Textbook display as Taylor takes the title
Taylor’s right slams into Haley’s face. Pictures: Manjit Narotra/BCB
OMARAH Taylor proudly clutched the Commonwealth welter belt and vowed the best is yet to come.
If so, fans are in for a treat. For on BCB’s Saturday show at WV Active Aldersley stadium, Wolverhampton, Taylor looked mightily impressive in unanimously outpointing Kerry Haley for the vacant title.
Great Barr’s former GB amateur boxed with poise, polish and precision against a very tough customer who refused to take a backward step. The two styles – textbook and tear-up – made for a fine 10 rounder.
Taylor, in her sixth outing, always had an answer to the County Durham’s dogged determination, winning by a clear margin – 97-93 (twice) and 98-92.
“I felt comfortable and composed,” the 32-year-old said. “I knew she was going to come forward and give me a workout. She’d boxed a couple of months ago, she was fresh. I’d been out since last July and that lack of momentum cost me the ability to go through the gears. I’m happy – a win is a win, I did the job.”
Omarah Taylor proudly displays the Commonwealth belt
This was a victory built on Taylor’s fine jab. She doubled the lead, then unloaded hard right hands – three crashed home in the seventh and Haley was sporting a welt under her right eye by the end of the session.
Yet, still Haley, aged 38, trudged forward. Still she did not buckle.
“I wanted to control the distance,” Taylor said, “because we knew she was going to be walking me down all night, she’s a tough girl. I think it was a cracking fight for the fans. For me, I feel more comfortable (fighting) on the inside now, I’m also more comfortable at mid-range.”
I gave Haley, in her eighth contest, the opener as Taylor settled into the contest. She attempted to bob and weave inside, the unleash hooks.
By the second, Taylor’s jab was working well. By the third, she was making Haley miss and snapping out right hands.
Haley produced some of her best work in the fifth, only for Taylor to really put her punches together in the sixth and seventh.
Kerry would not be subdued, chugging forward to take the eighth on my card. The endless stream of jabs earned Omarah the ninth and both unloaded in an exciting last round.
Taylor’s noisy fans raised the roof at the final bell: they knew the belt was in the bag.
“This year is about titles,” Omarah said afterwards, “there are a lot of things I want to do. There are still parts of my work that needs moulding – I’m not ready for the top titles but I think I’m almost there.
“We are looking at the British title, there are a couple of girls domestically who we’d like to get it on with. I was so blessed to have sponsorship and good support for this one.”
In her biggest night to date, Taylor put on a textbook display. Now, after a stop-start career stretching back to 2023, she’s determined to build on the performance and fanbase.