Katie Taylor remains the undisputed super lightweight champion of the world after she narrowly beat Amanda Serrano in another magnificent but blood-soaked epic between these two evenly-matched and supreme fighters. The 95-94 victory on all three scorecards was not without controversy as Serrano was cut terribly over the right eye by an accidental headbutt in the sixth. Taylor was warned twice for excessive use of her head and she had a point deducted in the eighth round.
The typically brave, fiery and determined Serrano would have been a worthy winner but Taylor showed incredible reserves of will and skill to finally prevail. The champion’s in-fighting was the best of her career – even if her victory was greeted by vociferous booing from the American crowd.
In the main support bout to the manufactured headline contest between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, the rematch between Serrano and Taylor was by some distance the most significant fight of a surreal night. They had waged a battle for the ages in April 2022, in one of the best fights ever held at Madison Square Gardens, and the odds against them producing another classic seemed high. Serrano is 36, and Taylor 38, and both women are closing in on the end of their mighty careers. But they went to the well yet again with unforgettable desire and tenacity.
Serrano came out flanked by the cheerleaders of the Dallas Cowboys. She wore a bullet-proof vest to convey her readiness for a war. Taylor walked slowly and intently to the ring, as if she was determined to soak up the meaning of these moments. There might not be many more for her, or Serrano, and so they looked deeply concentrated before the first bell.
Their early caution soon gave way to some testing exchanges. Near the end of the opening round Serrano nailed the champion with a heavy and shuddering left hand which rocked Taylor. She looked briefly dazed and sank back against the ropes.
Serrano maintained a crisp and steady rhythm of punching – but Taylor found a foothold in the third. Boxing and moving fluidly she faced down Serrano’s relentless pressure. In the fourth round Taylor came boring in with her head and opened up a cut over Serrano’s right eye. Taylor was winning the flurries of fire-fighting but there was a far worse clash of heads early in the next round as Taylor ducked low and hard. Blood from the widening gash poured down Serrano’s face. She looked concerned as the referee paused the fight so that Serrano could be examined. It was a terrible cut but she was allowed to return to the bloody fray.
Just before the end of round eight Taylor was warned again for excessive use of her head and deducted a point. In the break the full extent of the grotesque damage done to Serrano’s eye was made obvious on the big screen. The crowd barracked Taylor.
Serrano shaded the ninth in another close round. But the last round went to a far darker place. It was a brutal slugfest with the fighters pouring everything of themselves in a desperate quest to seal victory. The roaring approval of the crowd reached a crescendo as the punches flew in blurring exchanges. Serrano landed stinging combinations but Taylor kept coming back at her and just won the savagely decisive round.
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The scorecards were read out amid excruciating tension – and a draw was the least that both these exemplary fighters deserved.
Serrano had won world titles in seven different weight categories – which is both a staggering achievement and an indictment of women’s boxing where the talent pool of elite female fighters is so small. She moved up in weight again to challenge Taylor – who has done more for women’s boxing than anyone else in the sport. They are both remarkable but the decision went to Taylor whose longevity and unquenched yearning to keep boxing rolls on – and is matched only by Serrano, her astonishing dance partner. Taylor and Serrano are both giants of the ring – and they will surely complete their riveting trilogy next year.