Katie Taylor bloodies and defeats Delfine Persoon by UD

Katie Taylor defeated Delfine Persoon in 2019 by a controversial majority decision. She made sure to win convincingly the second time around. 

Katie Taylor got more than she bargained for when she fought Delfine Persoon in 2019. The undisputed and fully unified lightweight boxing champion nearly lost her titles but won via a controversial majority decision.

Taylor made sure to leave no questions in their rematch on Saturday, Aug. 22.

An intricate laser show with pyrotechnics ushered both fighters to the ring at the crowd-less Matchroom Fight Camp in Essex, England. Taylor and Persoon wore focused faces ready for 10 more rounds of battle.

Persoon pressed Taylor early but got sent back to the ropes from a Taylor jab. Persoon tried to make things ugly on the inside, throwing punches to the back of Taylor’s head in the clinch. Persoon used her size to bully Taylor around the ring.

Persoon swarmed Taylor again in round 2, but Taylor picked her apart. She waited for Persoon to rush in and caught her with lefts and rights to the head. Persoon’s work rate dropped dramatically, and she appeared frustrated.

A cut opened up on Persoon’s right cheek from a punch as ruled by the referee. Her cheekbone swelled considerably and likely added to Taylor’s confidence.

Taylor stayed on her backfoot in round 3 but pushed forward at times. Persoon landed a nice overhand right that rocked Taylor. It was a good comeback round from Persoon, who calmed down and increased her accuracy. Taylor gave up the momentum she built in the previous round.

Persoon became wild again in round 4. She continued to land her right hand. Taylor stayed calm but ate numerous punches. Taylor tried to go to the body, but she looked a step behind Persoon.

Taylor utilized her jab early in round 5. It gave her breathing room and allowed her to establish combinations. Persoon was winded from the previous round but let her hands go nonetheless.

Katie Taylor took control of her rematch with Delfine Persoon midway through the bout and commanded the action.

Taylor got on her toes and was elusive in round 6. Both took the first half of the round off. Persoon swung away, but her power looked zapped. Taylor went to the body but was a stationary target.

Taylor took control of the fight in rounds 7 through 9. Persoon smothered her punches with her wild attacks and lacked the energy to catch Taylor with the flurries she threw earlier in the contest.

Persoon gave it her all in the 10th and final round. She moved forward as she did all night, but Taylor was the smarter boxer and continuously unleashed her right cross piling up the points. Persoon’s punches lacked steam, and Taylor gave her a thorough boxing lesson in a fun, action fight.

There were no surprises this time when the judges returned scores of 98-93 and two of 96-94 all for Taylor.

https://twitter.com/DAZN_USA/status/1297288101505761280?s=20

During the post-fight interview, Taylor gave Persoon a lot of credit.

“You can’t relax in there at all against someone like Delfine,” said Taylor.

She said of her performance, “I think it was a lot more convincing tonight.”

Persoon agreed.

“This time, I respect the result,” said Persoon.

Taylor retained all of her lightweight titles and is poised for a megafight against undisputed and undefeated Jessica McCaskill, who handed former welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus her first career loss. Braekhus is entitled to a rematch but may opt to retire.

Taylor made her case as the best female boxer in the world against Persoon. Taylor vs. McCaskill would likely be the biggest fight in women’s boxing history.