Brian Peters heralds new Taylor-Persoon rivalry but warns rematch WON’T be next

Delfine Persoon and the rematch of Saturday’s epic undisputed clash remains on Katie Taylor’s hit list, but is not top of it explains manager Brian Peters.

Such was the entertainment served up by the pair in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night – and the questions raised by some with regard to scoring – that there have been widespread calls for a rematch.

Indeed, the victor and now undisputed lightweight champion of the world claims she is looking forward to an ‘inevitable’ repeat.

It was assumed by most that the repeat would have to be next, instantly becoming the biggest fight for Taylor and pushing A bout with Amanda Serrano down the pecking order.

However, while her manager agrees a rematch has to happen, he claims it doesn’t have to and won’t take place immediately.

Peters, who was the promoter during the brilliant Bernard Dunne days, believes the kind of rivalry he had hoped for last year has developed and assured the world class lightweights will meet again, but is adamant the Belgian won’t be Taylor’s next foe.

The promoter and manager, who works alongside Eddie Hearn in terms of Taylor believes, wants New York to host the Olympic gold medal winner’s next fight and it seems controversial seven-weight world champion Serrano and undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Brækhus are among the front runners for the fight.

“Katie will take on all challenges there is Cecilia Brækhus who is a unified champion in her own right, she is a possibility, Amanda Serrano is a possibility, but we have our own plans, our own journey and our own path we are going to take. Defline Persoon at some stage, but certainly not in the immediate future,” Peters explained to RTÉ as he and Taylor returned home yesterday.

“It was very close and there is no doubt there will be a rematch sometime – not immediately. You have to, it’s a great rivalry that has begun and what a stage to do it Madison Square Garden and 20,000 people. It’s hard to believe that Katie Taylor again steals the show on a night [that had] one of the biggest heavyweight upset in heavyweight history.”

Should Taylor not face Persoon in an immediate rematch there would likely be outcry and accusations from fans and commentators – and Peters’s plan certainly seems odd.

The Meath man admits proceedings were close at the weekend and points out that is always a possibility when two top fighters meet in a ring, but is adamant he always knew the Wicklow woman had done to win the fight.

“Delfine Persoon is a very very good fighter we always knew it was going to be the best against the best. I knew we won it, I told Katie that in the ring afterwards.”

“I did not [have any doubts]. At the end of the day the only people that matter are the three judges and I was happy that we had it. I thought 6-4, we won a lot of the early rounds,” he adds before suggesting some of the ‘unfair scoring’ claims may come from people with the second half of the fight fresh in their minds.

“I suppose what was in peoples minds were probably the latter rounds which Person was probably good and were probably our worse rounds. I believe we had it in the bag from the first half of the fight, but what a fight, what a great night. It was great for female boxing and great for boxing.”