Katie Taylor retained her status as undisputed lightweight champion on Saturday, outpointing Karen Elizabeth Carabajal in London to keep alive a rematch with Amanda Serrano.
Taylor was a unanimous-decision winner (100-91, 99-91, 98-92) at Wembley Arena as she kept hold of the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF titles, while remaining unbeaten as a professional. The result likely sets up a rematch between Taylor and Serrano, whom the Irishwoman narrowly outpointed in April in arguably the biggest bout in women’s boxing history. The chances of a second clash between the women going ahead depended in part on Taylor’s outing in London on Saturday (29 October), and the Olympic gold medalist delivered by seeing off Carabajal, 32, with relative ease.
Argentine Carabajal (19-1, 2 knockouts) entered Wembley Arena unbeaten and was a game opponent for Taylor (22-0, 6 KOs), but the latter settled after a slightly sloppy start, improving as the main event progressed. While Carabajal looked to overwhelm and outmuscle Taylor at times, the Irishwoman looked to fight behind a neater offence. A left hook to the head was a consistently effective weapon for Taylor in the early rounds, in which she at times got sucked into messy exchanges with her challenger.
As the bout wore on, Taylor began to target the body of Carabajal with increasing frequency, using straight, stabbing shots to the Argentine’s midriff. In the later rounds, Taylor employed an overhand right to good effect, as accuracy started to elude Carbajal, who sported a cut around her right eye. Overall, it was a professional performance from Taylor in her first fight since beating Serrano. Re-live fight updates and see all undercard results below:
Final round! Will Silva’s decreased output in these last couple of rounds cost him?
A right uppercut lands for Silva! Now he’s teeing off, trying to get a finish, which he may well need...
But Paul drops Silva with a right overhand at the end of a combination! The Brazilian falls onto his backside.
He beats the referee’s count! He’s bleeding from the nose...
Paul with a grazing left hook. Silva keeps pressing forward; both men are landing hooks in close. Then both fighters land short right hands.
A good finish for Silva, but that will be a 10-8 round to Paul, who has surely taken this on points...
Alex Pattle30 October 2022 04:41
Paul vs Silva LIVE
Round 7
Not for the first time, the referee warned Silva for throwing punches at the bell; Silva doesn’t seem to have done that once, though. Odd officiating tonight.
Two rounds to go! More booing as Silva fights somewhat passively for the time being. Paul throws a right cross to the body and a left hook.
More hooks to the body, then a right hook to the head! Good combination from Paul, who may be scoring points at just the right time now. A right cross to the body is on point for the American.
Silva starts to build some momentum again, with Paul on the ropes, but the YouTuber clinches to slow things down.
Alex Pattle30 October 2022 04:37
Paul vs Silva LIVE
Round 6
It’s evident that Silva is the best fighter that Paul has fought.
Paul just about lands a right cross then flicks out a series of jabs.
Silva skips around the ring, but there’s no real output from the Brazilian right now. The crowd boos briefly, before Silva picks things up.
He backs up Paul to the ropes and unloads hooks to the body. Paul tries to come back with right overhands and left hooks, but none get through clean.
An uppercut is on point for Silva!
Alex Pattle30 October 2022 04:34
Paul vs Silva LIVE
Round 5
We’ve reached the midway point of the fight.
Silva backs up Silva and throws a few hooks to the body, which are blocked.
Silva then skips forward and looks to fight behind his jab. The heavier shots that the Brazilian looks to add aren’t quite accurate enough.
In close, he does seem to be holding Paul’s head somewhat before throwing uppercuts. Both men miss with hooks in close. Silva ties up Paul and gets some good hooks off.
Now Silva corners Paul, landing a right uppercut then a hook off each wing!
Alex Pattle30 October 2022 04:29
Paul vs Silva LIVE
Round 4
The referee asks the fighters to keep it clean. Paul tells Silva, “You’re pulling my head down.”
Haven’t seen any of that.
Paul tries a combination to the body as Silva covers up, then the YouTube star adds a right hand to the head.
Silva is pressing forward. He eats a right hook but then lands an uppercut of his own!
Paul misses with a right uppercut and left hook, before trying another, which Silva slips.
A wild one-two effort from Paul now, as he steps in somewhat ungracefully. A series of right hands are on target for Silva just before the bell!
Alex Pattle30 October 2022 04:25
Paul vs Silva LIVE
Round 3
More feinting and forward pressure from Silva, then a left cross up top and a right hook to the body. Nice stuff.
Silva wasn’t using his jab much before, but he is now. A left hand lands for him.
He’s swarming Paul, whose output under pressure isn’t looking too tidy. But the American lands a right, then a left, then a right hook as he comes forward himself!
A jab is on point for Paul, then Silva unleashes a flurry to the body. Paul covers up then responds with an overhand right that just about lands!
A competitive round.
Alex Pattle30 October 2022 04:21
Paul vs Silva LIVE
Round 2
Paul tries another overhand left, but he wings this one more and just misses with Paul on the ropes.
Much more activity from Silva already! He’s feinting a lot but also adding punches. A left hook lands for the UFC legend, before Paul fires back.
Silva dances around the ring, light on his feet. He even seems to feint a kick! Paul with a good right overhand, then he misses with a left hook. Good head movement by Silva on the latter, and even more so now as he avoids Paul’s jabs.
A pawing right hand just misses for Silva, but he’s backing up Paul. And he connects with a good shot late in the round!
This is much more promising from the Brazilian.
Alex Pattle30 October 2022 04:18
Paul vs Silva LIVE
Silva’s overhand left was the best punch of the first round, but it was the only one he threw!
Alex Pattle30 October 2022 04:14
Paul vs Silva LIVE
Round 1
Paul tentatively takes the centre of the ring early on. He flicks out a few jabs and feints a little.
Silva looks relaxed and parries a couple of Paul’s jabs, evading others.
Paul jabs to the body, then adds a cross moments later. Southpaw Silva is yet to throw a punch, while Paul is now targeting his opponent’s head.
Silva blocks a right cross up top. Again he’s jabbed to the body. Finally Silva lets go, and it’s a short overhand left that connects on Paul’s temple. It’s not the hardest shot, but it gets Paul’s attention.
The fighters clinch late in the round, which Paul will take on activity alone.
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