The Ultimate Goal

Katie Taylor is here to take over, writes John Dennen

- John Dennen

KATIE TAYLOR wasn’t indulging in trash talk, but the normally impeccably polite Irish star was about as close as she gets to it. Already the unified WBA and IBF lightweight champion, Taylor wants the other belts in the division and she wants them as soon as possible.

“You definitely do have to take risks in this sport. I hate the fact that in professional boxing itself overall that the big fights aren’t being made in each division. That’s what I hate about professional boxing. I came into this game not wanting to be that kind of boxer. I want to fight them all. I want to take the risks,” she told Boxing News.

Her manager Brian Peters was more forthright. “It’s tough to get some of these fighters in the ring. That’s probably what I’ve seen has been a problem with female boxing. They haven’t been fighting each other,” he said. “For a long time they’ve fought on small shows in front of small crowds for small money on small platforms. They’re getting opportunities now.”

He pointed the finger at Delfine Persoon, the WBC titlist. “She’s got to be a prouder champion than that. She’s got to want to come to America and fight at Madison Square Garden and fight on these big bills. How could she not? What has she been doing all her life if that doesn’t get her going and get her up for a fight?” Peters asked.

But change does happen quickly in this sport. Hours after voicing their frustration, they had their breakthrough. The WBO champion, Rose Volante agreed to take on Taylor in Philadelphia on March 15. Victory would put Taylor one step close to winning every title in her division. “That was the ultimate goal. I wanted to be undisputed champion,” Katie said. “I want to fight them all.”