WBA-IBF light welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill [7(3)-2(0)] as well as undisputed welterweight ruler Cecilia Brækhus [35(9)-0] were also mentioned but a move in weight is unlikely next – with Brækhus definitively ruled out by Peters.
Female fight star Holly Holm [33(9)-2(2)-3] was also brought up again but, considering she suffered a heavy stoppage defeat to Amanda Nunes in the UFC last weekend and has not boxed professionally in over six years, it is hard to imagine that this will happen in October.
More likely – and less sexy – is a defence against a smaller-profile opponent.
Peters would note the mandatory obligations that are about to be placed upon the holder of all four major belts.
Speaking to the42.ie, Peters explained how “with all that lovely bling on the table, you’ve got to have mandatories. You gotta keep all them boys happy.”
“There’s a lot of sorting out to do and we have to fight some mandatories as well.”
WBA mandatory and IBF #1 Miriam Gutierrez [12(5)-0] has called for the fight already while Chantelle Cameron [10(7)-0] will likely become the WBC mandatory next week and is the preferred Taylor opponent among the ‘boxing hardcore’.
With an October date planned, deeper details will no doubt emerge very soon.
