VIVIANE OBENAUF HAS joked that she will not resort to Mike Tyson ear-biting tactics in a bid to cause a shock upset against Katie Taylor tonight.
Swiss-based Brazilian Obenauf carries a winning 9-1 record, suffering her sole defeat on points to undefeated Italian Vissia Trovato last year, while she has never been stopped.
The 30-year-old also recorded a points victory over Karina Kopinska – Taylor’s debut opponent – just two months ago.
Quizzed on how she plans to upset the 1/200 favourite Taylor, the 25/1 underdog laughed: “With my fists – I won’t bite her ear like Mike Tyson!”
Brazilian Obenauf moved to Switzerland eight years ago after meeting her now ex-husband and she has been based there since beginning her pro career in 2014.
She has went six rounds on three occasions in her 10-fight career – tonight’s bout is scheduled for that distance over two-minute rounds – while Taylor has yet to fight beyond the four-round limit of her amateur career, having stopped Kopinska in three.
However, Obenauf has never been in against a fighter of Taylor’s pedigree and the bookies have rated her as a no-hoper.
“I don’t fear fighting her,” said Obenauf on taking up the challenge of facing the five-time amateur world champion. “I don’t think I will [necessarily] stop Katie winning a [professional] world title, but I’m here and I’ll try,” continued the 30-year-old.
“I’ll give everything and my aim is to win… I’m here to fight.”
Taylor’s second pro contest has been afforded a fairly high-profile undercard slot on Matchroom’s Sky Box Office bill, with the bout expected to be on around 8-9pm in advance of the headline heavyweight meeting of IBF world champion Anthony Joshua and Texan Eric Molina.
London 2012 gold medallist Taylor has no desire to bank any rounds as she aims to follow up her impressive debut with another show-reel win, albeit against another opponent who is not considered to be world class.
“I’d be happy enough to stop her in the first round to be honest,” said Taylor when quizzed on whether she would like to bag some more pro experience by going the distance.
“I’ve been sparring six, eight and 10 rounds – three-minute rounds a lot of the time – so I am prepared for a tough six-round battle.
“But it’s always nice to get the stoppage… I have the power to hurt these girls,” added the 30-year-old.
Taylor weighed in at 9st 6lbs 2oz on Friday afternoon – just slightly over the 132lb limit set for the bout – with Obenauf clocking in at 9st 5lbs 9oz (131lbs).
The Bray woman is likely to pursue a title shot at either super-featherweight (130lbs) or lightweight (135lbs) in the new year, but for the moment she is boxing at a limit closer to that of her amateur division of 60kg as she adjusts to the pro game.
Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua also backed his fellow London 2012 champion to make her mark as a professional.
“Sometimes some people can’t make the transition, but watching her on her pro debut, it showed that she’s very capable of making that transition from the amateurs to the pros,” said Joshua.
“And her success as an amateur is like a pedigree to show what she can do [as a pro] and she showed great attributes as a professional on her debut, so I think she’ll do really well.”
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