Major Update Regarding A Potential Katie Taylor-Delfine Persoon Rematch
A superfight between Katie Taylor v. Amanda Serrano is officially nixed. Instead, the most highly-anticipated rematch in women’s boxing will take place during the finale of “Matchroom Fight Camp” on August 22.
Taylor (15-0) will defend her WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring Lightweight Titles against Delfine Persoon (44-2), the former WBC Lightweight Champion. The bout and fight card will air live on DAZN and Sky Sports Box Office.
“Wow! What a fight – what a night! To be honest I can’t quite believe this fight has been made, I can’t give enough credit to Katie and Delfine for agreeing to do it again,” said Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn. “Since their epic Fight of the Year contender at MSG last year, everyone has wanted to see this once again and now we have it. I’m very proud to stage this fight especially at such a critical time for our sport – along with Whyte vs. Povetkin August 22 will be one not to forget.”
𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲…#TaylorPersoon2 #FightCamp pic.twitter.com/S7pMagWo0D
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) July 9, 2020
Both fighters are ready to give it their all once again after they tore the roof off of Madison Square Garden back in June 2019. It was a bloody affair that ended up serving as a fantastic appetizer heading into Andy Ruiz Jr.’s shocking upset against Anything Joshua. Taylor would get the majority decision win in a decision some are calling controversial. She ended up winning Persoon’s WBC Lightweight Title, becoming undisputed champion at lightweight in the process.
Since the win, Taylor beat Christina Linardatou back in November to become the WBO Junior-Welterweight Champion. She was supposed to defend her titles against seven-division champion Amanda Serrano on May 2 before the coronavirus pandemic postponed the bout. Talks for a rescheduling of the bout took a turn, as Hearn threatened legal action if Serrano were to go through with an obstacle course-like reality show called “Exatlon” on Telemundo.
Following a battle that involved Lou DiBella, the Serrano-Taylor bout has been put on hold. Hearn did discuss the idea of a Persoon rematch while waiting for things to smooth out with Serrano and her team.
“With Amanda Serrano not taking the fight I wanted the biggest fight possible in August and I think a second Persoon fight is one that everyone wants to see,” said Taylor. “I’ve been looking forward to a rematch ever since the first fight and I’m delighted it’s been made. It was definitely very close first time around, but I felt I deserved the win and I intend to leave no doubts in the rematch.”
Persoon (44-2) had her 34-fight win streak snapped as a result of the loss. The 35-year-old from Belgium has been eyeing a rematch since she believed she won the bout. She rebounded in November, beating Helen Joseph via unanimous decision for the interim WBA Super-Featherweight Championship.
“I am ready to get the victory following the injustice last June in New York, not by words but in the ring – I am ready,” Persoon stated.
The Taylor-Persoon rematch will be the co-feature on a card that’s main event is Dillian Whyte v. Alexander Povetkin for the former’s interim WBC Heavyweight TItle.