Ireland’s Katie Taylor eyes fairytale finish to trailblazing boxing career
Unbeaten French challenger Flora Pili stands in the way of Taylor becoming undisputed world champion for a third time.
As September rolls in, the world of boxing is set to be captivated by an eclectic mix of high-profile bouts. From emotional farewells to controversial matchups, here are the top five fights to watch this month.
5. Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian, 12 rounds, cruiserweight, September 12
Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs) is eager for a big fight in the 200-pound division. He will face the WBC-crowned Noel Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs), known as the "Dark Horse" in the cruiserweight ranks. Although Mikaelian has yet to defend his title, he is poised to challenge Opetaia, who has yet to reach his full potential.
4. Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba, 12 rounds, heavyweight, September 4
Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2-1, 22 KOs) returns to the heavyweight division under Matchroom, seven years after his historic upset victory over Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden. With only four fights since that night, Ruiz will face Polish fighter Damian Knyba (17-1, 11 KOs). Knyba's in-ring experience might pose a challenge for Ruiz, but an upset is not out of the question.
3. Takuma Inoue vs. Tenshin Nasukawa, 12 rounds, for WBC bantamweight title, September 27
WBC bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue (22-2, 5 KOs) will face Japanese superstar Tenshin Nasukawa (8-1, 3 KOs) in a rematch just ten months after their first encounter. Inoue, 30, will be looking to build on his recent wins over veterans Kazuto Ioka and Juan Francisco Estrada. Nasukawa, renowned in Japan for his multi-sport win streak and commercial appeal, could prove a formidable opponent.
2. Katie Taylor vs. Flora Pili, 10 rounds, for women's undisputed super lightweight titles, September 5
In what promises to be an emotional farewell for Katie Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs), the Irish boxing icon will take on France's Flora Pili (12-0, 2 KOs) for the undisputed super lightweight world titles. Held at the historic Croke Park in Dublin, this fight will be seen by a sold-out crowd, marking a significant moment in Taylor's remarkable career.
1. Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn, 12 rounds, for WBC welterweight title, September 12
The highly anticipated clash between Ryan Garcia (23-2, 16 KOs) and Conor Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) dominates the boxing calendar. This WBC welterweight title bout, promoted jointly by Zuffa, Golden Boy Promotions, and Ring Magazine, will take place at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena. Both fighters bring their controversial pasts and explosive personalities to the ring, making for a compelling matchup.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
