PHILADELPHIA -- Some fans just don't like watching women's boxing. No amount of debating changes their minds and most of them remain firm in their opposition to the women's side of the sport. To each their own, but they're seriously missing out if they aren't watching lightweight titlist Katie Taylor. On March 15 Taylor will take on the undefeated Rose Volante on DAZN in a lightweight unification fight with the WBA, WBO, and IBF titles on the line.
Taylor (12-0, 5 KOs) is a brilliant combination of skills and aggression. She has enough power to make her opponent take notice and the skills and accuracy to pick them apart. Taylor has an excellent jab that she follows nicely with a sharp straight right hand and those weapons allow her to find plenty of success from the outside. On the inside Taylor doesn't mind letting her hands go and she's quickly rising in the pound-for-pound rankings.
The pride of Bray, Ireland, Taylor had a very successful amateur career before turning pro in 2016. As an amateur, Taylor won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics along with five gold medals in the World Championships between 2006 and 2014. All that winning meant that when Taylor turned pro there were heavy expectations on her shoulders. So far she has risen to the challenge, easily handling every opponent she has faced, including recent bouts against Cindy Serrano and Eva Wahlstrom. In fact, every single one of Taylor's fights have ended in a unanimous decision, knockout, or with her opponents retiring on their stool. Now she will turn her attention to Volante and her WBO title.
Volante (14-0, 8 KOs) has a frantic energy in the ring. She likes to stay on her toes and bounce around but she actually doesn't use her feet that much and usually sits in front of her opponent. The 36-year-old Brazilian is at her best on the inside and she loves to let her hands go and let the power punches fly. When she gets in the pocket she likes to bang to the body with her left hook and also come over the top with a wild right hand. She doesn't have a great jab and has a habit of dipping to her right as she throws it which will leave her open for counter left hooks by Taylor.
This will be Volante's third defense of her WBO lightweight title while Taylor will be making the sixth defense of her WBA title and the fourth defense of her IBF title. Volante hasn't faced the same level of oppositiong that Taylor has though and she has only fought outside of her native Brazil once, in a win over Branda Carbajal in Argentina. Not only will this be Volante's firs fight in the United States but it will also be the biggest stage of her career against the best opponent of her career.
Getting to watch an elite fighter like Taylor in action should always excite boxing fans. They should be even more excited when they get to see one of those elite fighters in a unification bout. While many fans are already salivating at the thought of Taylor taking on the always exciting Amanda Serrano, she will first need to handle business against Volante. Volante doesn't employ much fancy footwork or lateral movement so expect to see her plow forward as she tries to break the body of Taylor and catch her with something big upstairs. As for Taylor, look for her to exchange on the inside when Volante does get in the pocket but attempt to control the fight with her sharper, more accurate punches from middle distance.
PREDICTION: With Rose Volante's come forward, aggressive style this fight has late stoppage for Katie Taylor written all over it. However, Volante has never even been dropped as a pro and she will remain on her feet for all 10 rounds of this unification bout. Staying on her feet won't be enough though and Taylor will win this fight by the way of unanimous decision, taking the WBO, WBA, and IBF titles home with her.
 |
| Taylor tagging Cindy Serrano with a clean jab |
The pride of Bray, Ireland, Taylor had a very successful amateur career before turning pro in 2016. As an amateur, Taylor won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics along with five gold medals in the World Championships between 2006 and 2014. All that winning meant that when Taylor turned pro there were heavy expectations on her shoulders. So far she has risen to the challenge, easily handling every opponent she has faced, including recent bouts against Cindy Serrano and Eva Wahlstrom. In fact, every single one of Taylor's fights have ended in a unanimous decision, knockout, or with her opponents retiring on their stool. Now she will turn her attention to Volante and her WBO title.
Volante (14-0, 8 KOs) has a frantic energy in the ring. She likes to stay on her toes and bounce around but she actually doesn't use her feet that much and usually sits in front of her opponent. The 36-year-old Brazilian is at her best on the inside and she loves to let her hands go and let the power punches fly. When she gets in the pocket she likes to bang to the body with her left hook and also come over the top with a wild right hand. She doesn't have a great jab and has a habit of dipping to her right as she throws it which will leave her open for counter left hooks by Taylor.
 |
| Volante banging a left hook to the body of her opponent |
Getting to watch an elite fighter like Taylor in action should always excite boxing fans. They should be even more excited when they get to see one of those elite fighters in a unification bout. While many fans are already salivating at the thought of Taylor taking on the always exciting Amanda Serrano, she will first need to handle business against Volante. Volante doesn't employ much fancy footwork or lateral movement so expect to see her plow forward as she tries to break the body of Taylor and catch her with something big upstairs. As for Taylor, look for her to exchange on the inside when Volante does get in the pocket but attempt to control the fight with her sharper, more accurate punches from middle distance.
PREDICTION: With Rose Volante's come forward, aggressive style this fight has late stoppage for Katie Taylor written all over it. However, Volante has never even been dropped as a pro and she will remain on her feet for all 10 rounds of this unification bout. Staying on her feet won't be enough though and Taylor will win this fight by the way of unanimous decision, taking the WBO, WBA, and IBF titles home with her.
Comments
Post a Comment