Katie Taylor and Christina Linardatou are not only advocates for a cleaner sport; they are also willing to lead by example.

BoxingScene.com has learned that the upcoming junior welterweight title fight—which headlines a Nov. 2 show at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England airing live on DAZN in the United States and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom—marks the first-ever fight between female boxers to be subject to full pre-fight random drug testing specifically contracted through Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency. Both boxers enrolled in the program upon agreeing to terms for their bout, which will be for Linardatou’s 140-pound title.

Ireland’s Taylor (14-0, 6KOs)—a two-time Olympian who captured a Gold medal in 2012—was part of the initial wave of female boxers who enrolled in the World Boxing Council (WBC) Clean Boxing Program (CBP) earlier this summer, a testing protocol that was previously limited to male boxers. However, the additional measure was insisted upon as the reigning World lightweight champion ventured into her second weight division to challenge Greece’s Linardatou (12-1, 6KOs).

VADA co-founder, president and chairperson Dr. Margaret confirmed to BoxingScene.com the watershed moment that comes with the title fight.

CBP testing was activated for the featherweight title fight in which seven-division titlist Amanda Serrano (37-1-1, 27KOs) dethroned previously unbeaten titlist Heather Hardy (22-1, 4KOs) on Sept. 13 bout at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City. While neither boxer was specifically enrolled directly with VADA, both were subject to a pre-fight drug test conducted by the independent drug testing agency as contracted by CBP. Hardy’s pre-fight test showed an adverse finding for the banned substance Lasix, to which she has attributed to a prescription medication and is currently working to clear her name. 

Meanwhile, Taylor and Linardatou have taken the additional steps to ensure the boxing public—and each other—that they are clean and natural athletes.

Taylor will make her debut in the 140-pound division, having campaigned exclusively as a lightweight in the pro ranks along with her two Olympic tours. The Irish superstar is coming off of her toughest test to date, a 10-round majority decision win over Belgium’s Delfine Persoon to become the undisputed lightweight champion this past June in New York City.

Linardatou—whose lone career defeat came in a points loss to Persoon more than three years ago—will attempt her second defense of the title she claimed in a 6th round knockout of Canada’s Kandi Wyatt this past March in her adopted hometown of Athens. Greece. The Dominican Republic-born boxer scored a 10-round decision over Australia’s Deanha Hobbs this past June, also in Athens. Her showdown with Taylor will mark Linardatou’s fourth straight bout versus an unbeaten opponent.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox