Delfine Persoon has dismissed her underdog status and has vowed to spoil Katie Taylor unification party at New York’s Madison Square Garden tonight.
The Belgian WBC champion puts her solitary belt on the line against Taylor’s WBA/IBF/WBO straps over ten, two-minute rounds in Manhattan and reckons she’s right in there with a shout.
“We’re going to go for it. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, so why not. A lot of people say I have no chance, but I say 50-50,” she said.
“It’s going to be a difficult fight. Katie is an Olympic champion, a World champion, but I’m also a champion and I will fight like one.”
The 34-year-old Flanders orthodox, a police officer by trade, has held the WBC crown since 2013 and the only loss of her 44-bout career was in 2010.
Her manager and coach, Filiep Tampere, believes that Taylor’s team are overlooking Persoon and taking her for granted.
“She has trained hard for this fight. She has been sparring good (male) lightweight fighters. I think they underestimate Delfine,” he said.
Unbeaten Taylor is already being linked with a showdown with Amanda Serrano, sister of Cindy who the Bray woman emphatically beat in a title defence last year, after tonight.
A super fight with Norway’s Cecilia Braekhus, the unified welter champion who is expected to be at ringside at the Garden this evening, is also being touted.
Taylor, however, is looking no further than her 135 lbs date with destiny and the chance to join Braekhus and Claressa Shields as the third woman to unify an entire division in her 14th fight.
“Delfine is a world-class boxer and a world champion and I cannot afford to make any mistakes against an opponent of her experience, she said.
“It has always been my dream to unify the division since I turned professional and this is my chance,” she said.
The winner pockets all the marbles, according to Taylor’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “She (Persoon) hasn’t got the speed of Katie, no one has. But this is it, everything is on the line on Saturday night.
“She’s got a tough fight. Delfine Persoon is 43 and 1 and she hasn’t lost for nine years. Katie says this is the biggest night of her career.
“This is her moment as a pro and if she gets over the line it will be emotional. The winner walks away with everything, all the marbles.”
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