Advertisement
SIPA USA/PA Images

Katie Taylor to fight at the home of the Boston Celtics after change of plans from promoter Hearn

Though originally scheduled for 6 October in Chicago, Taylor will instead face Serrano in front of an Irish-heavy crowd on the East Coast.

LAST UPDATE | 8 Aug 2018

KATIE TAYLOR WILL take to the ring in Boston, and not Chicago, for her world-title defence versus Cindy Serrano.

As suggested to The42 by Sky Sports Boxing chief Adam Smith last Thursday, Taylor-Serrano will take place in the aptly-nicknamed ‘Titletown’ on 20 October.

Per promoter Eddie Hearn, Taylor will square off with the Puerto Rican-Brooklynite at TD Garden, the 19,500-capacity home of the Boston Celtics NBA franchise.

NBA: Playoffs-Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum dunks on LeBron James at TD Garden SIPA USA / PA Images SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images

It’s understood the Braywoman’s clash with the WBO World featherweight champion will act as chief support to Billy Joe Saunders’ WBO World middleweight title fight with Demetrius Andrade.

Taylor and ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade were initially confirmed for respective fights on Eddie Hearn and Matchroom USA’s inaugural DAZN show in Chicago a fortnight earlier, but when Hearn and British promotional rival Frank Warren struck a deal to make Saunders-Andrade, the Matchroom chief deemed it worthy of its own bill and immediately earmarked America’s East Coast as the optimal landing spot given Andrade is a native of Rhode Island.

The region’s massive Irish population saw to it that Taylor’s migration to the new Boston bill made perfect sense, and the 32-year-old will now take on veteran champion Serrano in front of what will ultimately amount to a partisan home crowd.

O2 Arena Boxing Eddie Hearn feels Taylor will go down a treat with the Bostonian crowd Nick Potts Nick Potts

All in all, the move could work out in Taylor’s favour: 6 October’s Chicago card is set to compete with Khabib-McGregor in the UFC that same night, and so 20 October promises far greater prominence for Taylor in the eyes of casual American fight fans.

Furthermore, the WBA and IBF World lightweight champion trains under Ross Enemait in Connecticut, only a couple of hours’ over the road from 20 October’s fight venue in Boston city centre.

Her upcoming opponent, featherweight world champ Cindy Serrano, is the elder sister of five-division queen Amanda Serrano, whom Taylor is expected to fight in the next six to eight months.

Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill, who ran Taylor close in London last December, will fight on Hearn’s card on 6 October in her hometown as she aims to build momentum towards a rematch.

‘She’s got to fight in Ireland’: Sky chief to push for Katie homecoming fight and ‘festival’

‘Anyone who does even five minutes’ research will see there are big fights out there for Katie’

Close
4 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel