Katie Taylor will defend her WBA female lightweight title for the first time when she faces Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill in London on December 13.

Taylor put in an impressive performance to defeat former champion, Argentina’s Anahi Sanchez, and claim the vacant WBA belt in October, in a fight that took place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff as part of the Joshua-Takam undercard.

McCaskill – also known as CasKilla – was quick to call out the Irish champion, and this will be the 33-year-old’s first fight away from the States. However, this was something she was more than happy to do in order to get a prized title shot, with McCaskill insisting, “I have no problem going over to the United Kingdom. I have been ready to travel outside of America for a while.”

Taylor v Sanchez Summary

In her previous encounter against Anahi Sanchez, Taylor showed that she is a force to be reckoned with. Her dominant display saw Sanchez dropped to the canvas with a hefty left hook in the second round and, although Taylor didn’t manage to knock out Sanchez, there were no doubts about the winner of the contest, with the Bray native securing 99-90 scorecards from all three judges.

Taylor’s front foot approach proved too much for Sanchez, who actually had to vacate the Lightweight title the day before the match-up after she failed to make weight at 135lb – meaning only Taylor could take the belt home when the fight came (if she won).

What to expect from McCaskill?

Jessica McCaskill is a heavy hitting fighter with a 5-1 professional record, with her only defeat coming in her second pro fight with a split decision loss to Katonya Fisher. In her six fights to date though, she has recorded an impressive three TKO’s.

Although the two fights turned pro at similar times and boast not-too-dissimilar pro records, Taylor is vastly more experienced in the ring, having started boxing at just 11 – with her father himself an Irish senior light heavyweight champion. McCaskill, on the other hand, first laced up her boxing gloves less than 10 years ago at the age of 24. Indeed, Taylor was winning Gold at Amateur European Championships before McCaskill had even entered the ring.

Taylor is a strong favorite to retain her Lightweight title with good reason and, assuming she manages to take or avoid McCaskill’s heaviest shots, will surely maintain her perfect pro record.