Eva Wahlstrom is Katie Taylor's next opponent for her next title defence in Madison Square Garden this December.
Taylor will be on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez vs Rocky Fielding fight for the WBA world super middleweight title, and this is the first time the Bray native will have fought in Madison Square Garden.
Wahlstrom and Taylor have previous experience against each other, having crossed paths as amateurs and the Finnish fighter will prove tough opposition, coming off of a 23 fight unbeaten streak, something that Taylor has alluded to in the build up to the fight:
Eva is someone I know very well from our time in the amateurs. I was actually drawn against her in my very first international competition back in 2004 and it seemed like every time I turned up to a major competition after that she was in the draw!
She was always a really tough opponent so it's no surprise that she's gone on to have a great professional career. I think this fight will really showcase the best that women's boxing has to offer and I'm really looking forward to it.
Taylor revealed that it will be an exciting opportunity to be able to defend her titles in the iconic MSG
I've been lucky enough to fight in some iconic venues since turning pro two years ago but I'm not sure there's any more iconic in a boxing sense than Madison Square Garden. I think every fighter dreams about stepping in the ring there and I'm no different.
To get the opportunity to defend my World titles there is really very exciting.
Wahlstrom has also been speaking in the lead up to the bout, stating that this is the toughest fight available to the 38-year-old:
I have stated for a longest time that I am ready and I want to engage in toughest fights available. This is the ultimate, biggest and toughest fight anywhere.
I lost to Katie few times in amateur days but I am sure I won her respect anyway. Now in a 10-round pro fight, it will be totally different game with all new avenues to avenge those defeats.
