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Katie Taylor insists she’s not fighting too soon after her grueling win over Delfine Persoon
Katie Taylor insists she “can’t afford” complacency despite her dominance in the ring because she remembers the “hard lesson” from the last time she lost.
Undisputed lightweight champion Taylor defends her belts against Miriam Gutiérrez on Saturday, live Sky sports, topping a triple-header of women’s world title fights that also features Terri Harper and Rachel Ball.
“This is definitely a historic night,” Taylor said. Sky sports. “When I turned pro four years ago, I didn’t think I’d be in this position, where I’m headlining a show with three fights for the women’s world title.
Taylor is undisputed lightweight champion
Taylor is a modern boxing icon
“It’s amazing to see where women’s boxing has come.”
Taylor has enjoyed unprecedented success throughout her iconic career: She was a five-time amateur world champion, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, and since turning pro, she has won every major lightweight title plus a belt. super light.
But memories of his rare amateur losses are what motivate Taylor to stay undefeated as a professional – the last time he lost in any format was at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
“I’ve learned the hard way,” he said.
“I became complacent years ago as an amateur fighter and that’s when I lost a fight.
“It was a difficult lesson to learn, but an important one.
“I know I can’t afford to be complacent in the least because that’s when you lose fights.
“I am well prepared to go in. I am ready to go to the trenches if necessary.”
Taylor put on a show against Victoria Noelia Bustos in Brooklyn in April 2018 to unify the women’s lightweight division.
His opponent Gutiérrez of Spain is undefeated at 13 and reaches the most important moment of his career as a survivor of domestic abuse and as an activist against him.
She has been described as a great puncher, with Taylor saying, “It’s something you have to watch out for every time you step into the ring, especially with those smaller gloves.
“You can’t be complacent, you can’t take your foot off the gas, you always have to be alert.
“I can’t afford to get hit with clean shots. It’s always a risk, but I’m well prepared and in great shape.
“She is very good, very talented, better than people expect. She is very cheating, uncomfortable and I expect a tough fight. I am prepared for what comes my way Saturday.”
0:42 Taylor won a brutal rematch with Delfine Persoon in August
Taylor closed the Persoon chapter of his career
Three months ago, Taylor surpassed Delfine Persoon, the longtime rival he had previously beaten in controversial circumstances.
“If he fought someone else in the last fight, then people would still be raising Persoon,” Taylor said. “So it’s great to close that chapter and move on.
“These are the fights I was born for and always dreamed of.
“I want to leave a great legacy in this sport and those are fights that build a legacy.
“I always wanted to get out again before Christmas and I felt ready to go back inside.
“I came out of the Persoon fight unscathed plus a huge bulge on my head! I didn’t take too many shots in that last fight and felt ready to step back so soon.
“It’s a quick turnaround, but I would fight every month if I could.”
Taylor is a modern legend, but at 34 years old and with a long career behind him, he has faced questions about how long he can maintain his dominance.
Major fights have been discussed with Amanda Serrano or even MMA fighter Cris Cyborg.
“There are critics regardless of whether you win or lose,” he said. “People are always going to criticize, that’s part of life.
“But right now? I feel as strong and fit as ever.
“I want to be involved in the biggest and best fights possible. I want to leave a legacy of fights that people are really excited about.
“Whoever it is, I’m very excited to get in the ring.”
‘That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave behind’
Terri Harper to defend WBC super featherweight title
Chantelle Cameron and Savannah Marshall have become new world champions in recent weeks, joining Terri Harper in owning a world title belt, a sure sign of the progress that women’s boxing is making.
Rachel Ball, a day worker for the NHS, will join them as world champion if she can beat Jorgelina Guanini on Saturday.
Taylor has inspired all those fighters and responded: “I want to continue making history. I feel like I have years left. People haven’t seen my best and there is a lot I can improve on.
“I want to inspire the next generation, inspire girls to dream big and do it even better than me.
“That’s what true legacy is all about.
“That is the kind of legacy I want to leave.
“The most satisfying part of this journey is watching so many girls box.
“Every time I walk into a boxing club in Ireland, it’s full of girls.
“Across the UK too, ask people what their favorite wrestler is and they might say Terri Harper or Savannah Marshall.
“He has come a long way in a few years and this is just the beginning.”
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