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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Katie Taylor sends 'best is yet to come' warning to Karen Elizabeth Carabajal and potential opponents ahead of London fight

Katie Taylor has warned the best is yet to come from her as she prepares to face Karen Elizabeth Carabajal this weekend.

The Bray bomber puts her undisputed and undefeated status, as well as her IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO world lightweight belts, on the line against the undefeated Argentinian in London.

Taylor put in the performance of her career against Amanda Serrano in Madison Square Garden earlier this year in a bout which for the first time in her career she was the underdog for, but the 36-year-old insists fans still haven't seen the best of her.

She said: "I really genuinely believe that people haven't seen the best of me yet and I'm looking forward to showcasing that the best is yet to come. I don't live on past performances or past successes and I do genuinely believe that people haven't seen the best of me and I can't wait to showcase that."

Taylor came face-to-face with Carabajal on Thursday for the first time since the main event bout was announced just over a month ago.

It is in stark contrast to her bout with Serrano when the fighters were brought to London and New York for press conferences months before the fight.

Taylor in action against Serrano back in April (©INPHO/Gary Carr)

But the 2012 Olympic gold medallist is taking nothing for granted against Carabajal, who is fighting outside Argentina for the first time in her career, as motivation is something she has never struggled with.

She stated: "I think every fight at this stage is a big fight. There's no such thing as easy fights at this stage of my career.

"I don't find it difficult at all to motivate myself to be quite honest," she continued. "I understand the challenges ahead of me and like I said there's no such thing as easy fights at this stage. She has everything to gain in this fight and nothing to lose.

"These fighters are always very, very dangerous and I'm just looking forward to showcasing what I can do again on Saturday night.

"My training camp has gone brilliantly, my mindset is still completely the same as it ever has been and I just love the sport. I'm still as passionate about my sport today as I ever was and that's where the motivation comes from."

Katie Taylor (Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)

Saturday's bout comes at the same venue, the Wembley Arena, where Taylor made her professional debut back in 2016 when she defeated Poland's Karina Kopinska.

It is also the same location as where she fought Spaniard Miriam Gutierrez behind closed doors during the Covid pandemic just under two years ago in a bizarre week that saw the Republic of Ireland's men's team play across the road from where Taylor was staying at Wembley Stadium against England, also in front of no spectators.

Despite how far women's boxing has come since that debut almost six years ago, largely thanks to Taylor, she remains as humble as ever and pointed to her fellow countryman Gary Cully when asked about headlining the show.

She said: "It's great to headline another huge show and to have the likes of Gary on the bill as well is fantastic. I used to train with Gary for years on the amateur boxing teams so it's great to be sharing a card with him."

Gary Cully (Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)

Taylor and Cully could be seen sharing a few words after Thursday's press conference, with the champion's father Pete, who coaches the Kildare fighter, also joining them at the side of the stage.

Eddie Hearn ended the press conference by singling out one of his star boxers, male or female, for how humble she is.

The promoter concluded: "You're the queen of humility but I think everybody knows that you are the reason that we're sitting here today. Not just the boundaries that you broke in the amateur code but also in the professional code as well. Every young fighter, every female fighter, should be thanking you. You're an unbelievable ambassador."

If Taylor has her way, she will continue to be an unbelievable ambassador for plenty of time to come.

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