ICONIC – No better venue for Katie Taylor ahead of breakthrough run

Katie Taylor [11(5)-0] hopes to begin a run of iconic fights for women’s boxing tomorrow night and where better to start than one of the most iconic venues in sport.

The WBA and IBF lightweight champion defends her belts at the famous New York venue on the Canelo Alvarez v Rocky Fielding undercard.

Taylor is set to kick off the live broadcast and does so against what, on paper, is her toughest test to date.

The Wicklow woman takes on old amateur rival Eva Wahlstrom [22(3)-0-1] and is predicting a fight which can entertain the fans, elevate the sport, and extend herself.

The reigning WBC super featherweight champion should push Taylor to some degree, unlike most recent foe Cindy Serrano, and the Bray boxer is excited by the proposition.

Ahead of her third pro bout in the Big Apple, Taylor outlined how “I’m here to bring my best, to present my best for all for all fight fans on Saturday and I’m sure my opponent Eva Wahlstrom is going to do the same.”

“I know Eva from the amateur days, we shared the ring on many occasions in the amateurs,”

“I know she is a great competitor and she is a fantastic fighter, and are both here to win on Saturday evening, so somebody’s ’0′ has got to go as they say. I can’t wait for it, it’s going to be an exciting fight.”

Should she come through Saturday’s test, Taylor’s team plan to quickly unify versus Rose Volante and Delfine Persoon to become undisputed champ before targeting mega fights with soon-to-be seven-weight titlist Amanda Serrano and undisputed welterweight queen Cecilia Braekhus.

Wahlstrom, an undefeated world champion, is the first step on this path and the importance of the stage is not lost on Taylor who has already fought at Wembley Stadium, the York Hall, the O2 Arena, the Manchester Arena, the Boston Garden, and the Barclays Centre.

MSG, however, trumps them all, and Taylor described how “I’m really, really excited to be fighting in the iconic Madison Square Garden where so many great fights have taken place and so many great fighters have fought.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to fight in some iconic venues since turning pro two years ago but I’m not sure there’s any more iconic in a boxing sense than Madison Square Garden.”

“Thank you so much to Matchroom, and to DAZN, and also to Golden Boy for this opportunity.”