At least, that's what she thought.

"After that last one, what else is there to chase after? What is better than Madison Square Garden? Only Croke Park or maybe a big Las Vegas fight," Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) said during a group video call building up to her September 5 title fight with Flora Pili.

Live exclusively on DAZN (7 p.m. BST; 2 p.m. ET), Taylor will defend her Ring and unified junior welterweight championships with one aim: Win and retire as undisputed ruler.

France's Pili (12-0, 2 KOs) enters as a whopping 14/1 (+1400) underdog and understandably so, given her lowly opposition resume on the European circuit.

Croke Park stadium and commercial director Peter McKenna was quoted in RTE on Friday describing a "10-minute interlude where people can cheer and celebrate" their local hero to the ring, so Pili should be braced for that.

Despite what's sure to be a festival-like atmosphere, Taylor isn't taking her lightly.

"I have a real threat in front of me, someone who's going to try and ruin the night for me. I'm prepared for that and have too much experience to get complacent. She's gonna raise her game so I have to do the same, preparing for [her to produce] a career-best performance. I'll be prepared for whatever comes my way on fight night."

Taylor-Pili will also have the WBC 140-pound strap on the line, vacated by Ring and unified junior middleweight titleholder Chantelle Cameron in October.

Cameron (23-1, 8 KOs) so vehemently sought a rubber match with Taylor, 1-1 in the series, after the Irishwoman avenged her first pro defeat at Dublin's 3Arena in November 2023.

Although they've both since moved on, it feels fitting their first meeting six months earlier lit the fuse for big-time events to be held in Ireland again.

"Brian [Peters, Taylor's manager] said I'm going to give Croke Park one more chance, that it will happen, and it's the stuff of dreams," Taylor said.

Taylor's thrilling first meeting with Serrano the previous year, April 2022, was the catalyst for the Olympic champion to dream bigger. High security costs, a lack of local government subsidization and timeline scheduling conflicts for an 80,000-seat stadium were among challenges faced before finding a resolution in May.

When asked by The Ring to reflect on her career, she paused.

"I dreamed of being Olympic champion and that came to pass. These last 10 years, I don't think my mind had the capacity to dream these things, headlining Madison Square Garden on a couple occasions and the impact I've had on the professional game. I'm walking away with a grateful heart, privileged to have such an impact on women's boxing."

While several current and former world champions cite Taylor as the gold standard they look to emulate, she acknowledges the increasing strength and depth within the women's code.

Unified middleweight champion Claressa Shields, second on The Ring's pound-for-pound list, is a bonafide draw in her own right.

The 31-year-old American is poised to take the mantlepiece once Taylor's departure is finalized, though there are several other younger talents bursting through the ranks across several weight divisions.

Tiah Ayton, The Ring's No. 2 featherweight, is among them and someone Taylor has repeatedly praised. The 20-year-old Bristolian has been tipped to become the greatest ever by Taylor, who keeps in regular contact with Matchroom's rising star at a time where promotional companies are joining forces to make big fights happen.

"Some of the talent I'm seeing is absolutely remarkable, looking back at my time when I was pretending to be a boy just to get a few fights ... women's boxing wasn't even a sanctioned sport in Ireland or included in the Olympics. It's been amazing progress and I'm so excited to see where it'll be in 10 years' time."

To that point, Taylor is heartened knowing other young, aspiring girls won't have to make the sacrifices she did if serious about making a career in the sport.

Women's boxing is compelling at the elite level yet still in its infancy, but there isn't a more fitting flagbearer than Taylor. Ask her contemporaries and they'll echo that sentiment with an inspiring story of their own.