Katie Taylor V Jessica McCaskill

Following a remarkable first year in the paid ranks, Katie Taylor makes the first defence of her world title but how highly do our Panel rate the Irish star?

Her eighth professional bout sees her top a professional bill for the first time, following a decorated amateur career.

Katie Taylor celebrates after her WBA Lightweight World Title fight against Jessica McCaskill at York Hall in London, England. It would be Taylor’s first meaningful bout in her home country since she first fought in the National Stadium as a teenager.

McCaskill has talked a good game ahead of the fight and told Sky Sports today that she can capitalise on Taylor’s “mistakes”.

The Windy City native was, at least, creative in her choice of entrance song – the opening bars of stereotypical Irish fight tune “Shipping Up To Boston” a fake of sorts, leading into a belter from her fellow Chi-town smash-hitter Kanye West.

It was a courageous effort from the 33-year-old but the three judges went with the common view that Taylor would finish her 2017 eight wins from eight. It was some handsome reactionary counters from Taylor and the crowd were enjoying watching her make McCaskill miss.

However, Taylor was never given the opportunity to relax, forced to fight full ten rounds at a high tempo.

McCaskill had delivered a freakish pre-fight call-out and followed up on all her talk with a fearless if flawed performance.

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, who won an Olympic gold at London 2012, was then docked a point for holding in the seventh round.

Taylor will probably look to land a unification fight in March, which will likely mean going after either of Argentina’s two champions, Yohana Belén Alfonzo (WBO) or Victoria Noelia Bustos (IBF).

Ever since making her professional debut just over a year ago the Republic of Ireland fighter has gone from strength to strength negotiating the various challenges easily.

Round 8 was a competitive one again, with Taylor this time perhaps edging the round.

Katie Taylor, 7-0, 4 KO’s will be back in action tomorrow, December 13th, headlining for the first defense of her World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title.