Wednesday 26 July 2017 08:05, UK
Katie Taylor makes her American debut in New York on Saturday and Matthew Macklin expects the Irish star to make a big impression...
It is hard to tell how big Katie Taylor will become on Saturday night but she will certainly make an impact.
She is a household name in Ireland, the Irish in America will definitely know her and although she hasn't got the same profile, even more people will know about her in New York.
The Irish-Americans and the first generation Irish in America have always been big boxing fans. They get behind all their fighters and Katie will be no different.
It is nothing like what will happen when she fights in Dublin again but I am expecting her to get great support at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
I don't think there is a person in Ireland who doesn't know who Katie Taylor is and a lot of that will transfer across to New York.
Any Irish fighter, never mind a good fighter, has gone down well in New York. Around 2005 John Duddy was the biggest draw on the East Coast and only Arturo Gatti, selling out the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, sold more tickets than him.
When I fought Sergio Martinez at Madison Square Garden on St Patrick's Day, that was sold out and Bob Arum said Michael Conlan's debut was the biggest he's ever seen.
There is support there and Katie Taylor is only going to get bigger on the back of her debut out there. She has a massive profile back home, winning the Olympic gold, being a multiple world champion and being on terrestrial TV
I don't think there is a person in Ireland who doesn't know who she is and a lot of that will transfer across to New York.
The one thing that will be really interesting to see is if her impact over there adds to the impact women's boxing is having in America.
I remember back in the day Christy Martin used to be on the Mike Tyson undercards and we all saw it as a bit of a gimmick, but if you look at Claressa Shields and what she has done - and what big cards and shows she's already been on - I think it is similar to us back here.
Katie Taylor has transcended sports in Ireland and Natasha Jonas and Nicola Adams are all making headlines. But I suppose because America is so big, and there are so many big fights going on, women's boxing can get a bit diluted over in the States.
Katie, though, is unique. She will really capture the imagination and get great support in New York. And that is only the first step.
Watch Katie Taylor making her American debut on the Adrien Broner vs Mikey Garcia undercard, from 1am, Sunday, July 30, on Sky Sports Action (Ch407).
