Next year is already poised to be a spectacular one for women's boxing.
Moments after Cecilia Braekhus delivered a unanimous decision victory (99-91, 98-92, 98-92) over Victoria Bustos to retain her undisputed welterweight crown Saturday on DAZN, promoter Eddie Hearn targeted the summer of 2020 for Braekhus and Katie Taylor to fight.
"Of course, the future is Katie Taylor against Cecilia Braekhus — two undisputed world champions," the Matchroom USA president said at the Casino de Salle Medecin in Monte Carlo, Monaco, where Braekhus impressed in her debut under the promotion. "I think another fight probably for both in the spring and then a summer fight. It's the biggest fight in boxing."
Hearn added: "Certainly those two are on a collision course."
Braekhus, standing by Hearn's side, laughed and said, "Yeah, that sounds good to me."
Braekhus retained her title for the 25th time with the lopsided victory over Argentina's Bustos to improve to 36-0 (nine KOs).
Claressa Shields, the second woman in boxing history to become an undisputed champion, was tuning in to the fight and even tweeted her analysis.
Shields had expressed interest of fighting Braekhus as well, but it looks as though Taylor will get her first. The 38-year-old Braekhus has previously expressed her urgency for big fights given her age, and there's no doubt that a bout against Taylor would be must-see material.
The 33-year-old Taylor (15-0, six KOs) became the third woman to don an undisputed crown with her controversial majority decision over Delfine Persoon in June. In November, the Irish sensation moved up to junior welterweight, where she snatched the WBO title with a unanimous decision over Christina Linardatou.