Katie Taylor vs Delfine Persoon fight result: Irish boxer battles to brutal but controversial victory
Irishwoman defeats Persoon by majority decision to add the WBC title to the WBO, IBF and WBA championships she already holds
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Your support makes all the difference.Katie Taylor claimed a controversial and brutal victory over Delfine Persoon to become the undisputed lightweight champion.
In what was a full-blooded and at times barbaric affair, Taylor and Persoon left nothing in the tank as they finished the fight out on their feet, having produced arguably the best 10 rounds of women's boxing ever seen.
But when the scores went to the judges, it was Taylor who was left celebrating as she took a majority decision via scorecards of 116-114, 116-114 and 115-115 to claim the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight championships. Persoon on the other hand was distraught with the decision and immediately left the ring in tears. Re-live all the action below.
Fight preview:
When and where is the boxing?
Tonight's main event ring walk times are expected around 3.30am UK time, and 10.30pm ET. The fight night takes place at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
Taylor's fight is third-last on the card, and shouldn’t start any earlier than 1am.
Where can I watch it?
If you're in the UK, it'll be on Sky Sports Box Office at a price of £19.95, and in the US on DAZN.
What is the full fight card?
It's a stacked one.
- Souleymane Cissoko bt Wladimir Hernandez
- Chris Algieri bt Tommy Coyle
- Joshua Buatsi vs Marc Antonio Periban
- Josh Kelly vs Ray Robinson
- Katie Taylor vs Delfine Persoon
- Callum Smith vs Hassan N'Dam
- Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz
What are the odds?
Joshua to win: 1/25
Ruiz to win: 10/1
Josh Kelly vs Ray Robinson round 10:
Lovely combination work from Kelly in that round, who leads with his jab and follows up with some body punches - for the second time in as many rounds, Robinson looks hurt. He held on but looked unsteady throughout.
A convincing 10th and final round for Kelly, who should edge this one despite Robinson climbing to the top rope and celebrating.
We await the scorecards...
Kelly, perhaps for the first time in his career, looks a bit concerned.
Scores incoming.
The scores are in...
96-95 Kelly
95-95 draw
95-95 draw
A majority decision draw. Disappointment for Josh Kelly in New York.
Up next, an undisputed fight.
Katie Taylor faces Delfine Persoon for the lightweight WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and Ring magazine belts.
Huge.
Anthony Joshua speaking backstage
I hope you enjoyed the football and now you're ready for the boxing. I'm not someone who needs to get in the zone, I'm always in the zone. There's a lot of good energy in the building.
Disappointment for Josh Kelly as he fails to impress at Madison Square Garden.
With a record of 43-1, Delfine Persoon looks set to be the hardest test of Katie Taylor's thus far successful and short career.
Ring walks are imminent.
Katie Taylor enters the ring looking as serious as ever, to huge cheers from a packed out crowd.
U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For a good choice for the ring walk.
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