“There are a couple of guys from Ireland that box at my gym and they mentioned Katie Taylor, Olympian blah blah blah, who is this Katie Taylor chick?” - Jessica McCaskill
Jessica McCaskill is either very brave or very stupid, perhaps the combination of both is needed to think that calling out one of the greatest boxers of her generation is a good idea.
The mouthy American has basically talked her way into a title fight, the reigning, soon to be defending champion agreed to take the fight, despite only winning the belt at the end of October in Cardiff.
The goading came from the Chicago based investment banker when she posted a picture of a milk carton, on the side was the familiar face of one of Ireland’s greatest sportspeople.
“MISSING”
“Eyes: Brown. Hair: Brown. Height: 5-5. Weight: 135.
“If you can identify this woman, please report any information you may have to Body Shot Boxing Club, Team McCaskill, 312-888-9122.”
The closest Taylor came to hitting back was saying: "Trash talking is not really my thing but she seems to be happy to talk enough for the both of us anyway.
"If she's as relentless in the ring as she is on social media it should be a great fight."
This goes back to being brave or stupid, suggesting the Bray boxer was afraid to face her and was hiding is first and foremost disrespectful, but Taylor has answered the challenge in an attempt to silence the 33-year-old.
In doing so the Olympic gold medallist has become the first woman from Ireland or the UK to headline an event in a world title defence. The 1,500 tickets sold out almost immediately at York Hall.
Taylor with a professional record of 7-0 has been hugely impressive on the way to taking the belt after defeating Anahi Sanchez on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s world title defence against Carlos Takam in Cardiff.
McCaskill’s 5-1 record as a pro ranked her in the top 10 in the division but it was her mouth not her record that got her a shot at the belt.
Her secret second life as a trash talking brawler seems a world away from her day job. Her story is as close to a Marvel superhero as they come.
Offtheball.com's Darren Cleary joined Dermot & Dave on Today FM this morning to take a look ahead to tonight's fight.
An investment bank consultant by day, McCaskill then hits the ring at night to beat people up. She’s held down her well playing bank gig and has successfully managed to balance that with her title ambitions.
Ranked as America's best women's lightweight, she starts work daily at 6am at a Chicago investment bank, hitting the gym at lunchtime and then again from 4pm.
She's got an interesting story and can clearly trash talk with the best of them. Her verbal jabs and social media punches got her this far, pitted against an actual dig from Katie Taylor it’s likely she will leave York Hall knowing who this Olympian..blah...blah...blah is, and will likely regret picking a fight.
Katie Taylor v Jessica McCaskill for the WBA women’s lightweight title is live on Sky Sports. They’re due in the ring around 10:30pm.
