Katie Taylor insists she will take her homecoming in her stride as she wraps up preparations at her Connecticut base for the upcoming world title fight with Chantelle Cameron.
Taylor, 36, will finally get in the ring on home soil as a professional when she takes on world light-welterweight champ Cameron at the sold-out 3 Arena in Dublin on Saturday week.
The Bray sensation is bidding to retain her unbeaten record as a pro and to become a two-time weight undisputed world champion.
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And while she has boxed on massive stages before - including the London 2012 Olympics, when she won gold, and at Madison Square Garden last year when she beat Amanda Serrano in the fight of the year - headlining a pro fight night in Dublin is as big as it gets as she finally gets to tick that box.
"I guess there is pressure in every single fight," said Taylor, speaking on Zoom from Connecticut this afternoon.
"I guess there is a bit of added pressure this time round in front of the home crowd.
"But I have the experience of fighting on these big occasions when there is a lot of pressure on my shoulders, so every time I step into the ring I feel like there is no pressure on me - I'm just getting on with things.
"I'm looking forward to the fight. I’m not feeling the pressure right now, just looking forward to stepping in and to fight at home. This is a huge occasion for me and I’m just delighted, delighted to actually get a chance to fight at home.
"A few years ago I didn’t think this was going to happen so I’m just so delighted, so proud."
There will also be more distractions given the attention and focus that will be on her when she arrives in Dublin next week.
Taylor jokes that staying at her family home is out of the question - "people know where I live!" - and that she will stay with her entourage in the capital.
"I think I’m always going to be prepared," she added. "Fight week is always a busy week anyway.
"But I just take things in my stride, just take it day by day and don’t get over awed by it.
"What’s going outside…I have my focus and it’s actually on the fight. That’s all I’m really concerned about, take it day by day in my stride and go on to enjoy the fight, enjoy the occasion.
"No, I’m not thinking too much about distractions outside.
"I have always been so appreciative of my home fans and it's great to get to have a chance to box here eventually.
"There was a time a few years back when I didn’t think this was ever going to happen having a chance to fight at home in front of the people who have always supported me ever since the amateur days.
"I am just so excited about this because this could be the biggest moment of my career so far - having a chance to become a two weight undisputed champion in front of my home crowd, in front of the people who have supported me for years and years."
There was disappointment when Taylor was unable to secure the homecoming for Croke Park due to the financial costs involved.
But she stressed: "I definitely haven't given up on it. I guess those details are out of my control, though.
"I'd obviously absolutely love the opportunity to fight in Croke Park but these things are genuinely out of my control. They fall to Brian (Peters), Eddie (Hearn), and obviously whoever's organising the event.
"But I definitely wouldn't say I've given up on it - I'd love, still, the opportunity to fight there."
After all the controversy over a possible Croke Park date with Serrano, Taylor is relishing this chance against her English opponent Cameron.
"I wouldn't say I fear anything about her but I'm obviously aware of the challenge ahead of me," she stated.
"She has a big engine and I'm prepared for that. She's big and strong, I'm prepared for that as well.
"But I also have a big engine, I'm also strong, so I wouldn't say I fear anything but I am aware of the challenge ahead of me. I'm going in there ready for, I feel like, anything that comes my way on fight night."
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