In a pulsating match between the two lightweights, they traded blows in the opening rounds.

McCaskill was certainly proving a tough opponent for Taylor in the opening exchanges as she managed to draw in the Irishwoman and land some power shots.

And the American landed a huge left hook on Taylor in the sixth round that had her opponent wobbled before she swiftly regained her composure and managed to stay on her feet. 

The following round saw Taylor deducted a point after she was previously warned for holding.

Both of the fighters looked to tire towards the closing stages but Taylor was still seemingly shading it after eight.

But Taylor remained in control to take the fight to a points decision where her hand was lifted aloft as the winner of the contest.

Taylor won the contest via scores of 97-92, 97-92, 98-91.

The score may have been somewhat generous to the 31-year-old given McCaskill gave a good account of herself in the fight.

And McCaskill was far from impressed with the end result. 

"I thought it was closer, I rocked her a couple of times. It was my fault for leaving it up to the judges but the scorecards were too wide.

"Katie ran a lot and potshotted, I thought beforehand that she wanted a fight in the middle of the ring."

But Taylor went on to state her intentions for 2018 and first on her list of things to do is to have a homecoming fight in Ireland.

"It was a tough fight, the toughest of my career. I knew I had to be at my best. It's a privilege boxing here at York Hall, I've always wanted to box here. I boxed well on the outside.

"A homecoming fight in Dublin has always been on the radar so that would be great next year.”