Manager of U.S. #1 calls for Katie Taylor fight – “I never got a phone call”
The manager of the top-rated U.S. lightweight with BoxRec has hit out at Katie Taylor‘s difficulties in finding an opponent and has called for the Bray lightweight to face his charge.
Jessica McCaskill [5(3)-1(0)] is #1 in the USA and #3 in the World (Taylor is ranked #9) with the popular website. Although, proving the imperfect nature of the rankings, this score is based almost entirely on a four-round points win (39:37 x3) at home over the previously highly-rated Puerto Rican featherweight Carla Torres, who was returning from 15 months out.
Taylor [6(4)-0] made her U.S. debut on Saturday night at the Barclays Centre in New York. An opponent was only able to be sourced on fight week, and the Wicklow 31 year old battered Texan Jasmine Clarkson (who incidentally is U.S. #3 on BoxRec) into submission in three rounds.
Both fans and Taylor herself expressed disappointment with the level of the opponent who was a step down from past foes Nina Meinke, Milena Koleva, and even Viviane Obenauf.
Irish boxing writer Ciaran Gallagher would report that Team Taylor had offered the fight on Saturday to upwards of 20 fighters. Those who rejected the fight included American lightweight super feather world title challenger Kimberley Connor [13(5)-3(1)-2] and Bolivian super featherweight world title challenger Jennifer Salinas [20(5)-4(0)] – both of whom had previously outpointed Clarkson.
McCaskill’s manager, Ricardo Ramos, was frustrated to see the complaints regarding the lack of willing opponents as they themselves were willing to take on the Irishwoman but received no contact.
Ramos stated “Katie Taylor, your people ‘called 20 girls’ and ‘no-one wanted to fight?’ I never got a phone call.”
“Hit me up, 7732439066, we got our passports.”
It should be noted that 32 year old McCaskill had a fight of her own scheduled for Saturday, perhaps explaining the lack of contact. ‘CasKILLA’ headlined a card at the UIC Pavilion, where Mick Conlan headlined earlier this Summer, and stopped Natalie Brown in two rounds.
A world title fight for Taylor in November remains Matchroom’s plan – although the location of this proposed bout has changed from Ireland to Las Vegas and the Joshua-Klitschko rematch undercard on the 11th of the month. First however the Connecticut-based pro will box in September, either in London or in America, and McCaskill could prove to be the ideal opponent.
