The biggest female boxing star on the planet returns this weekend, as Katie Taylor defends her WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring lightweight titles against Firuza Sharipova in Liverpool. The reigning undisputed champion will be looking to cap off another memorable 2021 with a final victory.
Katie Taylor vs Firuza Sharipova Odds
| Katie Taylor | -2500 |
| Firuza Sharipova | +800 |
Tale of the Tape
| Katie Taylor | Firuza Sharipova | |
| 35 | Age | 27 |
| 5 ft 5 | Height | 5 ft 5 ½ |
| 65 in | Reach | 65 in |
| 19-0 | Record | 14-1 |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
Taylor Looking To Maintain Perfect Record
Katie Taylor is the best female boxer in the world, and has dominated the women’s scene since turning professional in 2016. The 2012 Olympic gold medallist is regarded by BoxRec as the best female lightweight in the world, and is also sees as the best female pound-for-pound boxer. Taylor has enjoyed another excellent year over the past 12 months, having successfully defended all of her lightweight titles on two previous occasions. Her year started with a bout against British star Natasha Jones in May in Manchester, and she once again showed her class by outboxing her opponent before claiming a unanimous decision victory.
There was very little difference in her second fight, as she continued to show just how superior she is to everyone else in the lightweight division, as she controlled and landed vital shots against American star Jennifer Han. Taylor has been the undisputed champion in the lightweight division since her contentious majority decision victory over Delfine Persoon in June 2019, as she finally got her hands on the WBC and The Ring titles. She cast away any doubts that she should have beaten the fighter from Belgium in August 2020, as she won by unanimous decision at Fight Camp.
Sharipova Is WBA Number One
In truth, we know very little about Firuza Sharipova, as this will be a massive step up in her career. She in the previous WIBA lightweight champion, and has been ranked as the number one lightweight by WBA since the turn of the year. The 27-year-old from Kazakhstan won two gold medals at amateur level, as she won golds at lightweight and light welterweight at the National Championships in 2013 and 2012 respectively.
Her professional career didn’t get off to the best of starts, as she was beaten by unanimous decision by Sofya Ochigava. However, since that loss in May 2016, she has won all previous 14 fights that she has had. Sharipova won the IBA super lightweight title in August of last year, as she beat Happy Daudi by TKO, and has beaten Yuliya Chernoborodova and Liubov Baliakova this year. However, this is a massive step up in opposition, as she takes on one of the best ever this weekend.
Katie Taylor vs Firuza Sharipova Pick
Katie Taylor often makes light work of serious challengers to her title, and there isn’t evidence to suggest that she will have many problems this weekend. She will need to avoid the clear knockout power of Sharipova, but we can still see the Irish star winning by unanimous decision in Liverpool.
