In a parallel universe Katie Taylor would have lined up alongside Katie McCabe in Gothenburg last week, helping the Republic of Ireland to a gutsy draw against Sweden in their big World Cup qualifier.
Taylor was a powerful, very talented winger who would have carved out a long career with Ireland had she chosen that path. Instead, she focused on boxing, dedicating herself to the ring completely from 2010.
It's fair to say things have gone pretty well for the Bray 35-year-old since then.
On 30 April, Taylor and Amanda Serrano will make history when they face off for the undisputed lightweight title at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The pair will become the first female fighters to headline the iconic arena in its 140-year history, as Taylor's relentless trailblazing reaches is highest peak.
"I want to set a great example for these young girls coming up."
McCabe touched on her compatriot's legacy on Wednesday when she said: "Katie Taylor has been such a role model and really important. You think of women's boxing, you think of Katie Taylor.
"She's earned that right. You see how dedicated she is and how hard working she is and obviously I've got a few team-mates that know her personally and how focused she is, and it shows.
"She's not a champion for no reason. I don't know how many belts she has exactly, but she's fantastic. The women's team are 100% behind her, as are the whole of the Irish nation I bet as well. It's fantastic. As I said, she's a real role model and I hope she beats Serrano."
The magnitude of the occasion is certainly not lost on Taylor, who has scrapped and fought through so much adversity en route to the top of the game.
"This is just a special occasion for me, to headline a huge fight like this at Madison Square Garden," she said on Thursday.
Ireland captain Katie McCabe says the entire women's team are right behind Katie Taylor ahead of her big fight with Amanda Serrano next week in New York. pic.twitter.com/mZYAfmHpR4
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 21, 2022
"I love being involved in these kinds of fights. These are the challenges that I've always wanted. I don’t think I’ve ever backed down from any challenge. I’ve wanted to face the very best.
"Amanda Serrano is a fantastic fighter, she’s a great champion and she’s not here for no reason. She deserves this opportunity as well. She’s been pioneering her own way and that’s why this fight is the best in female boxing history. We have champion versus champion. The best versus the best and this is why this fight is so special.
"This fight is at Madison Square Garden, the most iconic venue in boxing. The Mecca of boxing, really. You think of Madison Square Garden, and you think the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier these kinds of fights.
"This fight is genuinely the biggest fight in boxing as a whole right now. It’s years and years later we’re still talking Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier kind of fights. I think years and years later from this fight people are still going to be talking about Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano."
Taylor (20-0 6 KOs) puts her 135lbs belts on the line for the sixth time in New York and does so against seven-weight champion Serrano (42-1-1 30 KOs), the teak-tough Puerto Rican ace and Brooklyn native.
Both fighters have played huge roles in women’s boxing's rise. When they step through the ropes, they will smash through yet another glass ceiling.
"I feel very privileged to be in this position and to be an inspiration to the next generation and to have those young girls look up to me," added Taylor.
"It’s a huge responsibility as well and I want to set a great example for these young girls coming up. I want to give them hope and I want them to know the dreams they have in their hearts can be possible.
"Growing up I had to pretend I was a boy to get fights. I had the headgear on, and my hair tucked into the headgear. They just had my name down as 'K Taylor' and obviously when the headgear came off there was an uproar because all the judges and officials saw I was a girl.
"I don’t crave the attention or crave the media attention. I don’t want to be famous; I just want to be the best boxer in the world.
"I’m also very grateful for the women that went before me - the likes of Christy Martin, Deirdre Gogarty, Lucia Rijker and Laila Ali who were pioneers in their sport. I don’t think that I’d be in the position I’m in today if it wasn’t for all those girls who went before me."
