Katie Taylor praised Firuza Sharipova after beating the Kazakhstani boxer, and is preparing for a fight with Amanda Serrano in 2022.
Sharipova went the distance with the undisputed champion but the Irishwoman emerged victorious after a difficult scrap.
Speaking after the win, Taylor acknowledged it had been far from easy.
“It was not a master class by any means. But all I needed to do was to get the win and I’m looking at bigger names next year," she said.
“It was ok. But a win is a win; these opponents can be nearly banana skin type opponents as well. Mandatory challenges are always tricky.
“She was holding a lot inside as well and it was it harder to get my shots off inside.”
Despite her impressive showing, Sharipova is not in line for a rematch.
“I wouldn’t say I’m considering a rematch, but I knew coming into this fight that she was a great fighter, technically very good,” Taylor said.
"She was a good amateur as well, so I was expecting a tough challenge tonight. Everybody else was overlooking this opponent but we certainly weren’t.
“I thought it was a convincing win so I wouldn’t say we are considering a rematch. But she is a great fighter and I had a lot of respect for her coming into this fight as well.”
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn thinks that Taylor will show more quality when and if she faces Serrano, expected to take place in America next year at Madison Square Gardens in New York.
“I know she is always motivated and stuff like that, but the reality is there is a difference between preparing for an Amanda Serrano and preparing for [Jennifer] Han and Sharapova,” Hearn explained.
“She won virtually every round of the fight against a tough, rugged challenger and I know you are going to see the very best of Katie when she knows and has to rise to the challenge of a Serrano.
“I’m just happy because we have seen so many fights recent fall apart recently because people get beat when they switch off and don’t focus and that is not in Katie’s vocabulary.”