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Its organizers had declared it the largest women’s boxing match in history. At the end of Saturday, surrounded by a deafening, capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano immediately suggested to boxing observers that it was the fight of the year—unqualified.
Taylor successfully defended the undisputed lightweight world title with a separate win over Serrano in her first women’s headline boxing match at the Garden. That distinction isn’t lost on either warrior, each guaranteed at least $1 million after weeks of savings and promotions.
But when they entered the ring in front of an electrified crowd of over 19,000 people, Taylor and Serrano were focused on one thing: winning.
“I had to dig deep in there. I needed to put on a career-defining performance,” Taylor said after the fight. “We definitely got the best of each other tonight, that’s for sure.”
“It was definitely a special, special moment – the best night of my career,” he added.
The match would always be close. 33-year-old Serrano enters the ring 42-1-1, with 30 knockouts and as champion in seven weight classes. Taylor, 35, had a 20-0 record, including six knockouts and four major lightweight titles. He won an Olympic gold medal before turning pro.
Their distinct style was evident from the start: Serrano, who was originally from Puerto Rican and grew up in Brooklyn, went to a compilation of Ja Rule’s “New York” and Puerto Rican pop star Farruko’s “Pepas” to match the beat of the music. . Joined by supporter Jake Paul, a YouTube star and content creator, later boxer Jake Paul, who helped bring new perspectives to the fight under his company, Most Valuable Promotions. She wore pink sunglasses and a diamond-studded bow tie.
“I was told to enjoy every minute of it and so did I,” Serrano said after the match. “I just bought them all.”
Taylor, an Irish fighter, entered the arena at a measured pace with “Awake My Soul”, a gospel song by Hillsong Worship. Eddie Hearn, a longtime promoter of Matchroom Boxing and wearing a tuxedo, joins him.
“We represented our nations very, very proudly,” Taylor said. “It was incredible to see so many Irish flags in support.”
Serrano opened the first round with a series of punches and guts and danced around Taylor. But Taylor remained grounded and methodical, and responded in a way that showed she wouldn’t relinquish her title easily. As the competition progressed, the voices of the fans got louder: At the end of the third round, it turned out that the referee did not hear the bell.
In the first four rounds, Serrano laid the groundwork for the fifth round with hard body kicks and right hooks. A southpaw swung its opponent in combinations over and over. They left Taylor staggering and throwing her head back. Serrano continued this momentum up to sixth place.
“Katie squirms under pressure,” Serrano said. “That was his game plan: go out and give it to him and make him feel my power.”
Taylor admitted that she “stands there a little too long.” “I think I boxed really well in the first rounds and I got stuck,” he added.
But in the second half of the fight, Taylor found her balance once again. He rallied in the final rounds, making big shots and combos. Serrano opened the eighth round aggressively, but Taylor landed balls and large hooks in Serrano’s face amid the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd.
“I think in those moments, the courage and strength comes completely from the hard work I’ve put in,” Taylor said. “That’s exactly why you train hard for those moments when you’re in the trenches.”
Serrano agrees: “He’s tough. He is a warrior. Irish. He was able to withstand the force and returned. ”
As the 10th and final round approached, it was everyone’s fight. Two minutes into the clock, Serrano and Taylor got into an all-out fight, pairing each other poke, hook, hook. When the bell rang, the fighters collapsed into each other’s arms knowing they were fighting a fight to remember in a hall that has hosted some of the sport’s greats.
The two judges won Taylor 97-93 and 96-93; a judge made the score 96-94 for Serrano. According to Compubox, Serrano was leading 173-147 in the landing strokes. Serrano did 36 percent of power throws, Taylor did 47 percent.
“I showed them the heart of a champion out there, as I always do,” Taylor said.
Serrano said he “gave her what I had.”
“It was a great fight. That’s all I wanted to do – to show that women can fight,” said Serrano. “I will always perform like a champion – win, lose or draw. I will always represent myself as a woman, a champion.”
Taylor, who once acted like a kid to race in Ireland, said the best part of her journey was being able to inspire future generations. “Both me and Amanda have overcome obstacles,” she said. “We are both winners in a certain way.”
Serrano agreed.
“Me and Katie Taylor are true champions; we are humble warriors,” he said. “I’m so excited that girls have two great role models to look up to.”
While blood and sweat were still drying, clues began to leak, perhaps of a rematch held in Dublin.
“We all want to see the best versus the best,” Taylor said. “A rematch would be absolutely phenomenal.”
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