Natasha Jonas identifies two factors that will see Amanda Serrano beat Katie Taylor

Katie Taylor has already built her legacy in boxing to the point where calling her a pioneer of the women’s game no longer does her justice. But a war with Amanda Serrano on the grandest stage at Madison Square Garden may just be a step too far for the Irish icon, according to her old rival Natasha Jonas.

Taylor and Serrano meet in a historic clash on Saturday in New York with the latter putting her IBF, WBO, WBA and WBC lightweight titles on the line against the seven-weight world champion.

After an amateur career of almost 200 fights, five world championships and an Olympic gold medal, the ‘Bray Bomber’ has conquered professional boxing over the last six years, with her 2019 victory over Delfine Persoon seeing her write her name in history as Ireland’s first ever undisputed world champion.

In some ways, Taylor has become a victim over her own incredibly high standards. In recent years, she has been accused of slowing down, even coasting in some fights with her aura of invincibility perhaps not what it once was.

A year ago this week, the 35-year-old was made to work for every point as she shared a thrilling battle against Jonas, a fight of the year contender that brought the best out of both women.

‘As soon as I hit her I knew something was coming back,’ Jonas recalled of their epic encounter. ‘It was almost like, ‘who do you think you are landing a shot on me?’ and she immediately got the point back. That’s the amateur drilled into her.’

While Jonas rallied throughout the second half of the fight, Taylor’s skill shone through and made a mockery of pre-fight suggestions that she might be on the decline.

Against such a dangerous and experienced opponent in Serrano on Saturday, those questions have emerged again. Having