Gutierrez is a mandatory WBA challenger for Taylor’s WBA title
By Richard Damerell
Last update: 01.07.20 11:44 a.m.
Katie Taylor will defend her world title live at the Sky Sports Box Office on August 22nd
Katie Taylor could defend her world championship title against undefeated Spaniard Miriam Gutierrez because a WBA mandatory defense is “overdue”, WBA President Gilberto Mendoza confirmed.
Ireland’s undisputed lightweight world champion had asked Amanda Serrano to perform a scheduled fight live on August 22nd Sky Sports box officePromoter Eddie Hearn was also interested in arranging a rematch between Taylor and Dolphins Persoon.
But Gutierrez, with 13 wins in a row, has turned out to be another potential opponent for Taylor, who has to meet her World Cup title commitments by facing the WBA’s mandatory challenger.
WBA President Mendoza said Sky Sports: “We support Katie’s fight with Serrano and Persoon, but if it isn’t one of them, she has to face her mandatory Gutierrez – it’s been over two years since she won the title and her mandatory is overdue.”
Taylor had challenged Serrano on social media and said: “We have signed both contracts, all financial barriers have been removed and all training / travel problems are the same for both of us because I also train in the US.
“No more excuses, this is a fight to promote sport. August 22nd is our time to make history. Are you there?”
???? @Serranosisters. We have signed both contracts, all financial obstacles have been removed and all training / travel problems are the same for both of us since I also train in the USA. No more excuses, this is a struggle to promote sport. August 22nd is our time to make history. You in?
– Katie Taylor (@KatieTaylor) June 28, 2020
The Puerto Rican, a world champion with four weights, hesitated to get involved in a planned clash with Taylor.
Matchroom boxing boss Hearn “turned to” Persoon, who vigorously denied her point loss to Taylor last June at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Taylor will defend her world championship titles on the same bill as Dillian Whytes’ heavyweight WBC title defense against Alexander Povetkin at matchroom headquarters in Brentwood, Martin Bakole against Sergey Kuzmin and Luther Clay against Chris Congo on the undercard.
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