Former Irish amateur boxer, Katie Taylor takes on Nina Meinke in an Eliminator for the WBA Lightweight title in the under card for Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium on the 29th April 2017, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Taylor, 30, entered the paid ranks in November and has seen her pro career blossom, racing to 4-0 with two wins inside the distance and impressing crowds on big fight nights in London and Manchester. Taylor now goes to Wembley for her first pro title fight on the 29th April against German, Nina Meinke.
“It’s a massive fight for me on a massive night of boxing,” said Taylor. “I’ve only been a professional for five months and already been lucky enough to box on some huge events but Wembley Stadium on the Joshua – Klitschko card is going to be something else again.”
Nina Meinke, 23, who is trained by former World champion, Sven Ottke , is no stranger to the UK, boxing out of Westway ABC in Scarborough as a teenager. She claimed her first title when beating Hasna Tukic in one round in March, landing the IBF Youth Super- Featherweight belt.
Taylor recognises that her opponent will be a tough challenge but is confident of her training regime leading up to the fight.
“I’ve watched Meinke and she’s a very strong opponent. She’s unbeaten so it’s a step up for me and I’m sure she’ll be very confident. It’s obviously a massive opportunity for both of us being a world title eliminator and it’s my first scheduled 10 round fight so I’m relishing the challenge. I’ve been working very hard out here in Connecticut in training camp so I’ll be in great shape come fight night and I’m just really looking forward to it now and being part of such a historic event.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn expects the bout to be the most competitive fight to date for Katie Taylor and not to underestimate her opponent.
“This is a huge step up for Katie on a massive night of boxing,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “No disrespect to her previous opponents but Meinke is on another level and has operated and been victorious on the big stage. In just four fights, Katie has established herself as the most exciting female fighter on the planet but now we get the chance to see if she is ready for the World stage.”
Taylor becomes the 4th Olympic gold medallist on the card. She joins fellow London 2012 winners Anthony Joshua and Luke Campbell MBE, and Wladimir Klitschko, who won gold in the Atlanta Games in 1996.
Campbell takes on former World Lightweight champion Darleys Perez, who represented Colombia in the 2008 Beijing Games and is joined by Team GB trio, Lawrence Okolie, Joe Cordina and Josh Kelly to make it eight Olympians in total on the huge fight night at Wembley Stadium.
Taylor’s clash with Meinke is part of a historic night of action on the sold-out blockbuster battle between IBF king Joshua and former lineal World ruler Klitschko, with the WBA and IBO straps also up for grabs, while former World Super-Bantamweight king Scott Quigg continues his quest to become a two-weight champion by facing Viorel Simion at Featherweight, Campbell and Perez clash for the number one spot in the WBA, and Okolie, Cordina and Kelly will draw lots to see who kicks off the historic night.
