‘I’m still a small bit emotional’ – Katie Taylor reflects on where women's boxing has come from

"I have to compose myself,” Taylor said as she considered her childhood hero, the woman to whom she sent a letter as a child to ask for advice on how to make it in a sport with so many obstacles

WOMAN AT WORK: Preparing for Friday's night lights, Katie Taylor at an open workout at the Toyota Music Factory in Dallas, Texas. Pic: Ayisha Collins/Getty Images

In Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor sees all that she needs right now. It doesn’t matter that it is Texas instead of Croke Park, it doesn’t matter that it is run by a different promotional company, it doesn’t matter that the main event is a freak show. What she wants above all else is a rival.

For so long she faced doubts about the validity of the sport and depth of the field. Taylor’s singular talent transformed the business, but it was not an individual pursuit. Serrano is a boxer who set a record by winning nine major world titles across seven different classes. She played her part in a historic showdown at Madison Square Garden two years ago and used her own selling power, backed by the promotional company of main event participant Jake Paul, to make this AT&T Stadium bout a reality.