By: Sean Crose
“I obviously know I can’t do this forever,” says Katie Taylor DAZN boxing show. “I don’t know if I want to take punches for the rest of my life.” Taylor has had a career that if she gave up now, her eventual entry into the International Boxing Hall of Fame would be a foregone conclusion. Not the 21-0 boxer running towards the exit. “I absolutely love my sport,” she said. “I love training, I don’t get tired of early mornings and I don’t get tired of cold mornings, jogging sessions, competitions, I really love my sport.”
That’s a good thing for Taylor, as she has an upcoming battle with Karen Carbajal to prepare for. Carbajal, like Taylor, is undefeated, boasting a record of 19 wins with 0 losses. The Argentinian boxer is also 32 years old, almost four years younger than the 36-year-old undisputed lightweight champion Taylor. Plus, if she gets past Carbajal, Taylor could have a fight with UFC legend turned pro fighter Cris Cyborg in her future. “I think she got into a fight a few weeks ago,” Taylor said. “I guess she has a bit of boxing experience.”
Taylor, who has devoted her life to sweet science, admits that there may be appeal to a showdown with Cyborg. “She was an MMA legend,” Taylor said of her potential nemesis. “She’s also a lot bigger and heavier than me so that makes for an interesting fight.” In the end, Taylor seems to feel the problem will be solved by the fans. “I’m willing to step into the ring with her,” she said of Cyborg, “if that’s a fight people are interested in then that could be a possibility.”
Taylor, of Ireland, has now defended her undisputed lightweight crown six times since becoming the discipline’s sole dominator in 2019. Her last fight was an absolute one. with iconic boxer Amanda Serrano last April at Madison Square Garden. Taylor walked out of the ring that night with another win on her record thanks to the umpire’s decision, even though the fight was razor thin, so thin it could have gone either way, or even ruled as a draw. The Taylor-Carbajal fight is scheduled for October 29 at London’s Wembley Stadium. It will be streamed live in the US via the DAZN streaming service.
