Ireland's Katie Taylor has asserted that retirement from professional boxing is off the table after suffering her first loss to Chantelle Cameron earlier this year.
The pair clashed at Dublin's 3Arena venue, with Northampton native Cameron dealing Taylor her inaugural defeat in the sport, winning via majority decision.
The heavier Cameron appears confident in repeating her victory over one of Ireland's greatest sports stars. However, Taylor insists that the preparation for the rematch has elevated her to a different physical and mental level for the upcoming fight this month.
"The preparation has been a lot different," she said "I feel a lot better going into this fight. I'm in top form right now.
"I don't want to expand on it; I just didn't feel myself going into the last fight. It was a flat performance. I was good enough to step into the ring on the night; I just fell a bit short.
“Mentally and physically, I feel a lot better for this one; that's obviously a big deal."
Speculation had arisen that Taylor (37) was contemplating retirement after the loss. However, a rematch between the two was organised for November 25 in the same venue. Taylor now claims she will retire when the time comes, and that time has not arrived yet.
Taylor and Cameron will fight again (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)"I'm not thinking that this fight is going to be my last fight, and I'm not considering any other outcome other than a win. Any other outcome for me isn't even entering my mind," she added.
"I feel very fresh, feel very good in the gym right now. I know I have a lot of fights left in me.
"But I will retire at the right time, when I feel it's right.
"You guys can make your own opinion on that as well when you see me on November 25th. But right now, I feel good, and I have no intentions of hanging up the gloves."
For now, Taylor's focus is solely on avenging her loss to her boxing counterpart on the 25th.
"I'm definitely looking forward to just getting revenge and putting things right. The disappointing part was the actual loss itself, and that's not how I wanted my homecoming to go," she said.
"A lot of people, I think, are doubting me as well. I love these fights when people are actually doubting me. I think this could be one of the greatest nights of my career.
"I'm aware of what's at stake here."
