KATIE TAYLOR DEFENDS her undisputed lightweight crown against American Jennifer Han in Leeds on Saturday.
Ahead of her 13th world-championship bout as a professional, Gavan Casey previews the fight with a couple of tips and the latest prices from William Hill…
The one and only: Katie Taylor. Matchroom Boxing / Dave Thompson/INPHO
Matchroom Boxing / Dave Thompson/INPHO / Dave Thompson/INPHO
Can Taylor end her knockout drought?
It’s been six fights, or two and a half years, since Taylor last stopped an opponent: the game Rose Volante’s goose was cooked on that occasion as Taylor added the Brazilian’s WBO 135-pound belt to her collection, her ‘road to undisputed’ winding through Philadelphia.
But you may recall that while Volante was being comprehensively beaten and bloodied, she was halted on her feet after turning away in pain following an accidental clash of heads. This was missed by referee Benjy Estevez Jr, who waved the fight off in the ninth to some meek protestation on Volante’s behalf.
It might have been heading towards a more legitimate stoppage anyway, for that was arguably Taylor’s most spiteful performance as a professional to that point.
But if you were to seek out her last stoppage about which there was no doubt, you’d have to stretch back three fights further to her three-round demolition of the utterly outclassed American Kimberly Connor in July 2018.
Connor, like this Saturday’s opponent Han, was the IBF’s mandatory challenger for Taylor’s version of their belt, which didn’t say much for their rankings at the time.
But Han [18-3-1, 1KOs], while a massive underdog, brings to the ring a completely different level of pedigree to her compatriot Connor: she was a three-time Golden Gloves national champion as an amateur and, between September 2015 and last July, she was herself the IBF world champion down at featherweight.
Even her three defeats come with caveats of sorts: her most recent was a majority-decision loss to a South Korean on the latter’s home turf. Her other two reversals came at a more formative stage of her career, including one on her debut to the very decent Melissa St Vil.
Han has never been stopped as a professional. So, why is the prospect of a Taylor stoppage worth looking into at all?
Katie with coach Ross Enamait, promoter Eddie Hearn and manager Brian Peters. Matchroom Boxing / Dave Thompson/INPHO
Matchroom Boxing / Dave Thompson/INPHO / Dave Thompson/INPHO
Taylor has never been a nuclear puncher but she’s definitely packing a bit more sting of late having worked with her trainer, Ross Enamait, on sitting down on her shots and ‘finishing’ vulnerable opponents.
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Two fights ago, against the inferior Miriam Gutierrez, Taylor was venomous, dropping the Argentinian and looking all but certain to stop her only to ease off having tasted some of Gutierrez’s power on her way in for a couple of raids.
“She can punch,” said Taylor afterwards. The thing is, Jennifer Han can’t — relatively speaking, anyway. She will be more fleet-footed and harder to corner than Gutierrez but with one knockout of her own in 18 total victories (and while moving up two weight classes to challenge Taylor), her power is unlikely to earn the Irishwoman’s respect.
If Taylor smells blood, she should feel comfortable to stay in the pocket and throw bombs. That could spell the end for Han, particularly beneath the weight of thousands of snarling pro-Taylor fans throwing every shot with her at Headingley — something Han has never experienced before.
Han gave birth to her second son in February. Pregnancy and childbirth can be navigated seamlessly by many female athletes: during pregnancy, a woman’s blood volume typically increases and her musculoskeletal system becomes physically imbued — something which Han has herself felt when returning to the gym following the births of both her children.
(Indeed, she went back the first time only to lose weight post-pregnancy, but her trainer was blown away by her performance and convinced her to keep boxing).
What’s more pertinent to this fight, though, is the fact that when Han returned to the gym as recently as May — three months after her second son was introduced to the world — she weighed 210 pounds, or 75 pounds (34kg/5.35 stone) over the lightweight limit.
Granted, we still have a weigh-in to tick off later today, but if she has made 135 pounds in under four months, it will be an incredible physical feat in its own right.
It will also pose a question regarding potential fatigue, however. Even while ignoring the reality that any boxer who entirely morphs their body shape in advance of a fight tends to feel the effects in some way — be it in their physical strength or on a cardiovascular level — come fight night, there is also a ticking-clock effect at play, here.
Han has to make weight for a strict deadline, and as the old adage goes, the last few pounds are the toughest to shake off. This is purely speculative but it could be a rough few days for her, particularly when you factor jetlag into the equation (she landed in England on Tuesday).
If she does tire on Saturday night — from external causes, that is, rather than from hanging with Taylor over 10 rounds — it could provide an opportunity for Taylor to close the show in the later rounds, or perhaps even force the hand of the referee or Han’s corner.
She’s earning a significant pay day for this fight and, if things get ugly, particularly when you consider Han herself doesn’t possess fight-ending power, somebody might make an executive decision.
