Former boxing champion Tony Bellew has heaped praise on Katie Taylor after her thrilling victory over Amanda Serrano - but advices the Ireland legend against a rematch.
Taylor retained her undisputed lightweight crown with a ten-round epic at Madison Square Garden in history's biggest-ever women's boxing match.
Taylor overcame her toughest test yet against Serrano
The 35-year-old added to her legacy as one of Ireland's all-time-great athletes with a victory for the ages at New York's iconic venue in front of a vociferous sold-out crowd.
"Taylor has inspired a generation," Bellew, who was working as a pundit for DAZN on Saturday, told talkSPORT Breakfast.
"It's absolutely phenomenal what she's done in a boxing ring.
"She's the perfect role model for young women out there, the way she carries herself and the things she says.
"She fights for her country, she's the pride of Ireland and she's absolutely amazing. I can't speak highly enough of her."
Serrano's promoter Jake Paul has raised questions over the result, which went Taylor's way via split decision despite the Puerto Rican landing more punches on the night.
Serrano had Taylor badly hurt in round five but ultimately lost
And Bellew admits it could've gone either way.
"That fight was something else, it was unbelievable," he added.
"You couldn't really separate them. It was only in the fifth round when Serrano was in control and hurt Taylor.
"I thought it was her fight to lose. The Taylor came out in rounds seven to ten and she creates that distance. That was the best thing she did.
"Serrano didn't land any more hard, clean shots and the better boxing ability shone through in the end. It was a really close fight, you couldn't complain if it went either way."
Both boxers battled to the final bell
Already, there is talk of a rematch between the two fighters, potentially at Dublin's Croke Park stadium.
However, Bellew believes Taylor should either retire or take an easy homecoming fight.
He said: "It's not my place to tell her what to do or even suggest. But if I was her, I would walk off into the sunset.
"I do understand the lure of wanting to fight at home in that big stadium and she deserves it more than anyone.
"I would have the homecoming fight with a debutant in the other corner. She's got the power to do it. Take the easiest possible fight and go out with a knockout in the first 20 minutes."
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