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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Eamon Doggett

Katie Taylor a 'fake' who is being 'protected', claims Christina Linardatou

Katie Taylor was called a "fake" by her opponent Christina Linardatou after their world title fight on Saturday night.

Taylor became a two-weight world champion with a unanimous points victory over the Greek fighter at the Manchester Arena.

But Linardatou claimed in her post-fight press conference that the Bray boxer didn't deserve to win the fight or her previous controversial points decision over Belgian Delfine Persoon.

Taylor celebrates her win over Lindardatou (PA)

Asked to expand on calling Taylor "fake" the 31-year-old said: "I mean fake is that she is not undisputed, she didn't beat me, didn't beat (Delfine) Persoon.

"So you cannot be happy if you go home and not doing it, someone is doing it for you. I feel good because I give all that I have, I go into the ring and I fight for real."

Linardatou added: “Everybody saw the fight, everybody saw what happened. Everyone saw. I feel that I won that fight. I think they are protecting her.

"She shouldn't win fights like that. It is not fair for all the boxers. She lost one fight, she lost a second fight. What is she going to do? She is going to lose all the time and still win another undisputed and say she is a two-weight undisputed.

"People see, they are not stupid. People know. If she respects herself, she will have to give a rematch to me and a rematch to Persoon and then she can say I am undisputed, or I am a champion in two weights.

"I am sorry guys, she is your girl. But this is the truth, this is the reality.”

Katie Taylor after her victory over Christina Linardatou (©INPHO/Gary Carr)

Taylor was delighted with her performance after headlining the card with a host of potential opponents on her radar, including a rematch with Persoon.

The Olympic gold medallist said: "We knew this would be a very tough fight, I boxed smart for a change instead of getting stuck into a fight.

"I'm a two-weight world champion, I want that rematch with [Delfine] Persoon and the Amanda Serrano fight. The Cecilia Braekhus fight as well can be made."

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