FROM a packed ExCeL Exhibition Centre to the madness of ‘the big room’ at Madison Square Garden – Katie Taylor has always relished the biggest occasions, and intends to do so again in her long-awaited homecoming against Chantelle Cameron later this month.
Taylor (22-0, 6KOs) carried the expectation of a nation into London 2012, delivering spectacularly to claim gold, and has become a pioneer for female professional boxing since turning over to the paid ranks four years later.
Last year’s epic showdown with heavy-hitting Amanda Serrano would have graced any era, with the atmosphere at the so-called ‘Mecca of Boxing’ providing the perfect backdrop to an unforgettable occasion.
On May 20, though, comes something new, something different – Taylor’s first fight in Ireland as a pro, and the chance to became an undisputed two-weight world champion.
Never afraid of a challenge, she is stepping up from lightweight to light-welter to challenge England’s Cameron (17-0, 8Kos) for her belts, and the Bray woman insists fight night nerves will play no part inside Dublin’s 3Arena.
“There’s pressure in every single fight, there probably is a bit of added pressure with this fight when you are at home in front of your home crowd,” she said.
“But have the experience of fighting in these big occasions. I have the experience of fighting when there is a lot of pressure on my shoulders. I don't really see it as anything too outrageous in terms of what I've actually experienced before. Every single time I step into the ring I feel like there's a lot of pressure on me.
"I am just getting on with things, looking forward to the fight, I'm excited about it, I'm not feeling the burden right now... this could be the biggest moment of my career so far.
"This is a huge occasion for me and I'm just delighted to have a chance to fight at home. A few years ago, I didn't think this was ever going to happen so I'm just so excited about it."
Taylor was initially supposed to fight Serrano again at Croke Park in a rematch of their epic first meeting, only for issues surrounding security costs to scupper those plans.
The 36-year-old, though, remains hopeful of one day fighting at the home of the GAA.
"I definitely haven't given up on it.
"I would absolutely love the opportunity to fight at Croke Park, our most iconic stadium, but these things are genuinely out of my control.
“This is a fight I’ve always wanted, to make the adjustment from Amanda Serrano to Chantelle Cameron is a fantastic one because motivation is as high as ever for me. It would have been a lot worse if I was going from the Amanda Serrano fight to, say, a mandatory opponent, a fight where I couldn’t really get up for it.
“I know I have to be at my very best, people are saying this is going to be an even better fight than the Amanda Serrano fight, so there is a huge appetite for it.”
Full focus is currently on her own fight but, just seven days later, Michael Conlan challenges Luis Alberto Lopez for the IBF world featherweight crown.
And while unsure if she will be at Belfast’s SSE Arena, Taylor is full of admiration for her former sparring partner.
“Michael’s been a phenomenal fighter all through his career,” she said.
“We fought as amateurs together all through the years, so it would be great for both of us to come through the biggest fights of our careers.
“I sparred Michael a few times, obviously a very tricky spar for me, he’s phenomenal, one of the most talented amateur boxers we’ve ever had, so it was always a nightmare sparring Michael.
“I always learned so much even from the rounds we did through the years. He’s an amazing talent, a warrior as well, great skill... he has everything it takes to be a world champion.
“He was so close to winning that world title against Leigh Wood, it was an amazing performance, I’m so excited he has another chance because that’s exactly what he deserves.”
