Tag Archives: Delfine Persoon
MatchRoom Boxing Results: Katie Taylor Ends Rivalry with Delfine Persoon With Unanimous Decision Victory
There may not have been a crowd to give both Katie Taylor and Delfine Persoon an applause, but there is no doubt that the fans watching from home gave a standing ovation.
Taylor (16-0, 6 KOs) got the proverbial monkey off her back this afternoon. When the undisputed lightweight champion met Persoon (44-3, 18 KOs) last year, many were split on who won. This time around, Taylor left no doubt as she was the better boxer on the night.
Persoon, as always, came forward and created chaos for Taylor. To her credit though, she managed to avoid the big shots and land some of her own. It was clear that Taylor was in no mood for a firefight, yet she found herself in one during long stretches of their matchup.
Unlike their first contest however, Taylor dealt with the pressure like the champion that she is and walked away with her undefeated record intact.
The final scores were as followed: 98-93 and two scores of 96-94 all in favor of Taylor.
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Katie Taylor vs Delfine Persoon: Fight Preview
By: Hans Themistode
The words “you didn’t win,” has reverberated through the mind of Katie Taylor long enough.
The undisputed lightweight champion has heard the chatter surrounding her highly disputed win over Delfine Persoon for roughly one year.
Most of the crowd that packed into the pre COVID-19 Madison Square Garden arena in New York City, was incredulous when Taylor (15-0, 6 KOs) was handed the majority decision nod. The Ireland native was peppered with boo’s as she left the arena, and has been salivating to shut up her critics ever since.
Now, this coming Saturday night at promoter Eddie Hearn’s Fight Camp, Taylor will get a chance to do just that as the pair will face off one more time. The two will co main event the final fight series of MatchRoom Boxing’s backyard series.
A feeling of disappointment was plastered across the face of Taylor when she was given the bad news a few months ago. Her original opponent, seven division world champion Amanda Serrano, pulled out of their heavily anticipated showdown. Yet, when one door closes, another one opens. And in this case, Taylor got the fight she was looking for.
“This is the first fight that I’ve always wanted,” explained Taylor during a recent press conference. “I was looking forward to the fight with Serrano so I was disappointed at first. But the rematch with Persoon is the fight I’ve always wanted.”
While Taylor will receive the chance to leave no doubt the second time around, Persoon (44-2, 18 KOs) on the other hand, has a chance to rewrite history to her liking.
With a win over Helen Joseph in her last ring appearance, it’s easy to forget just how dominant Persoon was a champion. For five years she fought challenger after challenger and never seemed to break a sweat in defending her belt.
She’ll look to not only win back the WBC title that she forked over to Taylor one year ago, but she’s also hoping to add more hardware to her mantle in taking the remaining three major titles.
The book on Persoon is already out. She has an aggressive come forward style who enjoys brawling as opposed to boxing. Her game plan during their first matchup worked to perfection. Taylor may have left the ring with the victory intact, but she was bloodied and bruised more than usual. The Belgium born star will look to create even more chaos this Saturday night. The brand of violence that she’ll bring to the ring is something that she hopes Taylor engages in.
“If it is a war, it’s good for me,” said Persoon during a recent virtual press conference. “If it is a war, I like it. For me, it’s not bad if it is a war. She may give me a war. No problem for me. I like wars.”
Whether or not Persoon will get the rated R fight that she is looking for is unclear. But both women appear ready to close the chapter on an expected rivalry.
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Katie Taylor: “I Feel Like I Have a Bit Of Unfinished Business”
By: Hans Themistode
Picking up the win has always been the main goal for undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor.
No matter if she scored a one punch knockout or cruised to a unanimous decision win–as long as she left the ring with her hand raised in victory then she was perfectly alright with that.
With that being said, Taylor knows that one of her wins is severely tainted.
“The first fight has kind of been hanging over my head for about a year,” explained Taylor as she reminisced about her first matchup with Delfine Persoon. “I feel like I have a bit of unfinished business. I have a chance to clear everything up on Saturday night.”
Persoon, a former five year lightweight title holder, walked into Taylor’s home away from home in Madison Square Garden in New York City in mid 2019 and gave the overwhelming favorite the fight of her life.
The cheers of Taylor’s name that filled the arena throughout their matchup, quickly turned to chants of Persoon, Persoon, Persoon.
The Belgium native fed off her new fans and seemingly pulled off the upset. Yet, when Taylor was given the majority decision nod, Persoon could do nothing but walk away with her head down in defeat.
Since that loss, both fans and media members alike have been split down the middle on who actually won. It’s a fair reaction given how close their first encounter was. Nevertheless, Taylor doesn’t expect any confusions the second time around.
“A lot of people had her winning the fight and a lot of people had me winning the fight. I was delighted that the fight went my way but I will look to win the fight a lot more convincingly. We knew that there was going to be a rematch eventually. We’re just happy that it’s happening now.”
