Katie Taylor V Delfine Persoon
Big-time boxing has recently returned, with Eddie Hearn’s back garden the unlikely hub for the sweet science, and this weekend sees the comeback of the pugilistic pride of Ireland. Katie Taylor, victorious in each of her 15 professional outings, returns to action with her undisputed lightweight crown on the line – and the toughest opponent of her career standing in her way.
Katie’s rematch with the dangerous Belgian Delfine Persoon is part of the biggest night of boxing for months, with a titanic heavyweight clash between Dillian Whyte and Aleksandr Povetkin serving as the main event. It’s all part of an unmissable evening, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office from 7pm – and you can order the event right here!
But if it’s swotting up on the title match you fancy, then read on; here’s everything you need to know…
WHO IS DELFINE PERSOON?
We’re just glad you didn’t ask who Katie is; there can’t be a person in Ireland who doesn’t know by now! Her opponent, however, is about as well regarded in the boxing world; generally seen as one of the finest fighters on the planet – regardless of weight class – she’s a multiple-time champion who entered their clash in June of last year with just a single defeat on her 44-bout resumé. Oh, and she works as a railway policewoman – just in case you’re tempted to try and skip the fare next time you’re in Bruges…
WHAT HAPPENED IN TAYLOR V PERSOON I?
A lot! Going the full 10 rounds, and leaving both fighters bloodied and bruised by the final bell, Taylor grabbed the win by the thinnest of margins – even though an awful lot of observers saw it the other way. Persoon was so aggrieved that she dashed from the ring in tears; even Eddie Hearn, Taylor’s promoter and a man who’d tell you the sky is green if it suited him, admitted that a draw is the best his charge deserved. Feast your eyes on the scrap below; it’s a belter from start to finish, no matter how you feel about the verdict!
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Really, it doesn’t come much bigger. Only a handful of fighters – male or female – have a monopoly on the belts in a given division, and Taylor is one of them. They’re all on the line here, meaning the winner will walk away as one of the most decorated fighters in the game. There’s intangibles for each too, though. For Persoon, a pro for more than a decade, it would be the crowning achievement of a career that’s already one for the annals. For Taylor, it would extend her unbeaten run, and potentially set up superfights with Amanda Serrano and Cecilia Braekhus – as well, of course, as answering the questions from the first fight once and for all.
WHAT’S LIKELY TO HAPPEN?
Well, if we truly knew the answer we’d be hightailing it to the nearest bookie – but we’re willing to give an educated guess! Their first fight saw the experienced Persoon use her unorthodox style and measured pressure to throw Katie off her game; duly, the Bray fighter looked nothing like her usual precise and clinical self. There’s a chance history repeats itself, but a technician like Taylor will surely have learned her lesson. Don’t bet against a few dramatic moments along the way, but expect Irish eyes to be smiling when the fists stop flying.
WHAT ELSE IS ON THE CARD?
It takes something special to keep these two from the top of the card, but that’s what we’ve got in the main event; Dillian Whyte looking to book a spot as the next in line for a heavyweight title shot by taking down the experienced Russian Aleksandr Povetkin. Add a tasty welterweight scrap between Luther Clay and Chris Kongo, a super-middleweight dust-up between Jack Cullen and Zak Chelliand, and you’re looking at a night of top-notch match-ups to keep any fight fan happy!
If you fancy catching the fights, you’ll find them on Sky Sports Box Office from 7pm on Saturday – order the card right here!
