No hiding – Other champions will eventually have to fight Katie Taylor

Katie Taylor [9(4)-0] restated her desire to become undisputed lightweight queen and set her immediate sights on WBO champion Rose Volante after returning to Ireland this week.

The Bray fighter became only the third Irish fighter unify belts when she added the IBF belt to her WBA crown last Saturday after an emphatic unanimous decision over Argentina’s Victoria Bustos at the Barclays Center in New York.

Straight after he ninth pro win, the Wicklow puncher set her sights on making Irish boxing history by becoming the first ever Irish puncher to hold all the belts at her weight.

On her happy return to Ireland she reiterated that dream but suggested it may take longer than first expected.

“I was in America for the last three months preparing for that fight. It was a long stint away from home. It’s great to be home… to see family and friends, to be around the nieces and nephews again.”

“Ideally I would love to fight for those belts within the next year but whether I’m unifying or defending there’s mandatory challengers as well that I have to fight. It’s going to be a busy year, but definitely within the next year or so I am going to be the unified champion. That’s always going to be my goal.”

Pound-for-pound rated Belgian Delfine Persoon and Brazil’s Rose Volante, the current WBC and WBO champions respectively, stand between the London 2012 gold medalist and undisputed status. The grapevine had Taylor taking on Volante in July in England, followed by a defence in America in September before the year would end with a shot at Persoon in December.

Volante, who recently told Irish-boxing.com a deal has yet to be agreed, is next on Taylor’s hit list.

“I’d love to have three fights by the end of this year. The next fight is I think in July some time, probably in England somewhere.

“We’d love to get the WBO champion but whether that fight is going to go ahead or not I’m not sure. There’s obviously a lot of politics involved but that would be our preferred choice. It’s going to be a tough fight whoever it is.”

Brian Peters admits there are political hoops to jump through with mandatories and the like, but is adamant money will eventually talk and Taylor will get her women.

The Dunshuaghlin manager outlined that “at the end of the day they are all going to have to fight Katie and they are all going to get beat. They are all going to get well paid and they are all going to have to step up whatever way they want to come.”

“It’s only once in a lifetime that an athlete like Katie Taylor comes along.”