Taylor and Serrano ends in controversy

Katie Taylor departs Texas today as the undisputed world junior welterweight champion; however, many consider Amanda Serrano to be the standout figure from Friday's Netflix feature. Similar to their initial meeting two years prior, Taylor emerged victorious through a contentious decision, prompting calls for a third match. While there may be uncertainty regarding the rightful winner, the fight itself was undeniably of high caliber, culminating in an intense slugfest. Despite setting a CompuBox record with 324 punches landed by a female boxer, Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs) could not secure the judges' favor. The New York-based Puerto Rican fighter faced the challenge of moving up three weight classes, yet she managed to outland and destabilize Taylor, all while dealing with a severe cut above her right eye sustained from a head clash in Round 4. At 38, Taylor found herself once again addressing whether she felt deserving of the victory over Serrano, 36, who voiced her grievances regarding the outcome and the headbutts. "She kept headbutting me," Serrano remarked, noting her status as a champion across an impressive seven weight divisions. "We knew from the first fight that this is her tactic. It wasn't just my fight; she did it with Chantelle Cameron as well. She uses her head." Serrano, who retains her titles as WBA and WBO featherweight champion, asserted that her earnings surpassed the reported $6.1 million Taylor received for their rematch, emphasizing that a trilogy bout with Taylor is now her primary focus, following Taylor's split decision victory in their first encounter in New York in April 2022.

Katie Taylor successfully defended her titles in a contentious victory over Amanda Serrano in Texas. A potential third match is anticipated to occur at either an outdoor venue in Ireland, such as Croke Park, or in Saudi Arabia. Promoters have expressed frustration over previous efforts to host Taylor at Croke Park, which has a capacity exceeding 82,000. With Saudi Arabia investing heavily in boxing to attract premier fights to Riyadh, it is plausible that the Taylor vs. Serrano bout may take place outside of Ireland or the United States. The contentious nature of the decision somewhat diminishes the significance of Taylor's 18th world-title fight win and intensifies the expectation for her to face Serrano again next year. Early indications of the fight's dynamics were evident when Serrano landed a stunning left hand on Taylor's jaw, pushing the Bray-born athlete back against the ropes. Serrano followed with a right punch that visibly unsettled Taylor. The speed, energy, and volume of Serrano's punches continued to trouble Taylor in Round 4. Despite suffering a cut above her right eye from a head clash, Serrano ended the round with a cheeky left hook that connected with Taylor just before the bell. The injury hampered Serrano in Round 6, allowing Taylor to find more success, including a precise right hook at close range. Round 7 featured a fierce exchange, with Serrano landing 54 punches compared to Taylor's 35, as reported by CompuBox.

Amanda Serrano faced a significant cut over her eye during her bout with Katie Taylor. The two minutes of action showcased their exceptional boxing skills, solidifying their status, alongside light heavyweight champion Claressa Shields, as the leading figures in women's professional boxing today. In Round 8, Taylor was penalized a point for head usage, a decision that Serrano's corner contested throughout the match. "I certainly wasn't fighting dirty; sometimes it gets rough in there," stated Taylor, who resides and trains in Connecticut. "We put on an amazing show."