I’ve fears for Katie MCGUIGAN

KATIE TAYLOR has been a torchbearer for women’s boxing, an inspiration to so many kids and the major reason women’s boxing was embraced by the Olympics.

After a glittering amateur career that included five world championships and Olympic gold, it is so fitting she should be involved in the first female pro bout to top the bill at Madison Square Garden.

The defence of her lightweight titles against Amanda Serrano (inset) on boxing’s hallowed stage is a measure of how far women’s boxing has come.

It is also the hardest fight of her professional career.

Though Serrano is coming up from featherweight she is arguably the most talented fighter in women’s boxing.

Her punches are hard and accurate and she has been a pro much longer. I don’t know that Taylor’s style has changed that much since the amateurs and of late, she has shown signs of slowing. Taylor throws in bunches but does not place her shots with power. Only six stoppage wins in 20 bouts is proof of that. That’s the big difference in the pros.

In any combination one punch has to have the money on it. Because of her long career in the amateurs I don’t think she has ever quite got that.

In the last couple of fights it seems to me that opponents have worked her out. She is not hurting them like Serrano does and is more hittable.

This fight has come at the perfect time for Serrano, whereas for Taylor it coincides with the onset of decline.

Taylor still has a great chin and is super fit but looks predictable all of a sudden. Even legends start to tire.

Because of Serrano’s natural power and speed I fear this could be one fight too many for Katie.

What she has achieved as an amateur will never be forgotten nor repeated. I hope I’m wrong but I think Serrano wins.