Katie Taylor Outpoints Amanda Serrano In Tactical Finale To Classic Fistic Trilogy

Katie Taylor outboxed Amanda Serrano complete 10 tense, tactical rounds connected Friday nighttime to triumph a mostly determination and clasp her undisputed inferior welterweight title, sealing a 3-0 expanse successful 1 of nan astir important rivalries successful women’s boxing history.

Two judges scored it 97–93 for Taylor, while a 3rd had it level astatine 95–95 – a adjacent reflection of a conflict that lacked nan all-out fury of their first 2 meetings but showcased Taylor’s footwork, precision and ringing IQ. (The Guardian had it 97-93 for Taylor.)

“I thought I was boxing very smart, very well, and she wasn’t catching maine pinch overmuch tonight,” Taylor said successful nan ringing aft nan decision. “But it’s ever going to beryllium a very adjacent title betwixt myself and Amanda.”

Back astatine Madison Square Garden, wherever nan brace made history successful 2022 arsenic nan first women to header nan iconic venue, Taylor (25–1) circled, countered, and refused to get drawn into different brawl. She picked disconnected Serrano pinch speedy combinations and evaded prolonged exchanges, shading information aft information pinch activity and impeccable timing.

The early rounds were marked by feints, footwork and highly calculated risk. Taylor landed nan sharper punches disconnected nan backmost foot, while Serrano stalked patiently, hoping to create openings that ne'er came. Only successful flashes – for illustration a cleanable correct from Serrano astatine nan extremity of nan sixth – did either combatant onshore thing resembling nan back-and-forth hellfire of their first 2 encounters.

While some looked somewhat diminished from nan hellhole they’d put each different done successful their erstwhile instalments, Taylor’s legs and hands appeared fresher. She landed scoring shots pinch her near manus successful nan eighth and ninth, while Serrano mostly abandoned nan assemblage and struggled to trim disconnected nan ringing and trap her opponent.

Serrano raised her hands aft nan last bell, but erstwhile nan first paper publication 95–95, she covered her eyes possibly sensing nan outcome. For nan 3rd time, nan margins were razor-thin. For nan 3rd time, Taylor emerged nan winner.

“Thank you, Jesus. I needed a batch of help, a batch of spot today,” Taylor said. “I conscionable want to convey Amanda Serrano. What an astonishing fighter. We made history together, 3 times. It’s specified a historical conflict and it’s specified a privilege to stock nan ringing pinch her.”

Friday’s arena marked nan Garden’s first all-women’s card, different milestone made imaginable by nan rivalry betwixt Taylor and Serrano: 2 champions whose names are now inextricably linked. It ended not pinch a war, but pinch a masterclass.

“I conscionable convey God that my manus was raised again,” Taylor said. “And I’m 3-0.”

This is simply a processing story. More to follow.