Jessica McCaskill vs. Cecilia Braekhus rematch could happen this year

Promoter Eddie Hearn said that a rematch between Jessica McCaskill and Cecilia Braekhus could happen before the end of the year.

After losing for the first time in her career — and losing her four women’s welterweight titles — to Jessica McCaskill on Aug. 15, Cecilia Braekhus hinted in her post-fight interview that she might retire.

But in a recent interview with DAZN, Eddie Hearn, the promoter of McCaskill and Braekhus at Matchroom Boxing, said after a few days of thinking that Braekhus changed her tune on regaining her belts.

“I think Cecilia’s interviews, which were incredibly classy afterwards, sort of made me feel she may retire,” Hearn said. “I think [Braekhus’] feeling after a few days is, ‘I’d quite like to do the rematch’. I think you will see that rematch potentially later this year.”

McCaskill vs. Braekhus was a tale of two fights. McCaskill controlled the opening half of the contest, landing shots at a high rate, staying the aggressor and not letting Braekhus get into a rhythm. Braekhus turned it around in the second half, countering McCaskill and connecting on the harder shots.

The judges favored the aggression and activity of McCaskill, awarding her a majority-decision victory.

“Braekhus against McCaskill was fantastic,” Hearn said. “I think it was a great showing in Tulsa on DAZN. I feel that it was a very close fight. It’s one of those fights when the bell went, do you like, probably the better craftsmanship and the better timing of Braekhus, or do you prefer the rough, ready style and aggression of McCaskill.

“Clearly, the judges went with the aggression of McCaskill.”

The prevailing thought had been if Braekhus beat McCaskill, then she would take on undisputed lightweight champ Katie Taylor if Taylor was able to beat Delfine Persoon. With McCaskill winning, the possibility of a rematch with the Irish star would also be an excellent story for women’s boxing.

“Katie (Taylor) had a plan to face Cecilia Braekhus,” Hearn said. “Now that could shift to fight Jessica McCaskill, as well. McCaskill has done great. She gave Katie Taylor one of her toughest fights at lightweight when she was a novice and then went out and unified at 140 and then become undisputed at 147 pounds. She’s got a great story.

“I’m just really excited and buzzing off of women’s boxing and the ability to make these big, unified, undisputed fights.”

Jessica McCaskill vs. Cecilia Braekhus rematch could happen this year

Promoter Eddie Hearn said that a rematch between Jessica McCaskill and Cecilia Braekhus could happen before the end of the year.

After losing for the first time in her career — and losing her four women’s welterweight titles — to Jessica McCaskill on Aug. 15, Cecilia Braekhus hinted in her post-fight interview that she might retire.

But in a recent interview with DAZN, Eddie Hearn, the promoter of McCaskill and Braekhus at Matchroom Boxing, said after a few days of thinking that Braekhus changed her tune on regaining her belts.

“I think Cecilia’s interviews, which were incredibly classy afterwards, sort of made me feel she may retire,” Hearn said. “I think [Braekhus’] feeling after a few days is, ‘I’d quite like to do the rematch’. I think you will see that rematch potentially later this year.”

McCaskill vs. Braekhus was a tale of two fights. McCaskill controlled the opening half of the contest, landing shots at a high rate, staying the aggressor and not letting Braekhus get into a rhythm. Braekhus turned it around in the second half, countering McCaskill and connecting on the harder shots.

The judges favored the aggression and activity of McCaskill, awarding her a majority-decision victory.

“Braekhus against McCaskill was fantastic,” Hearn said. “I think it was a great showing in Tulsa on DAZN. I feel that it was a very close fight. It’s one of those fights when the bell went, do you like, probably the better craftsmanship and the better timing of Braekhus, or do you prefer the rough, ready style and aggression of McCaskill.

“Clearly, the judges went with the aggression of McCaskill.”

The prevailing thought had been if Braekhus beat McCaskill, then she would take on undisputed lightweight champ Katie Taylor if Taylor was able to beat Delfine Persoon. With McCaskill winning, the possibility of a rematch with the Irish star would also be an excellent story for women’s boxing.

“Katie (Taylor) had a plan to face Cecilia Braekhus,” Hearn said. “Now that could shift to fight Jessica McCaskill, as well. McCaskill has done great. She gave Katie Taylor one of her toughest fights at lightweight when she was a novice and then went out and unified at 140 and then become undisputed at 147 pounds. She’s got a great story.

“I’m just really excited and buzzing off of women’s boxing and the ability to make these big, unified, undisputed fights.”

Katie Taylor defeats Delfine Persoon by unanimous decision

Katie Taylor withstood the relentless pressure of Delfine Persoon to win their rematch by a unanimous decision Saturday in England.

Katie Taylor left little doubt this time.

The undisputed lightweight champion withstood the relentless pressure of Delfine Persoon to win their rematch by a unanimous decision on the Dillian Whyte-Alexander Povetkin card Saturday in Brentwood, England.

Taylor won a disputed majority decision in their first fight, in June of last year. On Saturday, the Irishwoman won 98-93, 96-94 and 96-94, and no one complained. Boxing Junkie scored it 97-93 for Taylor.

Persoon (44-3, 18 KOs) fought her typical fight, attacking every moment of every round. Taylor (16-0, 6 KOs) had difficulty coping last year. This time, she used poise, quick feet and sharp counterpunches to largely neutralize her Belgian rival.

That doesn’t mean Persoon had no success. The former titleholder missed most of her punches but plenty got through, which accounts for the rounds she won. And she forced Taylor into more toe-to-toe exchanges than she would’ve liked.

Persoon had her most success in the second half of the fight, when the pressure wore down Taylor to some degree.

However, Taylor, the better boxer and athlete, was an elusive target. She moved her head to avoid many of Persoon’s shots and used her feet to spin or dance out of trouble time and again. Meanwhile, she punched more accurately than Persoon, which obviously impressed the judges.

What’s next for Taylor? She could fight Jessica McCaskill, who upset Cecilia Braekhus last week. There is also a chance that McCaskill and Braekhus will fight a second time.

In preliminary bouts, welterweight prospect Chris Kongo (12-0, 7 KOs) knocked out Luther Clay (13-2, 5 KOs) at 2:44 of the ninth-round of a scheduled 10-round bout.

Jack Cullen (18-2-1, 9 KOs) and Zak Chelli (7-1-1, 3 KOs) fought to a split draw in a 10-round super middleweight bout.

And Alen Babic (4-0, 4 KOs) stopped Shawndell Terell Winters (13-4, 12 KOs)at 2:20 of the second round of a scheduled eight-round heavyweight fight.