AFTER THRILLING BOUT

KATIE TAYLOR grew up watching boxing classics like Marco Antonio Barrera against Erik Morales and Arturo Gatti against Micky Ward.

Now she’s enjoying being in her own thrilling bouts after retaining her undisputed lightweight crown in a bruising battle with Natasha Jonas.

Taylor, 34, certainly isn’t comparing herself to Mexican greats like Barrera and Morales.

But there is no doubt her fight with the Liverpool boxer stole the show topped by Derek Chisora and Joseph Parker at Manchester Arena in her 18th professional outing as she had to dig deep to edge out Jonas.

She said: “I never make it easy for myself, do I?

“Another thrilling fight. I’m just glad I came out with the victory, still undefeated and undisputed that’s the most important thing.

“These are the kinds of fights you train for. I was prepared for a 10-round battle tonight and I knew it was going to be that kind of battle.

“I just love a bit of a tear up too much than I should, I think.

“My favourite fights are Barrera against Morales, Arturo Gatti against Micky Ward, these kinds of fights.

“I don’t want to be involved in too many of those fights but sometimes in the heat of the moment it’s hard not to trade back. Another great fight and another great win.

“I don’t know how many times I watched those fights and they never get boring.

“You can’t help but be inspired by the will to win of those kinds of guys and the heart they show.

“Those fights involve everything, you just can’t help but be motivated and inspired by them.”

Taylor won the fight on cards of 96-95, 96-95 and 96-94 which painted the picture of how close it really was.

This was a rematch of their meeting at the London 2012 Olympics which Taylor won comfortably. But here in the behind-closed-doors event, it was a much closer affair.

The Irishwoman started slow but found her rhythm through the halfway stage.

It was her hand speed and combinations against the more powerful and hand-picked shots of Jonas, who had recently lost a world-title bid at super-featherweight.

Taylor, though, was the one who had the extra gear to

go up to and in the last two rounds she found it to get over the line.

“I don’t think too much of what people are saying before the fight, there is a lot of talk in the week from Tasha and [trainer] Joe [Gallagher] but I was just completely focussed on the fight itself,” the Bray ace said.

“My performance tonight showed that I’m definitely not on the decline, that’s for sure.

“I’m not one for talking at all, I’m always the most boring person in press conferences, I’m the quiet one and I keep my mouth shut.

“I let others talk and then just fight, that’s the most important part.”

Taylor will head home later this week after fulfilling some sponsorship duties in the UK.

Now she’s ready to switch off from boxing for a few weeks after spending four months in Connecticut in preparing for this fight and she is ready to be ‘Aunty Katie’ again.

“I’ve been in America the last few months, I haven’t had the chance to spend time with family, I just can’t wait to be around the niece and nephews again, my granny, take a few weeks to relax and not think about boxing,” she added.