Plans for world domination but Katie Taylor won’t look past McCaskill

Katie Taylor insists she is not looking past Jessica McCaskill despite already plotting her route to world title unification in 2018.

The Bray star makes the first defence of her WBA lightweight crown against dangerous Chicago native Jessica McCaskill in the headline bout at London’s iconic York Hall tomorrow night.

After producing a superb performance to win the title against Anahi Esther Sanchez, who she dropped en route to a unanimous decision in Cardiff in October, Taylor is desperate to end such a memorable year on a high.

McCaskill has made no secret of her desire to face Taylor and has spent months calling the 31-year-old Olympic champion out. Taylor’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, granted McCaskill her wish and she will now get the chance to win Taylor’s WBA strap.

But, although she has big plans for the New Year, Taylor says she has not taken her eye off the ball, as she prepares to defend her professional world title just five miles away from the venue in which she won Olympic gold.

“I can’t wait, it’s been an incredible year so far and this sets me up to end the year on a high really,” Taylor said.

“My camp has been great and I can’t wait to get going on Wednesday night.

“I’ve always made it clear that I want the best fights as soon as possible, the big challenges and I’m looking forward to this challenge on Wednesday evening. Jessica is a great fighter and I want people to see the best of women’s boxing so these are the fights that I want. That would a dream for me and obviously I’m not looking past Wednesday night just yet but my dream is to unify the division eventually and this sets me up nicely for a big, big year in 2018.”