Once more unto the breach.
For the third time in just over three years, Katie Taylor stepped onto the scales ahead of a world-title clash with Amanda Serrano, cheered on by Irish fans peppered throughout the Madison Square Garden theatre.
As music pumped and the hype man went into overdrive, the Bray boxer stayed serene as ever. Raising her arms above her shoulders, flexing her muscles and smiling politely for the cameras.
Her demeanour saying simply: "I've got this".
It was a return to her familiar style in a week when she left behind her usual script.
A war of words with her Puerto Rican opponent has dominated the build-up to this trilogy contest.
Taylor and her team clearly irked by constant claims from Serrano and her camp that she was robbed in Texas last year and also should have been given the decision in their first fight in New York just over three years ago.
"Losing is never fun, but you only lose if you feel like you lost. And I didn’t feel like I lost," Serrano told the pre-fight press conference.
With more than a touch of eye-roll, Taylor came out swinging.
Watch: Fans buzzing with excitement ahead of Taylor-Serrano 3
In a US media climate, where truth holds a very loose grip, Taylor was happy to tell her opponent the facts.
Defending her reputation with a timely reminder that she’s the undisputed super-lightweight champ, no matter what anyone says.
"Opinions are opinions. But facts are facts," she said.
It has been interesting to see this side to the Bray native but now comes the time to back it up inside the ropes.
"To be headlining an all female card is an absolute privilege. This is an amazing position to be in"
Tonight after 9pm New York time (2am Irish time), the pair will dance in the ring once more.
This time is likely to be their last together. Their careers intertwined. Their greatness assured whatever the outcome. But Taylor seems more focused than ever to make it three-in-a-row.
"I took this fight to be involved in another huge mega fight," she tells RTÉ on the fringes of a huge media scrum backstage at the iconic New York arena.
"To be headlining an all female card is an absolute privilege. This is an amazing position to be in."
There is a glint in her eye as she expresses once again her love for the fight game. And you wonder how much she will miss it when it all comes to an end.
The former Olympic champion will be up against it again. New York is Serrano’s home town.
The event is run by her promoters MVP. And Taylor is the bookies underdog. But experts say it's too close to call.
"A great champion. A great person."
"Katie’s been a little feisty… She’s been saying a little feisty stuff and I love that," says Franchon Crew-Dezurn, a champion boxer who fought on the undercard the last time Taylor and Serrano met at Madison Square Garden.
"I have so much respect for her. Not only her talent but how she carries herself. She’s always been the same, very meek and just about her business."
The respect comes a little more grudgingly from Nakisa Bidarian, the CEO of Serrano’s promoter MVP.
"She’s a humble human being who obviously has dedicated her life to this sport. Family oriented. Just a great champion. A great person."
The promoter says Taylor’s presence was crucial in putting together the first all-women’s show at Madison Square Garden.
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"With the Olympics and her winning gold, she came into the pro ranks in a different position to most. For us, doing an all women’s card is just about a statement that women’s boxing has arrived in a major way. On the mainstream platform," the promoter claims.
"To do it in MSG, to do it on Netflix. And we’ve doubled the ticket sales of the first event with Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor with these 14 other fighters."
Regardless of the outcome, Taylor’s legacy and place in boxing history is assured.
However, that will not mean much to the fighter inside Katie, who is gunning for victory. And if her arms are raised at the end of another bruising battle, it may just be the sweetest victory of all.
