By Jimmy Ayash & BBC Sport
Katie Taylor is sending some mixed messages after she narrowly beat Delfine Persoon On two of the judges scored cards.
When asked about a rematch the evening after the fight, Katie Taylor said she would be willing to give Delfine Persoon a rematch, but not right away mentioning a few names she first may have on her list.
Now that the press and promoters are putting pressure on her ( because of the current controversial decision) to fight Persoon again, Taylor is saying that she will welcome a rematch.
I Hope that Taylor doesn’t drag out a possible fight with Persoon similar to the length of time it took Canelo Alvarez to finally sign to fight Gennady Golovkin.
Here is the latest comments by Taylor and her team made to BBC Sport:
Katie Taylor says she would “absolutely love” a rematch with Delfine Persoon after her controversial victory over the Belgian in New York.
Taylor became the undisputed lightweight champion after being awarded a narrow points win, although many believed Persoon should have been given the victory.
“It was an absolute battle but thankfully I came out victorious,” reflected Taylor.
“The rematch is inevitable.”
The judges’ cards read 95-95 96-94 96-94, giving Irishwoman Taylor the majority decision that shocked many of those in attendance at Madison Square Garden.
Belgium’s Persoon, who was visibly upset at the decision, has vowed to appeal against the outcomestating that she refuses to accept that she lost the fight.
“I don’t think I had any doubts (over the result),” said Taylor as she landed in Dublin on Tuesday.
“(Manager) Brian Peters knew and (trainer) Ross Enamait knew that I had it from early on in the fight.
“I think I racked up some of the earlier rounds. It was a very close fight, she is a great champion and that is what happens when the best are fighting the best.”
Taylor’s victory took the Olympic gold medallist to the pinnacle of the sport just 14 fights into her professional career.
Her meeting with Persoon, who held the WBC belt for nearly five years, was billed as a match-up between the two most talented fighters in the division.
The captivating contest lived up to expectation as the pair produced a thrilling 10 rounds at one of boxing’s most iconic venues, on a night in which Andy Ruiz Jr stunned the boxing world to displace Anthony Joshua as unified heavyweight champion.
“It is going to be a great rivalry in the future,” said Taylor.
“It’s a fight that people would love to see again, I think it was the fight of the night.”
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
Photo courtesy of Ed Mulholland/ Matchroom Boxing
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