Han faces fight of her life in bid to claim lightweight world title

JENNIFER HAN goes transatlantic in her search for another world boxing belt and faces the biggest fight of her career across the pond – bookies have the Texan as 9/1 outsider to claim the lightweight title in England, data provided by BritishGambler.

The indicators point to an almost impossible task against Katie Taylor, the Irish Olympic gold medalist has a career record of 18-0, and gambling firms appear to have decided Han is merely there to make the numbers up.

But the 38-year-old is used to facing unlikely odds, with a return to the ring after the birth of a child an achievement in itself. Han did just that and won her first fight back before relinquishing her title to step up in weight. Once she stepped up, she saw no problem making her lightweight debut in a title fight against, arguably, the greatest female boxer fighting today.

Han is a three-times golden gloves national champion and held the IBF flyweight title till 2020 and last tasted defeat in 2014.

Despite all she has achieved in her career to date, Han is in no doubt about the challenge she’ll face in England, reports Fightful News.

“This the biggest fight of my career. It’s a huge blessing for me and I’m going to give it 100 per cent,” said Han, who has 18 wins in 25 career fights. “I have a passion for boxing and a goal to be the lightweight champion of the world. I knew when I started training again, I would have to work hard to lose the weight and get into the shape I needed to be. It’s been a process, but I’m focused and ready. I recently hit 146 pounds and the hard work is paying off. It was tough, but I’ve been able to manage it.

“Kate is an amazing fighter and someone I respect a great deal. This is a great opportunity for me. I know it will be a challenge. Katie is very popular and there will be 20,000 people at the fight and maybe ten of them will be cheering for me. But I know what I can do and I’ll prepare the very best I can.”

Hopefully the ten backing Han will make plenty of noise in the arena in Leeds in the north of England, and help her overturn the odds. Taylor is an almost unbelievable 1/33 to retain her titles – bet $33 dollars to win $1 – in the fight on the undercard of the Mauricio Lara v Josh Warrington rematch. Latest sports news, videos, interviews and comment CNN

Known as the Wicklow warrior, 35-year-old Taylor has conquered all before her, holding the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, and Ring Magazine world title belts, and puts them all on the line against Han.

But she is far from unbeatable and faced a determined opponent in Delfine Persoon two years ago, a fight many thought Persoon had edged, despite Taylor winning on majority decision. The 2019 clash at Madison Square Garden didn’t get the recognition it warranted, being on the undercard of Andy Ruiz’s shock defeat of Anthony Joshua, but the ten-round clash could have gone either way, with Persoon working hard inside and not allowing the champion to get many clean shots away.

The Belgian’s performance was enough to earn a rematch, Taylor beating her by unanimous decision in 2020.