Katie Taylor pitches 10 round shutout to retain lightweight titles

Undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor (19-0, 6 KOs) won every round over Jennifer Han to retain her belts at Headingley Stadium in Leeds, England Saturday.

In the opening stanza, Taylor,35, flicked jabs and fired left hooks. Han, the reigning featherweight champion, moved around but was short with counterblows. A right did land. Han (18-4, 1 KO) tried to be more active in round two. Taylor, bouncing, stalked and landed a couple of lead right hands. The going was frustrating. Han was hard to hit.

Taylor caught Han with a left hook and combination in round three. She also landed a right. Han,38, jabbed, but little else. Taylor fired salvos in round four. The light-hitting Han clipped Taylor with a left. Han tried to be more aggressive in round five. Taylor landed a right near the end of the round. Taylor fired a left hook in round six. It landed. Han wasn’t doing enough to win the fight. Taylor was – she landed a combination.

In round seven, the quicker Taylor continued to find success with single shots. The fight was hardly pretty. Taylor stayed aggressive in round eight. Han was moving in and out, but Taylor’s superior technique and speed were leading the way. A combination sent Han to the canvas. The Texas native got up and complained. A replay after the round revealed that Han had an argument. Taylor reamed Han with a combination in round nine. A right also found Han.

It was apparent that Taylor wanted a stoppage. She laned to the body and head. Han connected with a right. An overhand right from Taylor found Han’s chin.

“Every fight is a fight,” said Taylor. “I was hoping for a stoppage.”