William Hill odds above correct at the time of writing. New online customers get €30 in free bets when they bet €10 with William Hill. Just use the promo code H30. For all the latest prices, visit williamhill.com. 18+, always gamble responsibly. For more information, see gamblingtherapy.org
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Can she end her knockout drought? Preview and tips for Katie Taylor's latest title fight
KATIE TAYLOR DEFENDS her undisputed lightweight crown against American Jennifer Han in Leeds on Saturday.
Ahead of her 13th world-championship bout as a professional, Gavan Casey previews the fight with a couple of tips and the latest prices from William Hill…
Can Taylor end her knockout drought?
It’s been six fights, or two and a half years, since Taylor last stopped an opponent: the game Rose Volante’s goose was cooked on that occasion as Taylor added the Brazilian’s WBO 135-pound belt to her collection, her ‘road to undisputed’ winding through Philadelphia.
But you may recall that while Volante was being comprehensively beaten and bloodied, she was halted on her feet after turning away in pain following an accidental clash of heads. This was missed by referee Benjy Estevez Jr, who waved the fight off in the ninth to some meek protestation on Volante’s behalf.
It might have been heading towards a more legitimate stoppage anyway, for that was arguably Taylor’s most spiteful performance as a professional to that point.
Connor, like this Saturday’s opponent Han, was the IBF’s mandatory challenger for Taylor’s version of their belt, which didn’t say much for their rankings at the time.
But Han [18-3-1, 1KOs], while a massive underdog, brings to the ring a completely different level of pedigree to her compatriot Connor: she was a three-time Golden Gloves national champion as an amateur and, between September 2015 and last July, she was herself the IBF world champion down at featherweight.
Even her three defeats come with caveats of sorts: her most recent was a majority-decision loss to a South Korean on the latter’s home turf. Her other two reversals came at a more formative stage of her career, including one on her debut to the very decent Melissa St Vil.
Han has never been stopped as a professional. So, why is the prospect of a Taylor stoppage worth looking into at all?
Taylor has never been a nuclear puncher but she’s definitely packing a bit more sting of late having worked with her trainer, Ross Enamait, on sitting down on her shots and ‘finishing’ vulnerable opponents.
Two fights ago, against the inferior Miriam Gutierrez, Taylor was venomous, dropping the Argentinian and looking all but certain to stop her only to ease off having tasted some of Gutierrez’s power on her way in for a couple of raids.
“She can punch,” said Taylor afterwards. The thing is, Jennifer Han can’t — relatively speaking, anyway. She will be more fleet-footed and harder to corner than Gutierrez but with one knockout of her own in 18 total victories (and while moving up two weight classes to challenge Taylor), her power is unlikely to earn the Irishwoman’s respect.
If Taylor smells blood, she should feel comfortable to stay in the pocket and throw bombs. That could spell the end for Han, particularly beneath the weight of thousands of snarling pro-Taylor fans throwing every shot with her at Headingley — something Han has never experienced before.
William Hills odds: Taylor to win by KO/TKO/DQ – was 3/1, enhanced to 7/2
Will fatigue be a factor for Jennifer Han?
Han gave birth to her second son in February. Pregnancy and childbirth can be navigated seamlessly by many female athletes: during pregnancy, a woman’s blood volume typically increases and her musculoskeletal system becomes physically imbued — something which Han has herself felt when returning to the gym following the births of both her children.
(Indeed, she went back the first time only to lose weight post-pregnancy, but her trainer was blown away by her performance and convinced her to keep boxing).
What’s more pertinent to this fight, though, is the fact that when Han returned to the gym as recently as May — three months after her second son was introduced to the world — she weighed 210 pounds, or 75 pounds (34kg/5.35 stone) over the lightweight limit.
Granted, we still have a weigh-in to tick off later today, but if she has made 135 pounds in under four months, it will be an incredible physical feat in its own right.
It will also pose a question regarding potential fatigue, however. Even while ignoring the reality that any boxer who entirely morphs their body shape in advance of a fight tends to feel the effects in some way — be it in their physical strength or on a cardiovascular level — come fight night, there is also a ticking-clock effect at play, here.
Han has to make weight for a strict deadline, and as the old adage goes, the last few pounds are the toughest to shake off. This is purely speculative but it could be a rough few days for her, particularly when you factor jetlag into the equation (she landed in England on Tuesday).
She’s earning a significant pay day for this fight and, if things get ugly, particularly when you consider Han herself doesn’t possess fight-ending power, somebody might make an executive decision.
William Hill odds: Taylor to win in rounds 7-8 @ 10/1
William Hill odds above correct at the time of writing. New online customers get €30 in free bets when they bet €10 with William Hill. Just use the promo code H30. For all the latest prices, visit williamhill.com. 18+, always gamble responsibly. For more information, see gamblingtherapy.org
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Boxing jennifer han Katie Taylor Sponsored By William Hill William Hill World Title