Katie Taylor has beaten Delfine Persoon by unanimous points decision in their rematch at Matchroom’s Fight Camp in Essex.
Victory sees the Bray boxer retain the WBC, WBA, WBO and the IBF lightweight belts and also maintain her unbeaten professional record.
Taylor started well in the early rounds but the 35-year-old Belgian grew into the fight and made things very difficult for the 2012 Olympic champion.
Persoon tried and in many ways succeeded in turning the fight into a brawl but Taylor kept her distance and landed the higher quality punches.
Two judges scored the fight 96-94 in Taylor's favour while the other gave it to the Irish fighter 98-93.
"It's never an easy fight against Delfine, she's relentless so I knew I'd have to dig deep," Taylor told Sky Sports after the fight.
"I thought I boxed a lot better than last time and I stuck to my boxing a bit more even though I got drawn in a few times. For the most part, I stuck to my boxing and that’s what got me the win in the end."
After the first fight Persoon questioned the judges, but this time she was gracious in defeat.
"This time I respect the result," she said.
Another win for Katie Taylor! 🇮🇪
The judges deliver a unanimous verdict - 98-93, 96-94, 96-94 - after a hard-fought battle against Delfine Persoon. 👊
Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin is up next on Sky Sports Box Office, do not go anywhere! 📺 pic.twitter.com/RjdBBHxYyX— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) August 22, 2020
Wow another great fight.. Katie 6-4 for me 🙏🏽 #FightCamp
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) August 22, 2020
Delighted for @KatieTaylor she put it to bed. Head movement and footwork was a lot better this evening. Still a hard fought win and the champ stays the ultimate undisputed champion of the world. Congratulations Katie and big respect to Persoon.☘ #TaylorPersoon2 @SkySportsBoxing
— Eric Lilywhite Lightning Donovan (@ericdonovanbox) August 22, 2020
Hero then, Hero now, Hero always @KatieTaylor
— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) August 22, 2020
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