By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fought for the third time and like the other two fights, this was a close score both in the ring and on the scorecard.  Their first fight ended in a split decision in favor of Taylor and in their second bout,  Taylor won a close decision 95-94 on all three cards but some view that maybe Serrano should have won that bout as she landed 107 more punches.

This bout did not have the same fast pace as the previous two, but it was another close bout as Taylor won a majority decision 97-93, 97-93 and 95-95.   Their first bout attracted 15 million  viewers on Netflix and their rematch last November attracted 74 million viewers worldwide , the co-main event of the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight.

The bout was for the undisputed super lightweight title.

Taylor and Serrano’s first encounter took place April 30, 2022, at Madison Square Garden and had a global audience of 1.5 million viewers on Netflix. Their rematch last November as the co-main event to Jake Paul’s decision over Mike Tyson became the most watched women’s sporting event in U.S. history, averaging 74 million live viewers globally on Netflix.

“[We proved] the women can fight, we can sell, and we look good doing it,” said Serrano, who found a silver lining despite falling short to Taylor again.

The duo had the stage all to themselves in New York and brought along the present and future of women’s boxing with them. But it was the Pride of Ireland who put a stamp on the rivalry with a 3-0 sweep.

The first two rounds proved cautious before Serrano ramp up the pressure while landing combinations and taking the round.  The fourth round, Serrano continues to pressure while Taylor boxes looking for opening.

In the fifth round, Taylor landed said rights and movement gave her the openings as Serrano had difficulty cutting off the ring.   In the sixth round, Taylor continues to box effectively and with several good rights.  Halfway through the halfway point,  I had it even. 

Taylor won the seventh, but Serrano pressure allowed her to capture the eighth.  The fight was even after eight, but Taylor took the last two rounds with her boxing skills and neutralized Serrano power and pressure.  This clinches the fight.

This rivalry looks like it ended, and Taylor made it clear that three fights is enough as Taylor noted, “”I don’t know [what the future holds], but I just don’t want to fight Amanda Serrano again. She punches too hard.”   This was a classic fight between the boxer versus the slugger and the boxer was declared the winner all three bouts even though some might contend that Serrano won the second. 

These fighters put women boxing on a pedestal never seen before and while this one did not match the others in intensity, it was still a good fight.   Jake Paul in Taylor corner, who knows what we might see from Taylor and if there was a man who could promote, Paul it is.