Cris Cyborg Plans Professional Boxing Match This Year, 'Honored' To Be Linked With Bout Against Katie Taylor

Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC & Mark Robinson - Matchroom Boxing

Bellator MMA featherweight best, Cris Cyborg has announced intentions to step inside the squared circle sometime this year and admits she is "honored" to find herself linked with a potential professional boxing match against the undefeated Olympic gold medalist, Katie Taylor.

Cyborg, the undisputed Bellator featherweight champion, successfully lodged her second defense of the 145lbs title back at Bellator 259 in May with a late fifth round knockout over challenger, Leslie Smith in the pair's victory.

For Wicklow native, Taylor, the London 2012 lightweight Olympic gold medalist boasts an undefeated 18-0 professional record, last defeating Liverpool veteran, Natasha Jonas in May to successfully retain the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles. 

Curitiba-born finisher, Cyborg, one of the most decorated mixed martial artists of all time, landed the Bellator featherweight crown back in January of last year -- adding the title to an already gleaming trophy cabinet that houses gold from the UFC, Invicta FC, and the now-defunct, Strikeforce promotion.

Appearing on an episode of The MMA Hour recently, the 34-year-old Muay Thai ace explained how she plans to step into the boxing ring this year in between another attempted defense of her featherweight title, and how she felt "honored" to be linked with a potential showdown against Taylor.

"My next fight is going to be in MMA," Cyborg said. "I'm really tired of waiting to do one boxing fight, I really would like to do that this year. And I'm waiting on Audie Attar (manager) to move with this thing and do my first boxing fight, I was hoping to be on the Jake Paul vs. (Tyron) Woodley card, but the next one's going to be in MMA. And maybe in the future, you know, Bellator likes to do the co-promotion and do another event together."

"I would like to do two more fights this year, and I would like one to be boxing, for sure," Cyborg said. "I'm not here to pick the opponent, you know, it's a new world for me, it's a new world, I just continue training. Audie Attar and Scott Coker and probably gonna work together to see who can be my next opponent in boxing, but my first one is gonna be great."

When asked if she would be interested in fighting Taylor, Cyborg insisted that the 35-year-old had been calling for a potential bout with her in the future, but maintained she would appreciate the opportunity to share the ring with her. 

"No, she called me out, Katie Taylor," Cyborg said. "But you know, it's an honor for me that she's calling me out, you know. I just continue training and you know, she is -- I respect her, she's a really great fighter. Let's see what's going to be happening.

While Cyborg is yet to book her next outing under the Bellator banner, defending champion, Taylor returns on September 4. in a Leeds outing against streaking El Paso native, Jennifer Han in a lightweight matchup.