Katie Taylor is preparing for the biggest night of her boxing career when she takes on super lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron in the 3Arena on Saturday for an occasion she readily admits, she didn't think would ever happen.
History making Taylor is looking for another place in the record books as she bids to become just the third two-weight undisputed champion ever, by adding Cameron’s super-lightweight belts to her lightweight titles.
Only Evander Holyfield and Claressa Shields have achieved the feat of becoming undisputed at two different weight levels.
Cameron wasn’t in Taylor’s thinking originally but she accepted the challenge laid down by the Irish fighter in the wake of the Amanda Serrano rematch falling through.
With Serrano pulling out through injury and Croke Park falling by the wayside as a potential venue, Taylor’s long-planned homecoming looked to be on the scrap-heap.
While the 3Arena may be a step down from Croke Park as a venue, the level of Taylor’s opponents is arguably a step-up and given everything at stake, this could be considered a bigger fight.
"I’m absolutely delighted to be the one to bring big time boxing back to Ireland," Taylor told RTÉ Sport.
"A few years ago I didn't think this fight was ever going to happen, I didn't think my homecoming was ever going to happen, so I’m absolutely delighted this is happening.
"It's not only happening with any normal fight, this is one of the biggest fights in boxing and I think this is definitely going to be a new day for Irish boxing.
"This is absolutely huge for a nation and we are a nation who absolutely love our sport, we love our boxing and it's one of our most successful sports and we're so happy to bring boxing home.
"When I started boxing as a pro’, this is one of the things I obviously wanted to do, to become undisputed champion and to box in front of my home crowd and just a few days later making that happen, that's amazing.
"The atmosphere is obviously going to be absolutely electric, 10,000 Irish people screaming for you, it's going to be amazing. My whole family are going to be there and I’m just pinching myself that it’s only a few days away."
Taylor’s career has been marked by chasing goals that others wouldn’t consider.
While most boxers in her position would have taken an easier option and sought out a less threatening fight to pass time until Serrano recovered, Taylor instead looked for the toughest fight out there.
"I think one of the things that has marked my career is I never ever take the easy challenges. I want the big challenges, I relish these challenges," she explained.
"The minute Serrano was out, the initial thought came to mind was that it has to be Chantelle Cameron - the step up in weight and that she is the undisputed champion.
"This is undisputed champion versus undisputed champion, this never ever happens with boxing. This is a history making fight, it's the biggest fight out there right now, I believe.
"People are saying it's an even tougher fight than the Amanda Serrano. I just love these kind of challenges, I can't wait.
"I'm expecting a tough fight but I'm ready for whatever comes my way."
What is coming Taylor’s way is an opponent who has a physical advantage over her, in reach, size and potentially strength.
The Bray bomber isn’t phased by Cameron’s size however and while Taylor insists that she won’t change her approach for the bigger fighter, she’s confident that she can get the better of her.
"I’ll just move and stick to my boxing," Taylor said. "She's obviously big and strong but I'm also strong as well, I also have a big energy. We'll see what happens on Saturday night but I feel like I am ready."
Follow a live blog of Chantelle Cameron v Katie Taylor for the undisputed super-lightweight world title from the 3Arena on Saturday night on the RTÉ News app or RTÉ.ie/Sport
