Ireland\u2019s Katie Taylor retained her IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO world lightweight titles with a comprehensive points win against Karen Elizabeth Carabajal.<\/span><\/p>\n Taylor, 36, was fighting for the first time since her split decision win over Puerto Rico\u2019s Amanda Serrano in April \u2013 the first women\u2019s bout to headline New York\u2019s Madison Square Garden. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n But this was a more routine defence against her brave Argentine opponent.<\/span><\/p>\n The fight went the distance, but Taylor got the victory 100-91, 99-91, 98-92.<\/span><\/p>\n Carabajal, a former national and South American champion, was fighting out of Argentina for the first time and the 32-year-old came to London with a record of 19 wins from 19 bouts, although only two of those victories had been inside the distance.<\/span><\/p>\n She talked up her chances of causing a shock win and taking the belts back to Argentina with her but Taylor, cheered on by a raucous and passionate crowd in London, quickly stamped her authority on the fight.<\/span><\/p>\n Taylor, backed by the bookmakers at odds of 1-25 before the contest started, immediately showed her class, speed and power, taking the centre of the ring as Carabajal was caught by jabs and struggled to land anything meaningful in the first of the 10 two-minute rounds.<\/span><\/p>\n The Argentine made an attacking start at the beginning of the second, but as the round went on found herself being picked off by overhand lefts and rights, a pattern that continued in the third with the superior movement from Taylor making her hard to hit.<\/span><\/p>\n In the fourth, Taylor had Carabajal pinned in the corner, with the pair furiously trading blows and the Argentine doing excellently to escape what had looked a difficult moment.<\/span><\/p>\n Carabajal, cut underneath her right eye in the fifth, was brave, attacking and fully committed but was starting to take some punishment as Taylor pushed for what would have been her first win inside the distance in nine bouts.<\/span><\/p>\n An impressive overhand left from Taylor landed in the seventh, but, knowing she had banked the earlier rounds, she was happy to wait and not take any unnecessary risks.<\/span><\/p>\n Carabajal, cut again around her right eye, had shown great character to still be in there for the final round and pushed for a huge upset, but Taylor stayed out of danger before the judges confirmed the win.<\/span><\/p>\n Taylor said: \u201cShe had everything to gain, I think I boxed smartly, I was a bit open at times but just happy to get the victory.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The victory extends Taylor\u2019s unbeaten record to 22 wins from 22 bouts following her decision to turn professional in 2016 after winning Olympic gold at London 2012 and then reaching the quarter-finals at the Rio Games four years later.<\/span><\/p>\n She was back at the scene of her professional debut \u2013 in which she had stopped Poland\u2019s Karina Szmalenberg in the third round at Wembley Arena back in November 2016 \u2013 and what a journey it has been for Taylor since then.<\/span><\/p>\n This was her 16th successive world title fight and she is a two-weight world champion, having moved up a weight \u2013 winning a WBO belt at light-welterweight in 2019 \u2013 before returning to lightweight.<\/span><\/p>\n However, 14 of her 22 professional fights have now been in England, with one in Wales and seven in the United States and to fight in her home country remains one of her targets in her trailblazing career.<\/span><\/p>\n After a thrilling fight with Serrano in one of the best bouts of the year in New York, Taylor wants a rematch in front of 80,000 fans at Dublin\u2019s Croke Park \u2013 and both she and promoter Eddie Hearn talked up that fight immediately afterwards.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAmanda Serrano, do you want the fight at Croke Park with 80,000 people? It would be the biggest event in women\u2019s boxing history,\u201d Taylor said.<\/span><\/p>\n To huge cheers from the fans, Hearn added: \u201cIt is time to return to Ireland now.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhoever it is, wherever it is, Ireland has to be next. The Irish fans are incredible, they have travelled everywhere and it\u2019s time to give Ireland a sporting event they will never forget.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe hope it\u2019s Amanda Serrano but it does not matter who it is, it has to be Ireland. We can create a night of boxing Ireland will never forget and no-one deserves it more than Katie Taylor.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSix years ago we were here and people were laughing at us. Katie Taylor has been treading paths for others to come down. She is a legend in this sport.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n More to follow.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Katie](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/_127423823_katietaylor.jpg\")
<\/span><\/span>\u2018We can create a night of boxing Ireland will never forget\u2019<\/h3>\n