Pushed again, Katie Taylor outboxes Delfine Persoon in sequel
This time unified lightweight champion Katie Taylor fought her fight.
And the result was much clearer.
With a lot to prove, and everything on the line, Taylor (16-0, 6 KOs) used her advantages in speed and technique to bang out a 10-round unanimous decision over relentless Delfine Persoon at Matchroom Fight club in Essex, England.
Scores were 98-93 and 96-94 twice.
Maxboxing judged Taylor the winner by a 97-93 tally.
In the opening stanza, Taylor, bouncing and moving, established her jab. She cracked Persoon with a left hook. Persoon applied the pressure, pushing and punching, but Taylor appeared to edge it. Persoon landed a right in round two. Taylor flashed a combination. Persoon’s (44-3, 18 KOs) check showed some swelling. Her nose also leaked crimson. Taylor connected with a lead right.
The quicker Taylor, 34, jabbed to the body and head. Persoon landed a roundhouse right. The Belgium copper followed with a left. Taylor dug a kook to the gut. Persoon mauled Taylor into the ropes. Persoon chased Taylor in round four. Taylor beat Persoon to the punch. She landed a hard right and left.
Taylor moved to her and jabbed in round five. She was fighting her fight. The relentless Persoon plodded forward and connected with a right. Taylor connected with another combo and left. Persoon kept punching.
In rounds six and seven, Persoon,35, kept forcing the action. She went to the body. Taylor flashed a left. Persoon connected with a right. Taylor landed two left hooks. Persoon wanted the inside fight. A right landed. Taylor moved and punched, on the outside, the fight was Taylor’s.
On Maxboxing’s card, Taylor had won five of seven rounds. Taylor jumped inside with a one-two. Persoon brawled on the inside. She landed a right. Taylor absorbed and fought back, but Persoon likely won the heat.
Entering round nine, both fighters were breathing hard. Taylor landed a crisp right to the chin. She ducked a number of shots and clipped Persoon. The 10th and final round featured more brawling and boxing. Persoon, bleeding from a cut over her eye tried to rally, but Taylor stopped in her tracks with a left. Persoon let her hands go as Taylor fought back at the bell.
“I knew it was going to be a tough fight,” said Taylor. “I thought I boxed better this time.”
“My respect to her,” said Persoon. “I couldn’t hurt her.”