With the two set to settle the score this upcoming weekend at Eddie Hearn’s Fight Camp, Taylor won’t be suckered into another war.
Getting into a dog fight has never been the style of Taylor. The multiple division champion would much rather stay on the outside and out box her opponents. Yet, when she matched up with Persoon, Taylor was dragged into a firefight. It may have been entertaining for those in attendance and watching from home, but expect their rematch to be less fan friendly.
“I think I have to fight a bit smarter than I did before. I do love to fight but that’s probably my problem sometimes. Obviously that’s not the smartest option at times, but in this fight I’m going to have to be more disciplined.”
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Katie Taylor on Delfine Persoon Rematch: “She Was The Toughest Challenge That I Ever Faced”
By: Hans Themistode
It’s all been easy for undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor. Maybe even too easy.
From her amateur career that she capped off with a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics, to her run as an undefeated professional for four years, it’s been entirely too easy for Taylor.
To be fair, Taylor knows that her skills have far exceeded anyone that she stepped into the ring with. But when she stood across from former WBC lightweight champion Delfine Persoon in June of 2019, she immediately realized that this was not going to be a walk in the park.
“I knew going into that fight that it was going to be a tough fight,” said Taylor to promoter Eddie Hearn during a recent virtual press conference. “I realized that from the get go that she was the toughest challenge that I ever faced.”
The slick in and out boxing, the side to side movement and the usual bewildered look on the face of her opponents were all absent. Fans sat in their seats at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and wondered what the hell was going on? But while everyone seemed shocked at how difficult Persoon made Taylor’s night, the former Olympic gold medalist saw this night coming from the moment the contract was signed.
“I wouldn’t say I was surprised at all. I wanted the challenge and I came out victorious and deservedly so. I will be ready again on August 22nd and again, it will be the same results.”
Becoming a fan favorite can do funny things to a fighter. The smooth boxing skills of Taylor were replaced with a rough and rugged style during their first matchup. The constant cheers of her name coupled with the drunken high fives whenever she would land a punch may have motivated Taylor to squeak by with a close majority decision win, but it also may have altered the way she normally conducts herself in the ring.
It was a flat out mistake to fight Persoon’s sort of fight. But with no crowd for their rematch on August 22nd, Taylor believes she won’t be suckered into another fire fight this time around.
“Yeah possibly,” said Taylor when asked if the crowd may have effected her. “I’m going to fight the right fight for me at the end of the day. It’s called boxing at the end of day and the sweet science for a reason. People over the last few years have been saying that I fought a Mayweather round but he was an actual genius in the ring. It is called boxing and that’s what I’m best at.”
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Katie Taylor vs Delfine Persoon Rematch Co Main Events on Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin Card on August 22nd
By: Hans Themistode
For much of Katie Taylor’s professional career she has cruised by her opposition. However, there was one night that left the fans watching at home wondering whether or not she was the better fighter.
When Taylor and Delfine Persoon matched up against one another in a 2019 lightweight unification, it was assumed to be an easy night’s work for Taylor. Yet after 12 grueling rounds, the thought of who actually won their contest came into question.
Taylor’s fanbase was left in disbelief when the scorecards gave her the nod against Persoon on the night. Now, with the recent failed negotiations between Taylor and seven division world champion Amanda Serrano, Taylor has decided to settle some unfinished business.
Taylor and Persoon will meet on August 22nd as the co main event of Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin. News of their agreement left promoter Eddie Hearn jumping out of his seat.
“Wow! What a fight – what a night! To be honest I can’t quite believe this fight has been made, I can’t give enough credit to Katie and Delfine for agreeing to do it again,” said Hearn in a recent press release. “Since their epic Fight of the Year contender at MSG last year, everyone has wanted to see this once again and now we have it. I’m very proud to stage this fight especially at such a critical time for our sport – along with Whyte vs. Povetkin August 22 will be one not to forget.”
For Taylor, her contest against Serrano was discussed as possibly the biggest fight in women’s boxing history. Yet with things falling apart, she could have easily stepped into the ring on August 22nd, against both a lesser known opponent and one who presented fewer dangers. But there would have been no fun in facing someone who most expected her to beat. So instead, Taylor is aiming to take down Persoon once again and clear up any doubt from their previous contest.
“With Amanda Serrano not taking the fight I wanted the biggest fight possible in August. I think a second Persoon fight is one that everyone wants to see,” said Taylor on a recent press release. “I’ve been looking forward to a rematch ever since the first fight and I’m delighted it’s been made. It was definitely very close the first time around, but I felt I deserved the win and I intend to leave no doubts in the rematch.”
Persoon sulked on the night of their first matchup. She believed that she had done more than enough and at the moment, should hold all four Lightweight world titles over her shoulders. Regardless of her loss the first time around though, she’s prepared to hand Taylor the first defeat of her career.
“I am ready to get the victory following the injustice last June in New York,” said Persoon on a recent press release. “Not by words but in the ring – I am ready!”
