Mike Costello: Firuza Sharipova seemed overawed by Katie Taylor's presence

DAZN’s Mike Costello believes that Firuza Sharipova may be overawed by the occasion when she faces Katie Taylor this Saturday.

Undisputed lightweight Taylor takes on Sharipova in a co-main event with Conor Benn vs. Chris Algieri in Liverpool in an event shown world wide on DAZN.

Speaking at the weigh-in on Friday, Costello suggested Kazakhstani fighter Sharipova may be taken aback by the scale of the spectacle.

“I find this one really fascinating because if you look at the build-up all this week, Sharipova looks like a woman who is completely overawed by Katie Taylor, to be in her presence,” he began.

“But I thought I saw at the weigh-in, just maybe a slight turning on that, where she is just starting to see what a result it would be for her if she wins. Has all this worshipping and idolatry been a ruse in the week?

“I think she’s a fascinating character and we’ll find out on the night.”

Despite the slight down, Costello predicted that, “I think Katie Taylor has to win this.”