Katie Taylor admitted that her performance against Firuza Sharipova was "no masterclass", but added that "a win is a win" as she targets a big year in 2022.
The undisputed lightweight champion was made to work hard by an opponent eight years younger than her at the M&S Arena in Liverpool on Saturday night.
But she came through the bout successfully to extend her professional record to 20-0 and set up a massive showdown with Amanda Serrano next year - if the Puerto Rican beats Miriam Gutierrez next weekend.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Taylor said: "It was no masterclass by any means, but a win is a win and these opponents can be nearly banana skin type of opponents as well so the most important thing is just getting the win. I knew this was going to set up a huge year for me next year. The mandatory challengers are always tricky opponents.
"It was an okay performance. It certainly wasn't a masterclass. She was an awkward opponent. She was holding a lot inside as well. It was harder to get my shots off."
Taylor will enjoy a few well deserved weeks off at home with her family over Christmas before going back to America early next year.
A fight between Taylor and Serrano fell through twice in 2020, but the Bray fighter is confident that it will finally happen next year.
She said: "I think it's definitely going to happen this time to be quite honest with you.
"The fact that she's fighting one of my old opponents next week, I think that's going to be an interesting fight to watch.
"This is a fight that's being pushed on her so this fight is definitely going to happen. I have no worries or concerns about that.
"I think this fight is a genuine 50-50 fight. She's going to believe that she's going to win 100% and so am I. This is what makes the best fights in boxing.
"She genuinely believes that she's going to win the fight. She's obviously very experienced, she has a huge knockout ratio, she's one of the most known female fighters in the world.
"Over the years, ever since I started in the professional game, this fight was talked about, so it has been building up for a few years now."
The prospect of headlining a card at Madison Square Garden excites the 2012 Olympic Gold medallist greatly and she can't wait to see what the atmosphere is like, with a large Irish contingent expected to descend on the famous New York venue.
She added: "This is genuinely more than a dream for me to have a chance to headline Madison Square Garden - the most iconic venue in boxing. This is huge and possibly against Amanda Serrano, it's the biggest fight in women's boxing right now.
"This is exactly why I got involved in professional boxing to be involved in fights like this and to be fighting on big stages like this so it's very, very exciting."
"It's going to be incredible. I remember even against Eva Wahlstrom I could hear Ole Ole Ole around the arena when I was boxing. It was incredible so I can't imagine what it would be like if I'm actually headlining it."
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