The close contest in New York is already prompting calls for a rematch after what was the biggest-ever fight in women’s boxing
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano indulged in a contest of battle, skill and wit at a sold out Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, in a fight that delivered and an event that went beyond a mere boxing bout.
In a historic duel of flashing fists to decide the best female fighter in the world, Taylor emerged victorious by split decision to retain all her lightweight titles and The Ring Magazine belt.
There is likely to be a rematch in Ireland after the split-decision verdict, and moreover due to the nature of a thrilling contest in which neither of the protagonists – undefeated Taylor, or seven-division champion Serrano – took a backward step.
Indeed, in the final two minutes, the entire audience was on its feet as the two fighters threw their hands with a furious intensity which defied belief.
The contest delivered everything it had promised between the No 1 and No 2 female boxers on the planet.
“Absolutely. We have to do this again,” said a triumphant Taylor afterwards.
The judges, split, scored the contest 96-94 to Serrano, with Taylor getting the victory by dint of the two other judges’ scores, 97-93 and 96-93.
It was a close contest but Taylor’s skill, movement and fast hands gave her the advantage. But Serrano continued to hunt, never daunted, and made her mark truly in the fifth, hurting the champion in a torrid round in which Irish star was trapped on the ropes and punched to a standstill by the brilliant Puerto Rican.
Somehow Taylor clung on in that stanza, and staggered back to the corner, bloodied and confused, having been drawn into a toe-to-toe battle – at that point – on southpaw Serrano’s terms.
Serrano continued to press and over the middle period of the fight, matched Taylor punch for punch, making it a razor tight contest going into the last two rounds.
Taylor then took over, with grit, heart and desire, first going back to her boxing, and then timing her rival.
What a fight, what a finish. Taylor added: “It was an absolute war for 10 rounds. I’m grateful to be in this position and sell out Madison Square Garden. Look what we’ve just done.
“I said before that when you think Madison Square Garden you think Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier, but now everyone will be thinking of Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano. I knew I was going to have to dig deep and go to the trenches.
“I have the heart as well as the skill. I knew I was going to be able to pull through. “She’s a phenomenal fighter. A great, great person. It was a privilege to fight her again.”
Serrano added: “We put on a hell of a show. Katie is a great champion. She’s undefeated and undisputed. I’m truly honoured to share the ring. Women can sell, women can fight and women can put on a hell of a show.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn called the ring war “a fight for the ages.”
Talking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: “Katie Taylor is one of the biggest things to come out of Ireland.
“We just saw one of the best fights in boxing history at the Mecca of boxing. Unbelievable. What a performance. What heart from both girls. Just the most stunning fight I’ve seen. She’s one of the biggest legends in Irish sport. Not to fight in Ireland would be such a huge shame.
“We’ll see what happens but we’d love to run that back in Ireland. Give her a homecoming. It was a close fight. I thought she won it by a round or two, or maybe a draw, but I didn’t feel like Serrano won the fight but I could see the draw. I was so pleased to see her win but we have to run that back because it was so good. If we don’t take it back to Ireland for the rematch we would be stupid.”