By Ryan Taylor

DELFINE PERSOON has offered Katie Taylor a rematch in Belgium after the pair served up a modern day classic at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

Taylor became the undisputed lightweight champion of the world in New York with a highly controversial points victory on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr.

Persoon felt like she’d done enough to win the contest as did the majority of those at ringside but nonetheless, the pair are likely to set the record straight in a rematch.

The 34-year-old former WBC champion has offered Taylor the opportunity to come to Belgium and defend her titles, but she believes her rival won’t follow suit despite offering her £260,000.

“It is not a rematch if it happens in two years’ time,” she said.

“There is a lot of talk about the rematch, but I’m not banking on it happening.

“I think she doesn’t have the guts to come to Belgium for the fight.”

Persoon does not do boxing full-time and will return to her day job as a police officer in Bruges in the meantime while a rematch materialises.

“It wasn’t pretty to lose my belt like that. If you lose you lose, OK. But if you lose the way I did this is not correct,” she said after the narrow defeat.

“It is not an amateur fight, it is a pro fight and I didn’t lose the pro fight. I landed more punches than she did.

“I was sure when the final bell sounded that I had won the fight.

“I respect Katie and if she looks back at the fight she will know that she didn’t win it. I want a rematch, but I want it within the next five months.”

Taylor’s promoter Eddie Hearn has already hinted that he will look to get the rematch on.

The Olympic gold medalist is believed to have two fights in the pipeline already, meaning the sequel may have to wait.

“In my eyes it’s not a defeat,” Persoon said about surrendering her WBC belt which she’s held since 2014.

“What we will do now is of course make a complaint – but without much hope because the weight of Belgian boxing does not weigh heavy in the instances.

“But with my coach, we will quietly analyse this fight sequence by sequence, to have all the arguments to present an unassailable file.”

Article courtesy of Ryan Taylor & Express

Photo courtesy of Ed Mulholland/ Matchroom Boxing