Katie Taylor fights back tears, vows more to come after becoming two-weight world champion

Katie Taylor vowed that the best is “yet to come” after she became a two-weight world champion with a points victory over Christina Linardatou to clinch the WBO super lightweight title.

In a sold-out Manchester Arena, the undisputed lightweight champion outpointed the Dominican to inflict her first loss since March 2016, when she lost to Delfine Persoon.

Taylor beat Persoon to own the lightweight division earlier this year, establishing herself as one of the best female boxers ever.

And in stepping up another weight class, Taylor was still superior in another entertaining bout.

The Bray boxer wore swelling on her left eye but was still able to bounce back from being slightly wobbled in the eighth with a composed performance.

Two judges scored the fight 97-93 and another 96-94 as Taylor defeated Linardatou by unanimous decision to a raucous response in Manchester.

That meant the 33-year-old Irish star improved to 15-0.

Taylor owns the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF straps all at 135lbs and in stepping up 5lbs, 

America’s Jessica McCaskill owns the division’s WBA and WBC belts, while the IBF title is vacant.

“Thanks so much,” Taylor said to the crowd as she held back tears and her voice cracked from the emotions. “Thank you so much for the support.

“I’m making history again, breaking boundaries again and I’m a two-weight world champion and the best is yet more to come.

“We knew from the start this was going to be a very, very tough fight. We knew Christina is the best 140lb-er in the division and we knew it was going to be tough for 10 rounds. 

“I boxed beautifully on the outside and I boxed smart for a change instead of getting stuck into a fight.

“I just want to thank my coach Ross for everything he’s done and the sacrifices he’s made. I wouldn’t be in this position without him. I feel like I’m working with one of the best coaches in the world. My team, I’m so happy.

“I knew I still had it. I dug deep against Christina and I came out with the victory. I’m now a two-weight world champion. I can’t wait to rematch Persoon and there’s a huge, huge fight with Amanda Serrano as well.”

Asked how high she would be willing to climb up the weight classes, Taylor added: “If the fight out there is available, maybe Cecilia Breakhaus… That’s an easy fight to make now. We’ll leave the matchmaking to my team.” 

Taylor’s promoter Eddie Hearn said: “First of all I want to say congratulations to a true icon, Katie Taylor. Everyone should be so proud of her, Ireland should be so proud of her but we’ll claim her too! 

“She is just an absolutely brilliant example of how hard work, drive, determination and a dream can get you to the very, very, top.

“She’s an absolute pleasure to deal with. She’s changed the sport on the head. 2020, the challenges keep on coming. There’s the undisputed championship at 140lb, there’s the Persoon rematch, there’s Serrano, there’s Breakhaus. 

“One thing you can be assured of, she will never, ever duck from a challenge. She wants to test herself. She will continue making history. Katie Taylor is an absolute legend in the sport of boxing.”

source: express.co.uk