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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Katie Taylor says 'underdog' tag doesn't bother her ahead of Amanda Serrano fight

Katie Taylor insists the underdog tag does not bother her in the slightest ahead of her mega-fight with Amanda Serrano this weekend.

For the first time in the undisputed lightweight champion's career, she goes into this Saturday night's fight as the outsider in the betting, with Serrano the outright favourite to win with the bookies.

But Taylor says it doesn't make a bit of difference to her as she aims for the biggest ever win of her professional career.

She said on Thursday: "It honestly doesn't matter to me whether I'm seen as the underdog or the favourite. I don't take any notice of that.

"Even as an amateur boxer and through all these years as a pro I couldn't tell you if I was the underdog or the favourite going into any fight.

"I couldn't care about other people's opinions. All that matters is what I think about the fight and where my mindset is and that's all that matters to me.

"I feel in great shape. I'm ready to put on a great performance and I'm just ready to make history."

Taylor's long-time coach Ross Enamait is usually quite reserved but is very bullish about the 35-year-old's chances this weekend.

Katie Taylor with coach Ross Enamait (Matchroom Boxing/Mark Robinson)

The fitness fanatic, who Taylor has worked with in Connecticut since turning professional in 2016, says his fighter has had a "phenomenal" training camp.

He said: "It's business as usual. We've been here before. Katie thrives under the bright lights.

"We're coming to fight. Katie's ready. I've never been more confident in her.

"Everybody says they've had a great camp. We've had a phenomenal camp.

"She hasn't looked better, she's had some phenomenal spars and she is ready to put on a show on Saturday."

He added: "Great fighters are great when it matters and Katie is a great athlete. She's special, she's unique and she's never ducked a challenge.

"We have fought everybody - [Delfine] Persoon twice, , [Christina] Linardatou, [Jessica] McCaskill. She goes after everybody so as big as the event is, it is just another fight because we've been here before.

"Katie is going to go and show the world what she's all about on Saturday."

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