Bruised but ever classy, Katie Taylor remains undisputed lightweight world champion
Katie Taylor remains undisputed lightweight champion of the world after a unanimous rematch win over Delfine Persoon.
The unbeaten Bray native tonight prevailed on ringside scores of 98-93, 96-94 and 96-94, the latter judges’ cards testament to the nip and tuck nature of the contest.
It was in spots a similar victory to the pair’s first face-off in June of last year, where Taylor eked out a contested verdict over the then WBC beltholder at Madison Square Garden.
Rather than New York, tonight’s rerun instead took place in the leafy suburbs of Brentwood, Essex, the bout serving as the final co-headliner of a month-long series at Eddie Hearn’s family estate.
The uniquely serene surroundings were not mirrored in the ring, however, Taylor notably fast out of the traps with a clued-in start, landing crisply with a succession of left hooks, controlling distance with considered footwork.
It was that same movement that nullified her opponent’s aggressive advances in round two, Taylor switching adeptly between head and body, Persoon’s face already showing wear and tear.
The Belgian found her way in the third, a series of strong right hands catching Taylor and knocking her out of her rhythm. Persoon continued on the front foot in the fourth stanza, Taylor predominantly returning fire on the back foot.
Round five again typified the story of the first half of the fight, the challenger’s cruder but impactful volume countered by more eye-catching, precise shots from the champion.
Persoon’s engine was to the fore in the sixth, a right hand splitting Taylor’s guard despite the latter’s head movement, although Taylor punctuated the round with thudding hooks in the closing seconds.
Round seven was along similar lines, Taylor picking neat shots amidst a whirlwind from the Flanders resident. It was the eighth where the latter’s jab was truly a weapon for the first time, Persoon threatening to get on top down the stretch, landing a thudding right hand close to the bell.
Despite battling a seemingly turning tide, Taylor managed to regroup in the ninth with some well-picked shots upstairs, but the relentless pressure of Persoon remained a constant.
Taylor began the final two minutes with a right hand which wilted Persoon, but the challenger regrouped as the pair traded hell for leather in what was a grandstand finish.
The win moves Taylor to 16-0, its thrilling nature possibly meriting a third set-to.
While any future moves are likely to be dictated by the ever-changing impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic, next on the agenda for the Wicklow woman could well be another sequel, this time with Jess McCaskill.
The Chicagoan, who Taylor defeated at York Hall in 2017, has since won world titles in the super-lightweight and welterweight divisions, latterly claiming her own undisputed crown at 147lbs just last weekend.
A long-mooted meeting with fellow serial titlist Amanda Serrano could also be resurrected, the Puerto Rican having initially been pegged as the opponent for tonight’s card, while potential crossover bouts versus MMA stars Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes have also been tentatively floated.
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