Hearn on Katie Taylor: The Plan is To Unify in The Spring

By Elliot Foster

Katie Taylor has the more immediate future on her mind –– but the new world champion cannot wait for her homecoming.

The WBA female lightweight champion, 31, won the crown against former champion Anahi Esther Sanchez last month on a pay-per-view undercard.

Taylor, now 7-0 with four early, outpointed the Argentine via unanimous decision at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, as part of the same bill as Anthony Joshua’s IBF, IBO and WBA Super world heavyweight title defence against Carlos Takam.

And it was announced at a press conference in Dublin on Tuesday that Taylor will make a quick return to the ring, although an opponent and venue have yet to be confirmed for the December 15 date.

Boxing Scene understands the fight will take place in London and will be screened exclusively live on Sky Sports.

"It's going to be a great end to the year, I hope,” said Taylor, whose promoter Eddie Hearn said that ABO American champion Jessica McCaskill was his preferred opponent for the Bray woman’s next outing.

Hearn revealed at the press conference that the plan for ‘KT’, who is managed by Brian Peters and trained by Ross Enamait, would be to follow up her fight at the end of this year with a homecoming in Ireland in April next year.

“The plan is to unify the division in Ireland in the spring,” said Hearn.

“She's huge here in Ireland and although the plan is to grow the Katie Taylor brand all over the world, ultimately, we need to return here and we need to have a big fight.”

And that is something that the former Olympic gold medallist, who won five world championships as an amateur as well as six European golds, is relishing.

“I'm really excited - it's been absolutely phenomenal boxing in the UK these last 11 months,” added Taylor, who has designs on unifying the lightweight division and having a long-time reign.

“But it was always in the pipeline to box at home in Dublin at some stage. I can't wait for that homecoming fight.

“When I first turned pro I wanted to unify the division. Next year in Dublin we plan on unifying the belts and it's something I've always dreamed of.”