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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Katie Taylor's next opponent claims she was cheated out of money ahead of world title fight

Firuza Sharipova claims that money granted to her to help prepare for a massive showdown with Katie Taylor never reached her.

The Kazakh fighter is the mandatory challenger for Taylor's WBA title and will face the undisputed lightweight champion for all of her belts in Liverpool next month.

Ahead of the fight, Sharipova has criticised Kazakh officials and claims she was not given money that was allocated to her to prepare for the world title bout.

She posted on Instagram: "On December 11 in Liverpool I will meet Katie Taylor for the title of world champion in the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and The Ring!

"We went to this with my team a long time ago, we talked. Many of us did not believe, we were beaten and slandered, and you do not even imagine that some sticks were put on the wheel by some Kazakh officials.

"They gave us an assignment to help us, but they did it completely backwards. At the beginning of the year, money was allocated for the preparation for this fight, but they did not reach me. I will reveal the details a little later."

A win for the Taylor is expected to lead to one of the biggest fights in women's boxing history between the 2012 Olympic gold medallist and Amanda Serrano in 2022, but Sharipova is confident of pulling off a shock in Liverpool

Firuza Sharipova (Instagram/ Firuza Sharipova)

She added: "I will do everything possible to become the absolute champion of the world. Not a single professional boxer from Kazakhstan and Central Asia has boxed for five major titles.

"After a month I will be able to realise my dream of all my life and raise the flag of Kazakhstan as high as anyone else!"

Promoter Eddie Hearn was among those who liked the post on Instagram.

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