Katie Taylor Defeats Amanda Serrano In Biggest Fight In Women’s Boxing History
The victory pushed Taylor to 21-0 overall and cemented her status as the pound-for-pound queen of “The Sweet Science.”
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano could not have represented women’s boxing any better on Saturday night in New York City.
Taylor and Serrano, considered the No. 1 and 2 pound-for-pound fighters in women’s boxing respectively, met inside the famed Madison Square Garden, with the former’s WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles on the line.
After 10 of the most entertaining rounds in recent memory, Taylor was named the winner by split decision.
“What a fighter Amanda Serrano is,” the victorious Irishwoman said in her post-fight interview. “[This was] the biggest fight in female boxing history. It feels great to be in this position.”
It was anything but a cakewalk for Taylor.
Serrano was dangerous for the duration of the contest, most notably in the fourth round, when she pushed the champion to the very brink of a stoppage.
Yet Taylor kept her cool and regained control of the fight through the final sixth rounds — just enough to sway two of three cage-side judges.
“I knew exactly that I had to dig deep in this fight,” she said. “I knew I’d be in the trenches at some stage. [Serrano is] a phenomenal fighter and a great, great person. I knew I was going to be able to come through.”
From here, it is very possible that the two stars will engage in a rematch. Their first fight was billed as the biggest in the history of women’s boxing, and their second would be even bigger.
Serrano’s promoter, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, called for that opportunity post-fight, while Taylor’s promoter Eddie Hearn suggested it could even happen in Ireland.
“I think we should run this rematch back in Ireland, let Katie Taylor fight in Croke Park,” Hearn said at the conclusion of the event. “It would be a shame if she was to finish her career without getting the chance to fight in Ireland.”
The victory over Serrano pushed the 36-year-old Taylor to 21-0 overall, and cemented her status as the pound-for-pound queen of “The Sweet Science.” The 33-year-old Serrano, who climbed up two weight classes for the fight, is now 42-2 overall, and also proved herself as one of the sport’s greatest fighters.
Taylor and Serrano weren’t the only world-class boxers in action on Saturday night. Earlier in the evening and across the country in Las Vegas, rising star Shakur Stevenson defeated Oscar Valdez by unanimous decision to unify the WBC and WBO super featherweight titles.
While Stevenson was not able to finish Valdez, who trains under Eddy Reynoso and alongside Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, he dropped his rival in the sixth round, and was the picture of dominance from bell to bell.
“This victory means everything,” Stevenson said post-fight. “I told y’all what I was going to do. I said I’m gonna beat Valdez, Canelo, and Eddy Reynoso, so that was my game plan. Beat the whole team and I feel good about it. Much respect to them, but that was my game plan.
“I deserve to be a superstar, so that’s what I gotta do.”
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