WHILE ONE MIGHT expect promoter Eddie Hearn to talk up the prospect of a “grueling fight” between Katie Taylor and Anahi Esther Sanchez this weekend, it may come as some surprise that even the money-on favourite anticipates a “toe-to-toe” battle in Cardiff.
Five-time world amateur champion Taylor is priced at 1/33 by the bookmakers to overcome Argentina’s WBA world lightweight champion Sanchez when the pair clash on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight title defence at the Principality Stadium.
On paper, the female fight appears to be a competitive match-up with 31-year-old Taylor’s novice 6-0 pro looking slightly green when compared to her 25-year-old opponent’s 17-2 slate.
However, the fact that both of Sanchez’s previous defeats came in Europe – in her only fights outside of Argentina – combined with Taylor’s glittering amateur record has led many to predict that a new champion will be crowned on Saturday night.
Hearn, unsurprisingly, was keen to dismiss such notions when plugging the fight at yesterday’s pre-fight press conference.
“It will be gruelling unless Katie gets her out of there early,” claimed the promoter. “I expect Katie, as always, to fight at a frantic pace and I think that will overcome and overpower Sanchez, but Sanchez will come back and Katie will get hit with shots because she does like to stand and trade. It is a dangerous fight.”
Such talk will be labelled as cynical salesmanship by those who believe that the Matchroom boss is out to boost Sky Box Office pay-per-view sales, but Taylor herself agreed with the suggestion that Sanchez could present a gritty challenge considering the Argentine is more acquainted with the ‘dark arts’ of the pro game.
She (Sanchez) is very experienced and she is very rough and rugged when she does get in there as well.
“She likes to get in close, so I would be expecting all that but I am prepared for that,” said the challenger, who paid tribute to Ireland’s only reigning world champion, Ryan Burnett, following his unification victory over Zhanat Zhakiyanov in Belfast last week and hinted that she may take inspiration from her compatriot’s gritty winning performance.
“It was a super performance. He beat him (Zhakiyanov) at his own game, I thought, which was brilliant. (It was) such a physical fight as well, going toe-to-toe for 12 rounds, it was incredible really,” said Taylor before revealing that she is prepared for a similarly gruelling battle this weekend if a toe-to-toe encounter unexpectedly transpires.
“That’s the plan, to go in there and mix it up. There are going to be stages in the fight when I am going to be toe-to-toe with her, so we will see,” said the Bray native. “Hopefully, I will make it a small bit easier on myself. We’ll see how the fight is going.”
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This stinks of “Jobs for the Boys” to b honest. Has Micko done much at underage/schools/club level (genuine question)?
Denis.List’s his experience right there in the article. Leinster have made a similar appointment with Cullen next season
And Cullen will be working with the Senior squad, Micko is looking after the A side.
Micko hopefully can pass on his great technical knowledge especially lineout work. As you say thou the back’s coach appointment is the crucial one
With POC still in situ ,it’s really hard to see what MOD could possibly bring after a stint coaching at schools level. This smacks of a very Munster job for one of the boys
Not a fan of players that r just retired nd then fall in coaching same players….can cloud decisions., for example is mick goin to recommend a player that he was great friends with to be dropped if his form is poor….???
He is retired 2 seasons at this stage. A big turnover of the player’s at munster since then.
He is retired 2 seasons at this stage. A big turnover of the player’s at munster since then.
Yea retired two years but not too many guys he wouldnt have trained or played with.It could be a great appointment but personally I wouldnt agree.
The impressive Rob Penney was shafted by the Munster Rugby board in order to make way for their good old boy, Anthony Foley, to become head coach; who in turn is intent on employing his good old boys instead of seeking the direct input of those with an enlightened, outside perspective. Group-think will now prevail.
Munster will be the big loser because Foley won’t have the same progressive-minded outlook and plan that Penney has. Munster will regress into their shell under Anthony Foley, and the slack will be compensated for by utter blarney from Foley and the media.
As a Leinster fan I hope your wrong.
If insider knowledge points to foley knowing something that mod can bring then there’s nothing wrong with appointing the right man for the job. If he’s giving his old pal a leg up it will fall apart along with his own career.
I don’t believe Anthony foley wants to throw away his carreer to give his mate a job.
Penney wasnt shafted.
Micko is looking after the a’s. Not first team. Might have little to do with the seniors.
Must be a pisser for Penny to see next years coaching ticket been lined up , could this be announced by Munster after Pennys gone ..
They let the cat out of the bag early enough this year bout him moving. Why should nexus years coaching ticket be any different? I’m sure he doesn’t hold a grudge.
Hope I’m wrong but has a ” jobs for the boys” ring to it
Micko being linked to the A squad hints fairly strongly that Ian costello could be the backs coach for the seniors.
this time last year there was howls about the fact that not one province had a native head-coach, now there’s howls when a native is appointed head coach & opts to select another native to be part of his coaching team?
Micko was known as a top-notch lineout analyst in his playing days, he had a very large part to play in the strength of the munster lineout in the past as he analysed the opposition lineouts & ran those patterns in training.