Katie Taylor wants to start another year of ‘huge strides’ in February or March

Katie Taylor [17(6)-0] is hoping to start another massive year as early as February or March.

The Bray native managed to get two fights in a pandemic interrupted 2020 and is keen to get going early in 2021.

The undisputed lightweight champion is targeting a late winter early spring return and will most likely have three ‘mega’ fights over the next 12 months.

Speaking after being named the Boxing Writers Association of America’s Female Fighter of the Year, Taylor was happier to look forward at the challenges ahead more than reflect on the wins over Delfine Persoon and Miriam Guitierrez, that earned her the accolade for a second year running.

“It’s such an honour to be chosen twice. To win this award again is amazing,” Taylor said.

“I’m hoping to be fighting in February or March of next year, and we’re not too sure who or where it will be, but I’m excited to be fighting again.

“Going into 2020, I was hoping this would be a good year for me. I was happy to finish off the year fighting my mandatory and I’m delighted to finish my year off strong. I always go into every year trying to make huge strides in the sport.”

Taylor went into 2020 hoping to fight Amanda Serrano, Cecilia Brækhus and Persoon.

The pandemic and then an unwilling Serrano saw that massive fight fall through, Brækhus lost her undisputed welterweight status and her four titles to Jessica McCaskill, which proved a barrier to that fight, but the Persoon rematch did take place.

The list of potential ‘big fight’ foes has grown with the swell in women’s boxing over the last 12 months.

Chantelle Cameron, MMA star Cris Cyborg, Nathasa Jonas and undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill have all been mentioned alongside Serrano and others.

The winner of McCaskill’s rematch with Brækhus looked the most likely, but with ‘CasKilla’ and ‘The First Lady’ set to rematch early next year, that doesn’t align with a February or March return.