Promoter Eddie Hearn says: "I had it as a draw, but I was not sure. She (Taylor) boxed well in the middle rounds, and I thought she boxed the wrong fight. Persoon was incredibly strong and Katie Taylor did not look herself tonight.

"I think she was nicking rounds, but the eye-catching shots were coming from Persoon but I thought it was an unbelievable fight, an example for women's boxing.

"Some people had it a draw, some had it for Katie - I could not argue at 96-94 either way. Knowing Katie, if there's anyone that thinks she has lost that fight, which there are, she will want to do it again. Persoon was unbeaten for nine years and she was excellent. I would like to see it again."

Image source, PA

Katie Taylor said: "I felt like I did enough at the start to win the fight. It was very close and she was very strong - it was a fantastic showcase for women's boxing. I knew it was going to be the hardest fight of my career but I am born for fights like these and I have worked so hard in training camp.

"The support today was fantastic and I'm so grateful. I probably like a bit of a fight too much and I probably should have boxed on the outside a bit more. I'm definitely happy to give Delfine a rematch if she wants."

Carl Frampton
Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

In my opinion, the judges have got it wrong and it is heartbreaking to see Delfine Persoon in tears. I thought she won that fight by miles and that was a disgraceful decision.

Katie Taylor now holds the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO World female lightweight titles.

Delfine Persoon is in tears, she can't believe it, she thought she had done enough, our pundits thought she had done enough.

Two judges disagreed and Persoon not only loses the potential undisputed champion title but also her own world title.

Mike Costello
BBC Sport boxing correspondent at Madison Square Garden

I think there is an element of surprise in the crowd.

Huge controversy here.

The first judge calls it as a 95-95 draw, with the other two judges giving it as 96-94, 96-94 to Taylor.

Taylor becomes an undisputed champion.

Carl Frampton
Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

I have it eight rounds to two for Delfine Persoon. I'm a friend of Katie Taylor but it is hard for me to give her rounds.

Our pundits are expecting a Persoon win and a Taylor loss coming up.

Steve Bunce
BBC Radio 5 Live boxing pundit at Madison Square Garden

It was a fight I never thought I would get to see. I thought we would get snippets moving forward but I did not think Katie Taylor could be pushed back for the entire 10 rounds. It was the fight women's boxing desperately needed.

The swelling over the left eye of Persoon is closing that eye, but that's her fight done. Has she done enough? She was the aggressor throughout that, with Taylor dragged into going toe-to-toe.

Persoon lands, Taylor fights back, both swinging for the fences, looking for a moment of magic. Incredible stuff.

Is Katie Taylor one minute away from the first loss of her career?

A huge ovation from the Madison Square Garden crowd as the fighters come out for the last. They've seen some great fights here. This is another one.

Carl Frampton
Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Any skill that Delfine Persoon showed in the opening rounds has gone out of the window and it is just sheer grit and determination. Katie Taylor needs to dig deep now.

This has just become an all-out battle. Who wants it more? The undisputed world champion is some carrot as an incentive. Two minutes to go.

This is like some female Rocky stuff. I hit you, you hit me and so on and so on. Engaging.

Persoon gets a telling off for hitting on the break. Katie Taylor lands with a solid left hook, but cannot build on that one-punch success.

Steve Bunce
BBC Radio 5 Live boxing pundit at Madison Square Garden

They've used their heads, elbows and shoulders and it's like a heavyweight fight form the '50s where anything goes.

I think Katie Taylor has to win both of these rounds to win the fight.