Persoon is somehow keeping that damaged left eye out of range. If it gets worse, we could still have a stoppage because of that. The blood on the Taylor nose is nowhere near as bad as it has been. Four minutes left and the damage to the faces could be crucial still.

Persoon lunges in and twice misses. But she finds the target with a brutal right not long after.

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Katie Taylor is pushing the pace and maybe she just nicked that round. It's a very close fight and it's all up for grabs.

Horrendous swelling over the left eye of Persoon. She has a target on her face now.

A swinging right hook from Persoon misses, but she is dragging Taylor into her fight - an all-out brawl. Taylor gets caught with a right in the final few seconds.

Some good footwork from Taylor as she jumps in and out, lands and avoids trouble. If she does that a lot more in the rest of this fight she has a chance.

Carl Frampton
Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

I'd give that round to Katie Taylor. She is still looking tired but she moved her head well but Delfine Persoon is still in control of this fight.

This fight so far is great. Very, very enjoyable.

Persoon has been a world champion for five years and we are seeing why. At the moment she is the favourite to become a unified world champion.

A lovely right, which Persoon eats and shows that she has some chin. Taylor needs a lot more of that as that was a good punch, but her opponent was unmoved.

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

I'm not sure Katie Taylor can win this now by moving her feet, but somehow she needs to be smarter.

Delfine Persoon still has bad feet and she can utilise that because a brawl in the middle of the ring will end in defeat.

Taylor had showed some confidence in that round, waving her opponent on, but it was not wise as it just led to a flurry of Persoon punches, many of them landing. Taylor in trouble at the halfway point.

Katie Taylor is forced back on to the ropes as Persoon tries to launch her opponent through into the seats. Another straight right sends Taylor on to another section of the ropes.

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

I had Delfine Persoon just nicking that round. Katie Taylor made it a little closer but the sheer will to win seems to be coming from the Belgian. She doesn't have the skills but she has the desire.

If this is the sign of things to come tonight then this is going to be a fantastic night of boxing. Hugely enjoyable. Both try flurries of punches, with varying success. Some hit, sometimes they leave themselves open.

A closer round than the previous two. Taylor's face is covered by blood, thanks to a cut at the top of the nose. That is not looking too good. That cut is not far from the eyes so could cause problems later on.

Carl Frampton
Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Both girls are pretty easy to hit but Katie Taylor is not moving out of the way, and she has been hurt too many times in the opening three rounds.

Another left finds its way through the Taylor defence. And another with only seconds remaining. She may well have been hit more times in this fight already compared to throughout most of her professional career. Three gone. Two-one to the Belgian.

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport at Madison Square Garden

Image source, .

“Don’t go back in straight lines Katie.”

That’s the call from one of her ringside pals.

This is a good, lively affair. Don’t think I’ve seen Taylor under pressure like this before. Persoon game, very game.

“Tight guard Katie, tight guard,” comes the shout.

The Belgian is again the attacker. A looping overhand right misses. Her style is aggressive and frantic, with Taylor trying to catch her on the counter, but Taylor is shipping a lot of punishment.

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

That was the best round of women's boxing I have seen. Katie Taylor has never been in a round of boxing like that in her career.