By Vince Dwriter: After participating in an epic battle approximately six months ago, undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor will return to the ring to face undefeated challenger Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (19-0, 2 KOs) on October 29 at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, live on DAZN.
The year 2022 has been a monumental year for women’s boxing. This past weekend Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall headlined an all-female card in London, Ramla Ali was part of the first female boxing match to take place in Saudi Arabia, and the Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano match in April marked the first time a women’s boxing match headlined Madison Square Garden.
Taylor’s title defense against seven-division champion Amanda Serrano was one of the most anticipated fights of the year. Fortunately, for boxing fans, the actual bout matched the pre-fight hype. The clash featured Serrano’s pressure versus Taylor’s boxing skills, and fortunately for Taylor, she was awarded a close split decision victory.
Now Katie Taylor (21-0, 6 KOs) is getting ready to end the year with another defense of her undisputed lightweight crown. When she was preparing for her bout against Serrano, she had a pretty good idea of what to prepare for. Taylor knew she was facing an experienced multi-divisional champion who was a strong puncher, and she was battle-tested.
With her next championship bout a little over a week away, Taylor faces a different dynamic with her new opponent. Karen Elizabeth Carabajal is an undefeated fighter, but it’s hard to determine her actual level of talent since Carabajal is unknown to the public, and she’s never fought outside of her native Argentina. The only familiarity boxing fans have with Karen Elizabeth Carabajal is her promoter, former two-weight world champion Marcos “El Chino” Maidana.
Carabajal has an unblemished record, and based on her official documented resume, Taylor has to view her as a worthy opponent. Taylor won’t have the luxury of a detailed scouting report as she did against Serrano. Still, she’s experienced enough to get in the ring and make the necessary adjustments as the fight progresses.
Although Carabajal brings an element of mystery into the fight, Katie Taylor is still the overwhelming favorite in this bout. If Taylor can defeat Carabajal, it will mark her seventh successful defense of the undisputed lightweight crown.
Katie Taylor is a decorated champion who is a legend of the sport. If the 36-year-old is successful on October 29, she has a couple of suitors waiting for an opportunity to face her inside the squared circle in 2023.
Amanda Serrano verbalized her interest in a rematch. If she can’t get a rematch with Alycia Baumgardner, former WBO and IBF super featherweight champion Mikaela Mayer wants the chance to battle the undisputed lightweight champion.
