Undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor returns to the ring Saturday as part of the Lara-Warrington 2 card on DAZN from Leeds, England, where she’ll face Jennifer Han with all four of Taylor’s belts at stake.
Taylor (18-0, 6 KO) fully unified the division in 2019 with a disputed decision win over Delfine Persoon, and has gone on to solidify her claim — and arguably a claim as the best pound-for-pound women’s boxer in the world — with three successful defenses, including a rematch win over Persoon in 2020.
The 38-year-old Han (18-3-1, 1 KO) is a mandatory challenger who hasn’t lost since 2014, winning eight straight fights, and held the IBF featherweight title from 2015-18. But she’s fought just once since 2018, too, and being honest, isn’t expected to be a major challenge for Taylor.
But that’s for pundits and fans and whatnot to say. Taylor says she’ll do what she always does: Get ready to be tested by a hungry challenger.
“I’m expecting the toughest fight from Jennifer. She has a lot of amateur experience and she’s a very technical fighter,” Taylor said. “She was my (mandatory challenger) as well, so I had to take the fight. These girls have stepped up, they’ve boxed beyond themselves, they have raised their game against me. I’m expecting a very, very tough fight and I’m going to be prepared like I have been for every single fight I’ve had over the last few years.
“She is a fighter that believes in herself. This fight is going to bring the best out of the both of us. I love the fact that she’s stepping into the ring confident, like I am, as well. I don’t really take much notice of what other fighters say, I just focus on my own performance and my own preparation. We’re going to be stepping into the ring 100% prepared. The only words that matter are, ‘And still.’ Training is going well. I feel good and sharp. I can’t wait to step in again and get another great victory.”