Katie Taylor had locked herself away for months in the US in preparation for her first world title fight tonight in London.
A solid display by Ireland’s golden girl overall, on her way to making a global name in world boxing for herself.
Jessica McCaskill of St.Louis while brave and game, was never in with a chance of defeating Taylor in truth. It’s tough to see how anyone around her weight class could be though, in fairness.
Taylor started very assured in round 1, happy to box and move in a relatively comfortable start.
McCaskill to her credit came out swinging in the second but was falling short with her attacks – with Taylor showing awareness in her distance control.
Taylor’s speed was getting here in and out in the exchanges for the most part. McCaskill had a strong round 3 however, really going for it in fairness and planting her feet.
As the bout progressed into the mid rounds American McCaskill really dug in deep and for the first time in Taylor’s pro career she got wobbled in round 6.
In what was developing into a tough fight for Taylor, the Irish woman was docked a point in round 7 for excessive holding, as deemed by the referee.
Round 8 was a competitive one again, with Taylor this time perhaps edging the round.
Another round brought another spirited display from the American challenger in round 9 in a tough two minutes to score.
Taylor finished the fight strongly though in round 10. Massive credit to McCaskill tonight however, who put her heart and soul into the bout.
The final scorecards confirmed the news that Taylor won the fight by unanimous decision on all three judges’ scorecards.
Moving forward after this – Taylor’s handlers have mentioned a potential fight with former multiple world female boxing champion Holly Holm could be in the offering in the States next year.
Holm, a remarkable athlete in her own right, made the crossover to MMA in recent years successfully with a famous knockout win in the UFC over Ronda Rousey in what proved to be iconic moment in recent combat sports history.
The win for Taylor tonight improved her professional boxing record to 8-0 as a professional and saw her make her first successful defense of WBA world lightweight title.
