"She wants to fight Katie Taylor? We would step aside and let them get it on"; Bellator MMA president would not hold Cris Cyborg back; Anthony Joshua fights Kubrat Pulev for the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles on December 12, live on Sky Sports Box Office
Monday 23 November 2020 19:32, UK
Katie Taylor's suggested clash against Cris Cyborg would not be held up by Bellator MMA, its president Scott Coker has said.
MMA fighter Cyborg has been mentioned as a future opponent for Taylor if she swaps sports and crosses into the boxing ring.
"We were going back and forth," Coker said about negotiations with Taylor's promoter Eddie Hearn.
"Why does it always have to be the MMA fighter going to become a boxer? Why can't it be the other way around?
"In saying that, if Cyborg really wants to fight her, she wants to go to boxing and win a title? She wants to fight Katie? We would step aside and let them get it on.
"That's up to her.
"There haven't been any further discussions. We will pick it up with Cyborg after Thanksgiving [November 26]. We will figure it out.
"We aren't going to be the ones to stop this fight from happening."
Hearn previously said: "Cyborg can fight, she can box, she is heavy-handed," Hearn said. "But she is heavy and that is an issue."
Coker had previously challenged: "If Eddie Hearn wants to work out who is the top female combat star then maybe he should think about it."
Hearn replied: "Return the favour in the cage? Unlikely! Katie is a pure boxer."
Taylor addressed Cyborg: "If the fight was to happen, it would only be in the boxing ring.
"She is a name that has been thrown around and I'm very happy to step in the ring with her if she's open to that."
Ireland's Taylor retained her undisputed lightweight title earlier this month against Miriam Gutierrez in a fight that gained more than two million views across the UK and Ireland.
Seven-weight world champion Amanda Serrano, the winner of the undisputed welterweight title rematch between Jessica McCaskill and Cecilia Braekhus, and former Olympic rival Natasha Jonas are all in the hat to next challenge her.
"There isn't anyone she wouldn't fight," Hearn told Sky Sports. "We've tried for the Serrano fight.
"We love the winner of Braekhus against McCaskill.
"You've got Chantelle Cameron, I think will be undisputed soon at 140, that's a big fight in 2021 as well.
"Jonas is up there, Terri Harper could come up from 130 when she's become undisputed. You've got Mikaela Mayer. There are just so many challenges, but the great news is she won't duck one of them.
"You couldn't suggest a fight that she would say no to, but she does want to push the boundaries. Cyborg is a great fight. We know it's a crossover fight with MMA, but honestly there are so many different options."
