In the span of a little more than a year, Katie Taylor went from competing in the Olympics to winning her pro boxing debut and eventually winning and defending a pro boxing world title.
Taylor retained her WBA female lightweight title against Jessica McCaskill in her first world title defense on a rare weekday world title fight on December 13. Taylor defeated McCaskill via unanimous decision (97-92, 97-92, 98-91) in front of a large crowd at York Hall in the United Kingdom.
The former Olympic gold medalist dominated for most of the fight, but wasn't flawless in her performance. Taylor had some bad spells during the fight, even going as far as to have a point deducted off of Taylor for excessive holding. Taylor picked up her eighth pro win in 13 months, winning the world title in her last fight against Anahi Esther Sanchez back in October.
Taylor, who is from Ireland, has yet to fight in her native country of Ireland but plans to do so next year. Taylor said the plan is to unify lightweight world titles in Dublin next year.
"I was created to box and I’d love to go back to Dublin in 2018 and unify the division. Whoever has the other belts, I want them all. This has been an incredible year for me, I’ve won a world title and I ultimately want to make history in the sport," Taylor told Sky Sports after the fight.
The other world champions at that weight class are Delfine Persoon (WBC), Victoria Noelia Bustos (IBF) and Yohana Belen Alfonso (WBO).
