Taylor vs Gutierrez fight result: Katie Taylor defends her belts on historic night

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Katie Taylor dominates Miriam Gutierrez over 12 rounds, Terri Harper stops Katherina Thanderz, and Rachel Ball successful in world title bid

In a historic night for boxing, Matchroom gave us an all-female World title triple-header, featuring defences from undisputed lightweight champion, Katie Taylor, and WBC and IBO super-featherweight champ, Terri Harper. Also on the bill, Rachel Ball and Jorgelina Guanini battled it out for the vacant WBC Interim super-bantamweight title.

Katie Taylor (17-0) vs Miriam Gutiérrez (13-0)

10 rounds for the undisputed lightweight championship
Winner - Taylor (100 - 89, 100-90, 99-91)

Headlining the evening, Katie Taylor made the second defence of her undisputed crown, cruising to a comfortable points victory over mandatory challenger, Miriam Gutiérrez.

For Gutiérrez, who was previously unbeaten in 13 fights, the occasion marked her first contest outside her home country of Spain, and it proved an occasion that she was unable to rise to.

Taylor made a ferocious start, rocking Gutiérrez early and leaving her shell-shocked for the remainder of the round.

To Gutiérrez' credit, she remained on her feet throughout rounds 2 and 3 despite taking some serious punishment as Taylor let go with some powerful and sustained attacks.

As we expected would be the case, Taylor proved herself to be levels above the challenger, gliding in and out of range to land at will while taking little in return.

Moments before the bell rang out to end the 4th round, Taylor timed Gutiérrez with a straight right hand that sent her to the canvas, but making up for in toughness what she lacked in skill, Gutiérrez got to her feet and came out fighting in the fifth.

Incredibly, despite serving as a punchbag for Taylor, Gutiérrez was able to make her way through to the final bell, although watching on you couldn't help but wonder why her corner allowed her to continue.

Though she'll be disappointed not to have found the knockout after such a dominant display, Taylor looked sharp and powerful tonight, proving why she is considered by many to be the best female boxer on the planet.

Elsewhere on the card -

Terri Harper (11-0-1) vs Katharina Thanderz (13-1-0)

10 rounds for the WBC and IBO super-featherweight titles
Winner - Harper (TKO Round 9)

Making her first appearance since drawing with Natasha Jonas just a few months ago, Terri Harper made the second defence of the WBC world title that she won from Eva Wahlström at the start of the year.

Thanderz came into the contest with a perfect 13-0 record, but none of those wins came against anyone of Harper's level.

There was speculation before the fight that Harper might have suffered psychologically from the draw with Jonas, and that it could have a knock-on effect on her performance tonight. If she was suffering from any issues though, it certainly didn't show as she went about her business.

Thanderz never stopped coming forward, but she struggled with the movement of Harper and just didn't throw or land enough to take the rounds. With that said, if you favour the front-foot fighter, you might have been inclined to score a few for the Norwegian.

In the ninth round, Harper found a body shot that took the steam out of Thanderz, and after stepping on the gas she was able to force the referee to step in. Initially, the stoppage looked as though it had come too soon, but there was no protest from Thanderz who was perhaps relieved to have been pulled out.

The win sees Harper retain her titles and stay on course for some big unification fights with the likes of WBO champion, Mikaela Mayer.

Rachel Ball (6-1-0) vs Jorgelina Guanini (9-1-2)

10 rounds for the WBC Interim super-bantamweight title
Winner - Ball (99-91, 99-91, 99-92)

After failing to make weight, Guanini was not eligible to win the tile, but it was all on the line for Ball.

Ball carried a significant height and reach advantage into the contest, and initially, Guanini struggled to work her way into range, but by the third round, she was beginning to find a home for some heavy hooks and looked to be getting the better of the exchanges.

Ball faced a similar issue with Guanini as she did with Shannon Courtenay a few months back - while she was the technically better boxer, she perhaps just lacks the power to deter the shorter, stockier, and more robust fighters, and in addition, she is fairly easy to hit once they have bullied their way inside.

Regardless, Ball began to gain control of the fight in the second half, outworking Guanini who was perhaps beginning to feel the pace after a difficult weight cut.

Over the ten rounds, the judges gave it to Ball with scores of 99-91, 99-91 and 99-92 - scores which do little justice to the success that Guanini had throughout.

Now in possession of a World title (albeit an interim version), Ball will have several options at bantam and super-bantamweight and has expressed some interest in honouring a fight with her original opponent for tonight, Ebanie Bridges.

John Docherty (8-1) vs Jack Cullen (19-2-1)

10 rounds at super-middleweight
Winner - Cullen (96-94, 96-94, 95-94)

John Docherty falls short in a significant step-up in class, taking on the more experienced and battle-hardened Jack Cullen. After a perfect start, dropping Cullen in the first round, Docherty found himself in the fight of his life, suffering a nasty cut in the third, and finding that Jack Cullen was far from a walkover. After some close middle rounds, Cullen came on strong in the eighth, dominating Docherty and at times looking like he might force a stoppage. Docherty fought on bravely though, showing great heart to keep himself in the fight right up to the final bell.

Angel Aviles (20-6-1) vs Kash Farooq (14-1-0)

10 rounds for the  vacant WBA continental bantamweight title
Winner - Farooq (100-90, 100-91, 99-91)

Kash Farooq showed blistering hand-speed and good punch variety, going toe-to-toe with tough Mexican, Angel Aviles. Farooq landed freely to body and head over the ten rounds and had he just a little more power he'd likely have earned a stoppage. In the end, the judges had near enough every round going to Farooq, scoring it 100-90, 100-91, 99-91.


Thomas Whittaker Hart (5-0) vs Jermaine Springer (7-2)

8 rounds at light-heavyweight
Winner - Whittaker Hart (79-74)

Whittaker Hart retains his unbeaten record and moves to 5-0, taking the decision in a hard-fought eight-rounder with plenty of back and forth.

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