Katie Taylor vs Rose Volante in Clash of Unbeaten

Ireland’s Katie Taylor and Brazil’s Rose Volante In Clash of Champions

 

By David A. Avila

Finally we get a true marquee fight for Ireland’s Katie Taylor.

As female prizefighting struggles to gain a footing on television and streaming devices, this fight marks an important moment.

It’s a real fight not a showcase.

The undefeated Taylor (12-0, 5 KOs) armed with her amateur pedigree and WBA and IBF lightweight world titles faces Brazil’s hard-charging undefeated Rose Volante (14-0, 8 KOs) on Friday March 15. The lightweight unification clash will be streamed by DAZN and takes place at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.

Wielding speed galore and fighting skills above and beyond most female prizefighters, Taylor faces a dangerous foe in South America’s Volante. Both fighters are in their 30s and hold world titles.

“Rose is a great champion. She’s strong and has a big right hand, she’s undefeated too so she’s a proud fighter and she’s chasing the same prize as me. We want each other’s belts and unbeaten records,” said Taylor, 32, who fights out of Bray, Ireland. “I think I am getting better and I think it will show on the night. This could be a very physical fight and I am prepared for that.”

Volante, 36, packs a wallop with more than half of her wins coming by stoppage. In her last two fights she won by knockout in the third round versus Yolis Franco of Colombia and forced Panama’s Lourdes Borbua to quit at the end of five rounds.

The Brazilian uses a pressure style and when on point goes to the body and head. She can especially crack with the right cross but has power in her left hook too. Her dilemma will be to catch the speedy Taylor who will not be standing in front of her.

“My speed is going to be key in these big fights and I think that technically I am better than a lot of the other girls as well,” said Taylor. “I feel so prepared going into every fight. But each one is harder than the last and I am aware of that, but I have a lot of confidence and belief in myself, I really feel that no-one can beat me.”

It’s a pivotal match not only for Taylor and Volante, but opens the door for mega fights later this year against possibly Amanda Serrano, Cecilia Braekhus and others.

“I believe that by the end of the year I can look back at being the undisputed lightweight champion and have had huge fights with Amanda and Cecilia,” said Taylor about possibly facing Serrano and Braekhus. “They want those fights as well, but I have to keep winning and everyone raises their game when they fight me.”

Don’t miss this fight on Friday night on DAZN. It looks to be a good one.