BoxRec

Press Release

Katie Taylor will bid to become a two-weight World Champion when she meets Christina Linardatou for the WBO Super-Lightweight World title at Manchester Arena on Saturday November 2, shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.

On the same bill, Manchester favourite Anthony Crolla bids farewell at the venue he was crowned World Champion, rising Light-Heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi steps up again to take on another former World title challenger in Blake Caparello, Felix Cash defends his Commonwealth Middleweight title against English Champion Jack Cullen and Gamal Yafai and Qais Ashfaq continue their march towards titles.

Taylor (14-0, 6 KOs) completed her journey for Olympic gold to undisputed Lightweight World Champion with a thrilling points win over Belgium’s Delfine Persoon on the blockbuster Joshua vs. Ruiz card at Madison Square Garden on June 1.

After a bloody and brutal battle that captivated the New York crowd, the Irish star added Persoon’s WBC belt to her IBF, WBO and WBA titles to hold all four at 135lbs and cement her place as the number one Lightweight on the planet.

Linardatou (12-1, 6 KOs) landed the WBO crown with a sixth round TKO win over Kandi Wyatt in her home city of Athens in March. The 31-year-old made the first defence of her title against Deanha Hobbs three months later in Greece, dominating the Australian over ten rounds.

Her sole career loss came against Delfine Persoon in June 2016 when she was outpointed in a challenge for the former champion’s WBC title in Belgium – her first World title attempt before moving up in weight to Super-Lightweight.

“I had some of my early pro fights at Manchester Arena and to come back in November and headline a card there a couple of years on is amazing,” said Taylor. “It’s played host to some huge nights in boxing history so I’m honoured to be part of that tradition.

“It’s a new challenge at a new weight and something I’m really excited about. I still feel like I have so much left to achieve in the sport and becoming a two-weight World Champion is one of those goals.

“There are still so many huge fights out there for me like the Amanda Serrano fight, a rematch with Delfine Persoon and a fight with Cecilia Brækhus but the first goal is November 2nd and winning another World title.

“I don’t have any issues making Lightweight so I think I can move comfortably between the two weights. I always want to push myself and Christina’s an excellent World Champion so it will be a big test for me.”

Linardatou said: “I plan on leaving England with my title. If I need to knock Katie Taylor out in order to retain the title, that’s what I’ll do.”

Former Lightweight World Champion Crolla (34-7-3, 13 KOs) fittingly returns to the scene of his greatest triumph to call the curtains on a memorable career after challenging pound-for-pound star Vasiliy Lomachenko for the WBA and WBO Lightweight titles in Los Angeles earlier this year.

The Mancunian hero won the WBA Lightweight crown against Darleys Perez on a hugely emotional evening at Manchester Arena in November 2015 and successfully defended his title against Ismael Barroso at the same venue the following year.

Croydon’s Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) fights in Manchester for the first time as a professional after extending his explosive KO streak to seven fights as he stopped Canada’s Ford in seven rounds at The O2 in London on the Lomachenko vs. Campbell card.

Next up on his World title quest is Australia’s Caparello (30-3-1, 13 KOs), a former opponent of WBO Light-Heavyweight World Champion Sergey Kovalev and former IBF Super-Middleweight ruler Andre Dirrell, who arrives on these shores coming off four wins.

Cash (11-0, 7 KOs) was due to defend his Commonwealth title against Little Lever’s Cullen (17-1, 8 KOs) in July before an injury ruled him out but the pair will now clash in November after Cullen stopped John Harding Jr in eight rounds in Liverpool, while Yafai (16-1, 9 KOs) was last seen stopping Brayan Mairena in Birmingham last September.

“I’m so happy to be back in Manchester for this huge show,” said Eddie Hearn. “Katie Taylor is now established as one of the biggest stars in world boxing and she bids to make more history by becoming a multi-weight World Champion by challenging WBO Super-Lightweight champ Christina Linardatou.

“Hometown hero Anthony Crolla rolls the dice one more time as he takes part in his final fight in the sport in the arena that has hosted so many epic Anthony Crolla nights. The stabilisers are off for Joshua Buatsi as he takes a huge step up against tough Australian Blake Caparello in a WBA World title eliminator and there is a brilliant domestic Middleweight clash between Commonwealth champ Felix Cash and English champ Jack Cullen – there’s plenty more beneath these four fights on what will be a huge night of boxing.”

Adam Smith, Head of Sky Sports Boxing, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be showing the best female boxer in the world back on Sky Sports on this huge show. This is another major test for Katie Taylor as the undisputed Lightweight champion takes on all comers and continues to cement her extraordinary legacy in the sport.

“Katie is a marvellous ambassador and inspiration to so many and we are delighted to be working so closely with her as we look to feature both the very best in boxing and also in women’s sport on Sky.”

Hearn only ever puts on 1 decent card at Manchester Arena, the biggest arena in UK.

Last year, we were lucky to get Usyk vs. Bellew..

This year we get this?

Taylor (who may get boo'd), is headlining the event.

I don't get why Hearn doesn't put up any good cards here.

Is this PPV ?

tony1234 wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 11:04 Is this PPV ?

No. They would have mentioned it with the press release and/or the press confrence.

Avoiding the Persoon rematch then, who btw has inflicted the sole defeat on this opponent.

tobyh5 wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 11:24 Avoiding the Persoon rematch then, who btw has inflicted the sole defeat on this opponent.

