Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano press conference LIVE: Latest updates as fighters and Jake Paul speak in London
Taylor and Serrano are joined by promoters Eddie Hearn and Jake Paul ahead of the women’s April title fight
The build-up to the biggest fight in women’s boxing history continues today, as Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano speak at a press conference in London ahead of their April title clash.
Never before has a women’s fight headlined New York City’s Madison Square Garden, but that will change on 30 April when undisputed lightweight champion Taylor defends her belts against seven-weight champion Serrano. Ireland’s Taylor, an Olympic gold medalist in 2012, is undefeated as a pro (20-0, six knockouts), while Puerto Rican Serrano has amassed an impressive record of 42-1-1 (30 KOs). The pair went face-to-face at a press conference in NYC last week, and they will follow that with one in the English capital this afternoon.
Taylor’s promoter Eddie Hearn will also be present, as will YouTube star Jake Paul, who has been promoting Serrano recently while progressing with his own in-ring career. Paul was seen wearing a ‘Make Boxing Great Again’ cap as he arrived in the UK for today’s press conference. Last week, Taylor vs Serrano became the second-highest grossing boxing presale in Madison Square Garden’s history, and the significance of the bout will likely become increasingly clear as the contest approaches.
Re-live updates from the Taylor vs Serrano press conference in London, below.
Jake Paul sports ‘Make Boxing Great Again’ cap upon arrival in UK
Jake Paul arrived in the UK today to promote Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano with a hat vowing to “Make Boxing Great Again.”
The YouTube star turned boxer, who is also a promoter with his brand Most Valuable Promotions, is in London to front up the promotion for the historic undisputed fight at Madison Square Garden, New York on 30 April.
Paul has combined with Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn to push the record-breaking fight.
“It’s huge in the US,” Paul told talkSPORT. “My friends are DMing me, ‘can you get me seats,’ this is the first time I’ve promoted a fight that is not my own. It’s cool to see that.”
More here:
Jake Paul wears ‘Make Boxing Great Again’ hat as he arrives in UK
The YouTube star turned boxer is heading up the promotion for the historic undisputed fight at Madison Square Garden
Taylor vs Serrano: London press conference
The Independent is in place ahead of this afternoon’s press conference in London.
Katie Taylor is in the room; we await the arrival of Amanda Serrano, Jake Paul and Eddie Hearn.
The build-up to this huge title fight has been respectful so far. Will there be any verbal fireworks this afternoon?
Katie Taylor: ‘This fight is most exciting fight in the sport'
“I’ve had my eyes on Amanda Serrano and this is a fight I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time now,” said Taylor.
“This is history right here. This fight is the most exciting fight in the sport, not just female boxing. This really is the best fight in boxing right now.
“We are both great champions, she has a great record and she’s a great fighter.”
Eddie Hearn rejects Jake Paul’s potential in the ring
Eddie Hearn responded to Jake Paul’s claim he will one day become world champion: “I don’t think so, but he likes proving people wrong not gonna lie.
“But there are so many great fighters out there and the problem is with Jake is that he has a wrestling background so he has spent time in combat.
“But he doesn’t have a boxing background and it is no disrespect to Jake you can’t just turn to boxing and become world champion, but he will of course try to prove us wrong.”
Jake Paul reiterates desire to become world champion
Jake Paul has reiterated his desire to one day become a world champion in the ring telling talkSPORT: “I was ready to fight a professional boxer, I had a poster up in my gym from Eddie that says ‘when are you going to fight a real boxer?’ that I look at before I enter the gym.
“It’s only been two years since my debut and I have continued to increase my level of opposition.
“I have a long way to go because I spar against world champions and I have a giant chip on both shoulders to prove everyone wrong and I am going to just for fun.”
Amanda Serrano keen to find out who is pound-for-pound best
“We are changing the sport and I am super happy and super glad and honoured to be sharing the ring with Katie Taylor,” Serrano said.
“She is a great champion and we are going to prove who is the pound-for-pound best because everyone has been asking for it.”
Katie Taylor looking forward to ‘career-defining night'
Katie Taylor is looking forward to her “career-defining night” when she meets Amanda Serrano.
“This is a fight I have been looking forward to for quite some time now. It’s incredible how far the sport has come,” the Irish woman announced.
“It’s been called he biggest fight in female boxing history and it is a privilege to be part of a historic moment - this is history right here.
“I think this fight is the most exciting fight in the sport. Not just in female boxing, in boxing as a whole.
“Not just because of the records, but our styles will gel well together. It really is the best fight in boxing right now.”
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano: Jake Paul celebrates as historic fight has 'huge' presale
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano has become the second highest selling pre-sale boxing event in Madison Square Garden history.
The undisputed fight at New York’s legendary venue on 30 April is also the first female fight to headline MSG, with Jake Paul, as part of Most Valuable Promotions, has revealed his pride at creating the fight and major buzz in the build-up.
“Hell yeah,” Paul wrote on Twitter. “Congrats ladies.” Eddie Hearn, who promotes Taylor, also described the presale as “huge”.
Conor Benn and Katie Taylor deliver perfection after long and very different boxing roads
Conor Benn and Katie Taylor arrived in the Liverpool ring after long journeys down very different boxing roads and then combined in style to deliver two perfect performances on Saturday night.
Benn had the best win of his career to knock-out Chris Algieri in round four and Taylor was punch-perfect for ten rounds to retain all her lightweight belts against Firuza Sharipova. However, it was not about facts, it was about the tiny qualities in the ring that make the biggest difference. And for Benn, it was another very personal statement.
Benn has been swinging and hurting people in the boxing game since leaving Australia and taking up residency in Essex six years ago. His transition from novelty act, the fun son of a British fighting icon, Nigel Benn, has not been easy. Benn’s progress seemed to stall, the enthusiasm for his wild efforts had a ceiling; in harsh terms, it looked like he would lose the moment he stepped up in grade. It is a dreadful dilemma, one where a boy is measured so closely against a great man. It is the darkening shadow, one that can ruin a life.
Conor Benn and Katie Taylor deliver perfection after very different boxing roads
After both have walked long and varied journeys in the sport, Benn and Taylor combined to produce two fine performances on Saturday night
Eddie Hearn heaps praise on Jake Paul for raising Amanda Serrano’s value
“Jake Paul has done a brilliant job for her,” Hearn said. “He’s massively increased Amanda Serrano’s value.
“She deserves this. The price that was offered three years ago, that’s not the price anymore. As they say, yesterday’s price is not today, and Jake Paul’s a massive reason for that.
“Female boxing doesn’t get any bigger than this fight. I mean, in a way I want to stop saying: ‘This is the biggest fight in female boxing;’ this is one of the biggest fights in boxing.”
Mike Tyson responds to Jake Paul fight rumours
Rumours about a fight between the 55-year-old and the YouTuber have been swirling
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments