Another undisputed women's world champion will be crowned this year.
Matchroom Boxing and DAZN announced that Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon will fight for the undisputed women’s WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF and Ring Magazine lightweight championship on June 1. The historic bout will take place at Madison Square Garden as part of the Anthony Joshua vs. Jarrell Miller undercard.
Taylor will look to become the first Irish boxer to win an undisputed title in boxing, adding to her already impressive resume stemming all the way back to the amateurs. Taylor won the gold medal in the 2012 Olympics and has won multiple amateur titles before turning pro in November 2016. Less than a year into her career, Taylor won her first world title in the paid ranks when she defeated Anahi Sanchez to win the WBA title. Taylor would go on to add the IBF title in April 2018 with a win over Victoria Bustos and then the WBO title this past March with a ninth-round TKO victory over Rose Volante.
Persoon has been one of women's boxing's top pound-for-pound fighters for years. Having held the WBC title since 2014, Persoon has successfully defended her title nine times with her last two defenses ending with Persoon winning the fight from inside the distance. Persoon last fought in March when she stopped Melissa St. Vil after seven rounds. Persoon is also undefeated since late 2010, winning her last 34 pro bouts and the IBF title in that span as well.
The news comes days after Claressa Shields defeated Christina Hammer to become the first woman to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBO, WBC, IBF and Ring Magazine middleweight titles. That fight headlined a Showtime-televised card from Atlantic City, New Jersey.
