Although Katie Taylor had been booked to defend her unified women?s lightweight titles on the October 6 Matchroom Boxing USA card in Chicago, Taylor needed to defend her titles on the July 28 O2 Arena card.
Taylor had a quick night at the O2 Arena, serving as one of the main undercard fights for the Dillian Whyte vs. Joseph Parker main event and easily dispatched Kimberly Connor, stopping her in three rounds to retain the IBF and WBA titles.
The unified champion started the fight well by landing numerous body shots with ease and occasionally switching her punches to Connor?s head. Connor tried to match Taylor?s intensity and power, but was quickly overmatched. Connor did land a solid left that caused Taylor?s right eye to swell up, a sight unseen in Taylor?s short professional career.
The stoppage came late in the third round when Taylor landed a right hand that caused Connor?s legs to buckle. Taylor then threw a flurry of power punches and seriously hurt Connor. It was a left hook thrown by Taylor that got Connor to nearly tumble to the mat, causing the referee to stop the fight.
With the win over Connor, Taylor?s fight in October is now all set and she will fight former world champion Cindy Serrano, the sister of five-division world champion Amanda Serrano. Cindy won the WBO featherweight title last year and made one successful title defense but is moving up in weight
The fight between Taylor and Serrano will be one of at least two world title fights to take place on the Matchroom Boxing card broadcast on DAZN, the streaming platform that is set to launch in the United States in September. The other world title fight taking place on the card is Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Johnson for Beterbiev?s IBF light heavyweight title.