Katie Taylor vs Karen Elizabeth Carabajal LIVE: Stream, latest updates and fight result tonight
Re-live fight updates and undercard results as Taylor retained her lightweight titles
Katie Taylor retained her status as undisputed lightweight champion on Saturday, outpointing Karen Elizabeth Carabajal in London to keep alive a rematch with Amanda Serrano.
Taylor was a unanimous-decision winner (100-91, 99-91, 98-92) at Wembley Arena as she kept hold of the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF titles, while remaining unbeaten as a professional. The result likely sets up a rematch between Taylor and Serrano, whom the Irishwoman narrowly outpointed in April in arguably the biggest bout in women’s boxing history. The chances of a second clash between the women going ahead depended in part on Taylor’s outing in London on Saturday (29 October), and the Olympic gold medalist delivered by seeing off Carabajal, 32, with relative ease.
Argentine Carabajal (19-1, 2 knockouts) entered Wembley Arena unbeaten and was a game opponent for Taylor (22-0, 6 KOs), but the latter settled after a slightly sloppy start, improving as the main event progressed. While Carabajal looked to overwhelm and outmuscle Taylor at times, the Irishwoman looked to fight behind a neater offence. A left hook to the head was a consistently effective weapon for Taylor in the early rounds, in which she at times got sucked into messy exchanges with her challenger.
As the bout wore on, Taylor began to target the body of Carabajal with increasing frequency, using straight, stabbing shots to the Argentine’s midriff. In the later rounds, Taylor employed an overhand right to good effect, as accuracy started to elude Carbajal, who sported a cut around her right eye. Overall, it was a professional performance from Taylor in her first fight since beating Serrano. Re-live fight updates and see all undercard results below:
Taylor vs Carabajal LIVE
“Katie Taylor has now been a regal presence in the boxing game for over two decades.
“This Saturday, at the old arena down Wembley Way, the dignified and unified world lightweight champion goes back to work.
“Taylor had to pretend she was a boy when she first laced on the gloves; she stopped pretending soon after that and has refused all efforts ever since to be somebody she is not. She is Katie Taylor boxer, keeper of the sport’s moral higher ground and not a social media diva.”
Here’s Steve Bunce on tonight’s main event:
Humble yet ferocious Katie Taylor must be cherished before she’s gone
The Irishwoman takes on Argentina’s Karen Elizabeth Carabajal, defending all four versions of the lightweight title
Taylor vs Carabajal LIVE
Full card (expected to start at 6pm BST):
Katie Taylor (C) vs Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF lightweight titles)
Jordan Gill (C) vs Kiko Martinez (European featherweight titlle)
Gary Cully vs Jaouad Belmehdi (lightweight)
Mary Romero (C) vs Ellie Scotney (EBU European super-bantamweight title)
Johnny Fisher vs Alfonso Damiani (heavyweight)
John Hedges vs Ales Makovec (light-heavyweight)
Thomas Whittaker-Hart vs Mickey Ellison (light-heavyweight)
Jordan Reynolds vs Jose Manuel Lopez Clavero (super-welterweight)
Taylor vs Carabajal LIVE
Katie Taylor’s unbeaten record and status as undisputed lightweight champion will both be on the line this evening, as the Irishwoman faces Karen Elizabeth Carabajal in London.
In a main-event clash at Wembley Arena, Taylor will look to stay on course for a rematch with Amanda Serrano, following the pair’s instant classic in April. Taylor, 36, was a split-decision victor over Serrano in arguably the biggest fight in women’s boxing history, and fans are keen to see Taylor and the unified featherweight champion square off again. First, however, Olympic gold medalist Taylor must overcome the unbeaten Carabajal, 32.
“It’s always a dream when you go into the sport to fight for a world title,” said the Argentine this week, “and I’m facing obviously the No 1 in the sport. As soon as we found out that this opportunity had arisen, then we were working even harder.” Meanwhile, Taylor said: “I’m still as passionate about the sport today as I ever was and that’s where the motivation comes from. I really genuinely believe that people haven’t seen the best of me yet and I’m looking forward to showcasing that the best is yet to come. I don’t live on past performances or past successes.”
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