The pair are on a collision course for 2019.
Katie Taylor can only beat what is being put in front of her and she is doing that with some panache.
As she did as an amateur, Taylor is proving the dominant fighter in her division and starting a lot of very good boxers on fresh losing streaks. They are highly rated until Taylor gets to work and leaves with the victory, and plaudits.
That was the same for Eva Wahlstrom coming into last night’s bout at Madison Square Garden. She was unbeaten as a professional until Taylor did a number on her. Valiantly, she hung on until the end despite being outclassed.
Taylor will return to action in February but should also be on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s title defence (opponent to be confirmed) in April. The likes of Mikaela Mayer and Heather Hardy have been mentioned as potential 2019 opponents for Taylor, but the strongest case is for Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano.
Ahead of Taylor vs. Wahlstrom, Serrano (31-1-1) was already claiming a deal was in place to fight Taylor in ‘late 2019’.
It’s OFFICIAL! I’m Fighting January for The 115lb World Title. This will Mark my 7th Division. This will serve as 1 of my 3 fight deal w/@DAZN_USA & @EddieHearn. I’m scheduled to fight Katie Taylor by year end. Looking Forward to 2019. Thanks to my promoter @loudibella 😉👍 pic.twitter.com/GMG5jgqkEr
— Amanda Serrano (@Serranosisters) December 13, 2018
Following Taylor’s unanimous victory, she spoke about unifying the lightweight world titles – to go with her WBA and IBF belts – in 2019.
As she left the ring, Taylor was asked by a reporter about Serrano. Her answer was short, sharp and emphatic:
“Let’s get in on.”
Back-stage, Taylor opened up some more about a possible bout with ‘The Real Deal’. She replied:
“The goal is to be the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. Obviously one of the biggest fighters out there is Amanda Serrano, and that’s a huge, huge fight.”
Serrano’s attention was most definitely grabbed and she did not back away from the prospect of taking on Taylor. She tweeted:
I feel so honored to have been mentioned so much on @DAZN_USA tonight. Even from Katie Taylor lol. I’m ready!! I’m not looking to go the distance like all these Pillow punchers. Everyone talks like a killer but struggle to get ppl out of there. I don’t go the distance to often 🤷🏻♀️
— Amanda Serrano (@Serranosisters) December 16, 2018
Serrano has a 70% knock-out and stoppage rate compared to Taylor’s 42%. She has signed up to a DAZN broadcast deal too so the fight against Taylor may well take place in the USA.
Summer 2019 looks likely as the time these two great fighters will face off in the ring.
