(NOV 27)  As many of you now know Ireland’s five-time World Amateur, six-times European and London 2012 Olympic Gold medallist, Katie Taylor made a fine start to her Pro career with a comprehensive stoppage of Poland’s Karina Kopinska at the SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday night.

The referee sensibly intervened after 58 seconds of the 3rd round to avoid further punishment for the Pole whose 25th Professional bout that was compared with Taylor’s first. The bout was scheduled for six rounds but an early stoppage was predictable from the opening bell when Taylor began as she meant to carry on by launching some razor sharp combinations.

With Kopinska (27) cut around her nose and forced onto the ropes as Taylor landed a flurry of head shots, it was no surprise to see the referee intervene.

Talking to Sky TV, 30-year-old Taylor said : "It's an absolute privilege to be here, this is obviously a huge night for women's boxing. This is my pro debut, I don't want to get too carried away.

“This is only the start. I hope to be a multiple-weight world champion and the dream is to box in Ireland for a world title. I have been training so hard, so I have to thank my new coach (American Ross Enamait) for that, because he has got me into fantastic shape.

Promoter Eddie Hearn was delighted with his new charge’s performance:

“This is going to be a great, great journey, and that was the absolute perfect, perfect performance.

It couldn’t have gone any better. Huge pressure on her shoulders, not just to get the win, but for the performance.

“Forget women’s boxing, forget men’s boxing, it’s just boxing, and Katie Taylor can fight, she can entertain.

“We needed a good start, because you’ve got to get hold of these non-believers, and let them know that Katie Taylor is here to fight”.

At Friday’s weigh-in the Bray woman had talked of a possible world title bout within a year or so: "I think I can definitely be fast-tracked a bit more than a lot of the men," said Taylor.

"I've got great amateur experience; I've got over 250 fights as an amateur so I definitely feel like I could be moved fairly quickly but I'm just going to leave that stuff up to Eddie Hearn and Matchroom, they're the ones that are organising these fights and I've just got to do my job and be prepared for whoever steps in the ring”.

There are much tougher tasks ahead that’s for sure but on Saturday’s performance Taylor is certainly going to make a name for herself in the Pros as she did in the Amateurs.

Taylor returns to action on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's IBF title defence against Eric Molina on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office, and promoter Hearn believes she will be ready to challenge for a world title within 12 months, which title fight if it comes to pass is likely to be in Ireland possibly outdoor at either Croke Park, home of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or at the Aviva Stadium, formerly Lansdowne Road, home of Irish Rugby.

Katie Taylor interviewed by Kugan Cassius of iFLTV (via You Tube)

 

Promoter Eddie Hearn on Taylor’s performance, video also with Kugan Cassius