Dreams versus reality - Will Katie ever conquer Croker?

A trickle of fresh blood rolled down the side of Katie Taylor's left ear as the undefeated and undisputed lightweight champion faced the media following an epic battle at Madison Square Garden.

The Irish superstar boxer had just gone ten of the most enduring rounds of her career in order to take the split-decision victory against her teak-tough Puerto Rican New Yorker opponent.

Katie and Amanda Serrano had just made history, topping the bill at the iconic Manhattan arena, and the fight lived up to all the hype in what was an incredible encounter, producing the most memorable night ever in female boxing history.

One of the great New York boxing nights, in fact, with decibel levels competing with and perhaps surpassing some of the renowned events the Garden has had the privilege of hosting throughout its storied history.

Promoter Eddie Hearn sat alongside Taylor at the top table and was happy to play nurse for the duration, gently wiping the blood from his fighter’s face, while Katie talked through the battle that she had just come through. Again victorious.

Such was the excitement throughout the extended evening, that the talk was not just of the inevitable re-match, but rather a trilogy of fights between the two predominant pugilists with Dublin, New York, again, and Puerto Rico being tossed about.

Katie was on board. Retirement rumours quickly quashed. She dreamed of a homecoming fight. She dreamed of filling Croke Park.

And so it seemed that Katie’s wish would be granted; talk of an autumn date looking likely with both fighters seemingly up for the occasion, as the story gained pace in the media throughout the days after the fight.

Within a few weeks, however, the conversation appeared to be changing, and while Hearn was still