Unified women's lightweight champion Katie Taylor is starting off 2019 with a massive fight.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced on Twitter that contracts have been signed for Taylor, the WBA and IBF titleholder, to fight WBO champion Rose Volante.
I’m over the moon to confirm contracts are signed for @KatieTaylor to unify against WBO champ Rose Volante on our big paddy’s day weekend show in Philly in March. Full card announced soon - the road to undisputed is on @DAZN_USA @SkySportsBoxing pic.twitter.com/UEvHJIe4GK
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) January 11, 2019
The 32-year-old Taylor, a former Olympic gold medalist, had a banner year in 2018. Taylor unified the WBA and IBF titles last April and made three successful unified title defenses. Her last two fights, streamed in the United States on DAZN, saw Taylor score wide unanimous decision wins over Cindy Serrano and Eva Wahlstrom.
Taylor is also on a potential collision course with multi-time world champion Amanda Serrano. Serrano signed a three-fight deal with DAZN with the intent of fighting Taylor at the end of the year. Serrano will fight for the vacant WBO super flyweight title on January 18 at Madison Square Garden.
Volante sports a 14-0 record as a pro boxer with eight of those wins coming inside the distance. Volante won the WBO title in late 2017 when she won a majority decision against Brenda Karen Carabaja. Volante would retain her title twice with stoppage victories over Lourdes Borbua and Yolis Marrugo Franco in 2018.
The card has not been formally announced but it will feature IBF super featherweight champion Tevin Farmer in action. The card is expected to take place on St. Patrick's Day weekend in Philadelphia.
