Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano LIVE: Fight stream, latest updates and result tonight
Re-live the main-event and undercard action live from Madison Square Garden
Katie Taylor retained her undisputed lightweight title with a split-decision win against Amanda Serrano on Saturday night, edging a thrilling contest at Madison Square Garden. The pair were the first female fighters to headline at the iconic New York City venue, and their title fight in front of a sold-out crowd lived up to the billing of being the biggest bout in the history of women’s boxing.
Taylor started as the sharper fighter amid a raucous atmosphere, managing her range well and catching her Puerto Rican opponent with several well-timed counter left hooks. Serrano maintained her gameplan of walking down Taylor, however, and in the second round the unified featherweight champion began to find homes for stinging left straights from her southpaw stance. The most dramatic frame of the fight was the fifth, with the women wildly trading punches in the corner as Serrano’s shots began to take greater effect. The 33-year-old and Taylor moved into the centre of the ring, where Serrano’s power and variety of punches had the defending champion in trouble – almost out on her feet.
Neither woman had ever been knocked down ahead of this bout, however, and Taylor was able to draw on reserves of resilience to make it through the round and even win the final few at least. The result was left to the judges, who scored the fight 96-94 to Serrano, 97-93 to Taylor, and 96-93 to Taylor. As such, Taylor remained unbeaten and retained her undisputed lightweight title as the Madison Square Garden crowd erupted with noise.
Re-live updates from Taylor vs Serrano and the undercard, below.
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano
Katie Taylor retained her undisputed lightweight title with a split-decision win against Amanda Serrano on Saturday night, edging a thrilling contest at Madison Square Garden.
The pair were the first female fighters to headline at the iconic New York City venue, and their title fight in front of a sold-out crowd lived up to the billing of being the biggest bout in the history of women’s boxing.
Irishwoman Taylor secured the defining victory of a career that has seen the 35-year-old win Olympic gold, hold world titles in two weight classes, and go unbeaten – a record she kept in tact with this win against Serrano.
Full report here:
Katie Taylor beats Amanda Serrano via split decision in thrilling clash
The bout, billed as the biggest in women’s boxing history, lived up to the hype at Madison Square Garden
Taylor savours ‘special moment’ after beating Serrano
Katie Taylor revelled in the “best night” of her career after showing immense resilience to narrowly outpoint Amanda Serrano in an enthralling battle at a packed Madison Square Garden.
A fight branded as the biggest in the history of women’s boxing justified the billing as the momentum swung both ways, with Taylor soaking up a brutal onslaught from her opponent in the middle rounds.
The Irish fighter was rocked on multiple occasions and seemed on the verge of being stopped but she showed terrific composure thereafter and used every ounce of her experience to finish strongly.
Two judges scored the fight in her favour 97-93 and 96-93, with a third plumping for Serrano 96-94, handing Taylor a split-decision win as she retained her status as undisputed lightweight champion.
Having overcome Serrano, a nine-time world champion in seven divisions, in a cacophonous atmosphere in front of a sell-out 19,187 crowd, the London 2012 gold medallist believes she is at her zenith.
Katie Taylor savours ‘special moment’ after beating Amanda Serrano in New York
The Madison Square Garden fight was billed as the biggest in the history of women’s boxing and did not disappoint
Taylor open to Serrano rematch after thrilling fight
Katie Taylor would relish a rematch against Amanda Serrano after prevailing by a wafer-thin split decision in an engrossing contest at Madison Square Garden in New York.
In the first women’s bout to headline the famed venue, which staged the ‘Fight of the Century’ between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali in 1971, Taylor retained her status as undisputed lightweight champion.
The Irish fighter soaked up a brutal onslaught in the middle rounds but showed terrific resilience and used every ounce of her experience to finish strongly to keep hold of her WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
She was given the nod from two judges by scores of 97-93 and 96-93, with a third plumping for her Puerto Rican opponent 96-94, although there were immediate calls for a return showdown.
Taylor, who extended her unbeaten professional record to 21 wins from as many fights, certainly seemed agreeable to the idea, saying in the ring afterwards to DAZN: “Let’s do it again, Amanda.”
‘Let’s do it again’: Katie Taylor tells Amanda Serrano after thrilling fight
The Irish fighter soaked up a brutal onslaught in the middle rounds but showed terrific resilience
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano
Hearn tells BBC Radio 5 Live: “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. To see it here at MSG, in this kind of environment, amazing.
“[Taylor] is 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.”
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano
Amanda Serrano tells DAZN: “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.”
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano
Katie Taylor tells BBC Radio 5 Live: “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 vs Joe Frazier, but now everyone will be thinking of Katie Taylor vs 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.
“Absolutely we have to do this again.”
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano
Taylor: “What a fighter Amanda Serrano is, I think we’re both winners here, selling out Madison Square Garden – the biggest fight in female boxing history. I’m just grateful to be in this position.”
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano
Both women appear to be open to a rematch, with Eddie Hearn suggesting that it takes place at Dublin’s Croke Park later this year.
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano
For what it’s worth, Indy Sport had the fight as a draw – 95-95, with Taylor winning the first round and the final four.
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