New challenger vows to ‘retire' Katie Taylor as she calls out Irish legend for clash ‘bigger than her fights before'
OFF GARD New challenger vows to 'retire' Katie Taylor as she calls out Irish legend for clash 'bigger than her fights before'
ALYCIA BAUMGARDNER has called out Katie Taylor - and warned she will "retire" the Irish boxing legend.
The 39-year-old is uncertain as to what her future holds after beating Amanda Serrano for the third time in July.
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Katie Taylor has a laundry list of potential challengers
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
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Alycia Baumgardner has called her out
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
However, the undisputed super lightweight champion has no shortage of potential opponents, with Alycia Baumgardner seeking to jump the queue.
The undisputed super featherweight champion bested Jennifer Miranda on the undercard of KT's trilogy bout against Serrano.
And the 31-year-old has challenged the Bray Bomber to be her next opponent.
She told Uncrowned: "I want Katie Taylor as my next fight, and we can create something that's even bigger than her fights before.
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'I respect Katie and her skills, everything she has done in the sport, but I also know what kind of athlete I am and the skillset that I come into this fight with.
"People may think that I am a few notches below where Katie is, but I know that isn't the case — I am at that same level, even one above.
"I know that everyone says that they want to fight her, but I am the only athlete that has the whole package that's able to beat her.
'Styles make fights, but I have the IQ, power, the punch combinations and am an all-round athlete — that's what a lot of the other women in the sport don't possess.
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"They are not natural athletes like me, and that's something that Katie will have to deal with.'
Baumgardner is likely to have to wait to fight Taylor, with the WBC having seemingly ordered her to defend her 140lb belt in a third bout against Chantelle Cameron.
Katie Taylor shares inspirational message to British & Irish Lions
The American believes there is "no point" in facing the Northampton star and reckons there is a "new story to tell" by pitting her against the Olympic gold medalist.
However, she warned that it would prove to be the final chapter in the Wicklow woman's career, pitching that it take place in Ireland.
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She continued: 'I'd love to fight her in Ireland.
'I am not new to fighting in people's backyards. It plays to my strengths if anything, that underdog mentality is always something that I have thrived off.
"The pressure of fighting away from a home crowd has always kept me on my toes and enabled me to fight at my best.
'I obviously have so much respect for Katie, but I can already envisage how I beat her.
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"She hasn't fought anyone like me before, and I think she realizes that. I am a different type of fighter completely, and I think my presence would get under her skin.
'It's a pretty simple equation.
"A fight between me and Katie would be for the pound-for-pound No. 1 spot and a chance for me to retire her.
"I don't overlook anyone, but I know what I am capable of.'
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