She done a duck! She owes her that much. And to now fight someone who’s sole defeat is against Persoon. Insult.

They’ve said the Persoon rematch will be happening early next year.

jameswilson wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 11:55 They’ve said the Persoon rematch will be happening early next year.

Yeh, I read she said she wants Serrano AND Persoon next year.

tony1234 wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 11:04 Is this PPV ?

Might be, according to Hearn Katie Taylor is one of the biggest global superstars in boxing, yes he said that.

Persoon and Serrano are interesting. Hopefully fairer judging.

Katie Taylor main event wow so excited!

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 12:54

tony1234 wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 11:04 Is this PPV ?

Might be, according to Hearn Katie Taylor is one of the biggest global superstars in boxing, yes he said that.

Must be true then

rd350lc wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 13:51

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 12:54

Might be, according to Hearn Katie Taylor is one of the biggest global superstars in boxing, yes he said that.

Must be true then

She’s good and that last fight she had was a cracker but saying that he’s avin a giraffe

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 13:58

rd350lc wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 13:51

Must be true then

She’s good and that last fight she had was a cracker but saying that he’s avin a giraffe

I really like her as a fighter but her monotone voice effin grates on me .

She has done well for herself and the talent is there for all to see but I thought she lost last time out .

Not even one of the judges having Persoon winning was stinky

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 12:54

tony1234 wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 11:04 Is this PPV ?

Might be, according to Hearn Katie Taylor is one of the biggest global superstars in boxing, yes he said that.

This fight won't sell 20K in Manchester. I am in unsure if would even do it in Dublin.

tobyh5 wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 11:24 Avoiding the Persoon rematch then, who btw has inflicted the sole defeat on this opponent.

Yeah, I "had" so much respect for Taylor when she found out most at ringside felt Persoon won, and Taylor said she would rematch her
Now.. Very little respect.

rd350lc wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 14:23 I really like her as a fighter but her monotone voice effin grates on me .

Especially after a fight, where she's all out of breath.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 14:24 Not even one of the judges having Persoon winning was stinky

The official scorecard make interesting reading.

The two judges, Allen Nace and John Poturaj who ultimately gave the verdict to Taylor had her dominating the first half of the contest with the latter awarding her the first five rounds. Crucially all three judges gave Taylor the ninth round which was desperately close.

Don Trella who scored the fight a 95-95 draw had Persoon winning the second, third, seventh, eighth and ten rounds with Taylor on top in round one, fourth, five, six and nine. Judge Allen Nace favoured Taylor in round one, third, four, six, seven and nine.

brian13 wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 14:25

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 12:54

Might be, according to Hearn Katie Taylor is one of the biggest global superstars in boxing, yes he said that.

This fight won't sell 20K in Manchester. I am in unsure if would even do it in Dublin.

It’s why they got Crolla on the card. He’s not gonna be able to attract 10k on his own thought, just being on the undercard and not in a meaningful fight. Unless its his final fight.

It is his final fight....

Final fight and on the Katie Taylor undercard

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑17 Sep 2019, 17:06 Final fight and on the Katie Taylor undercard

That’s his big send off into retirement. Should be closing and in his hometown aswell. Cheers.

Katie Taylor claiming she isn't ducking Persoon

https://www.skysports.com/football/news ... in-rematch

"First I have to overcome Christina Linardatou, and once I do that I hope to have Amanda Serrano next and then the Persoon rematch in the summer sometime. That would be my ideal path," Taylor said.

"[The Persoon fight] was a touch-and-go fight, an all-out war really for 10 rounds, probably one of the most exciting fights I've ever been involved in, probably a bit too exciting for my liking!

"It's every fighter's dream to become the undisputed champion, that is the pinnacle of the sport right there, so I was very, very excited.

"To call the fight a robbery is an absolute disgrace in itself really. I am well aware it was a very close fight and that is why it is a fight that deserves a rematch as well.

"I'm not one for ducking or diving any challenge, I think my career has shown that so far. I love the big fights and I can't wait for that rematch, to kind of set the story straight really.

"I look forward to beating her a lot more convincingly, to shut everyone up basically!

"I was always aware it was going to be a very close fight and I overcame that. I came away with all the belts and deservedly so."

Taylor wants to be known as the greatest female fighter of her generation at her weight class, and she knows a second victory over Persoon would go a long way towards cementing that status.

She added: "It is about legacy, it is about history-making. I want to be known as the best ever and I'm willing to prove myself every single time I step into the ring, and that is why it is so great to be involved in these big fights.

"These are amazing fights to have ahead of me - but first and foremost it is November 2, and my focus is fully on this opponent."

Taylor is honoured to be headlining such a stacked card.

"I never thought when I first sat down with [promoter] Eddie Hearn three years ago that I could possibly be in this position, to headline a big show like this," Taylor said.

"To be on the same show as Anthony Crolla, his farewell fight, Joshua Buatsi, and all the rest of the fighters on the card, this is such a special moment for me.

"I really feel like I've broken down a lot of boundaries over the years. Definitely when I first turned pro a few years ago I wanted to change people's perceptions of the sport, and the support I've gotten over the last few years in the UK has been so special. They really just see me as another boxer, not a female boxer, which is really amazing.

"To have this opportunity, to headline this show and to become a two-weight world champion is incredible."