Taylor V Serrano - The Rivalry That Changed Boxing

As trilogies go, Friday's 3rd instalment of nan Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano rivalry astatine New York's Madison Square Garden doesn't adhd up, but still makes each nan consciousness successful nan world.

Ordinarily, a 3rd gathering successful boxing is to break nan tie, but, contempt undisputed light-welterweight champion Taylor holding a 2-0 advantage from erstwhile meetings, this last section feels for illustration time one.

Their initial fight astatine MSG successful 2022 collapsed caller ground, trading retired nan 20,000-capacity venue retired arsenic nan first female boxers to headline, producing a 10-round classical from which Ireland's Taylor emerged narrowly victorious, leaving conflict fans craving more.

Two years later and they threw down again, this clip successful Texas, successful a conflict which Taylor again shaded, but opinions were divided successful nan aftermath pinch galore emotion Serrano ought to person sewage nan motion contempt suffering a gruesome gash to her correct oculus which whitethorn travel into play connected Friday should it reopen.

Regardless, Taylor backed up that first win, truthful why do it a 3rd time?

It makes financial consciousness arsenic Jake Paul's MVP Promotions and Netflix are handing some women their career-high payday.

That is simply a consequence of what they nutrient - play and excitement - ensuring this latest version is arsenic eagerly anticipated arsenic their first.

Their first conflict earned them $1m (£737,000) each, pinch that number quadrupled erstwhile they fought successful Texas, pinch much than 50million group tuning successful to watch a gripping rematch, which is firmly successful nan mainstream.

The New York venue was nan segment of nan first section successful 1 of sport's top trilogies erstwhile Joe Frazier inflicted conclusion connected Muhammad Ali for nan first time, only for 'The Greatest' to move nan tables complete their adjacent 2 fights.

Arturo Gatti v Micky Ward will everlastingly beryllium fondly remembered arsenic nan quintessential trilogy, and this rivalry is woven into nan aforesaid tapestry, while, successful position of awesome female sporting duels, it's correct up there.

Tennis had nan Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova era of nan 1970s to 1980, nan baton picked up by by Steffi Graf and Monica Seles earlier nan awesome related rivalry of nan Williams sisters, Serena and Venus.

Basketball has precocious produced Caitlin Clark v Angel Reese, while nan Jamaican sprinters Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah will beryllium everlastingly intertwined.

Taylor and Serrano are undoubtedly successful that bracket and, successful time, whitethorn beryllium remembered arsenic nan champion of them all.

It takes 2 to tango and nan brace person proven to beryllium nan eventual creation partners, their styles gelling superbly, and, arsenic we attack information 21, location is small uncertainty we are successful for different fight-of-the-year contender.

Despite Taylor holding each nan aces, she is nan 'B-side' this week, pinch Serrano enjoying each of nan perceived 'house fighter' advantages successful position of stepping to nan ringing 2nd but, possibly much significantly, successfully lobbying for this bout to return spot astatine a 136lb weight limit, 4 pounds beneath nan accepted 10st target for nan division.

However, Serrano took her clip to onshore nan scales later than nan agreed 9am. Make of that what you will.

The 36-year-od arrived astatine nan ceremonial weigh-in emboldened to specified an grade nan level elevated her almost to nan roof, but it will require much than accumulation to elevate her to wherever she wants to ascend to connected Friday.

"She's not really successful a position to dictate nan position of nan fight," said Taylor connected Wednesday.

"She wanted each these different champion privileges.

"It's a spot unusual to put that (Serrano stepping retired second) successful nan contract. I don't really attraction astir that benignant of thing."

It does propose Serrano's mindset whitethorn beryllium of self-reassurance that she has simply been nan unfortunate of an injustice complete nan erstwhile meetings.

Does that mean she will participate this conflict pinch nan aforesaid attack and dream for a different result?

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican has hinted she will spell astir her business successful a different direction.

"Third time's nan charm," she said astatine a packed weigh-in.

Instinct is ever apt to return complete for nan brace and nan chances of a jab-and-grab matter look slim.

Despite her mild manner, Taylor is simply a fierce a competitor and, though taking nan bait isn't successful her DNA, rising to nan situation surely is.

In their first conflict she made nan adjustments erstwhile momentum swung to Serrano successful nan mediate rounds, while successful their 2nd gathering nan Puerto Rican's flying commencement prompted nan Irishwomen to wound down and canine it out.

Making nan mini tweaks successful a rematch tin beryllium crucial, truthful what will beryllium nan attack from nan brace this time?

There's a hunch that Serrano whitethorn so effort thing different arsenic she carries noted power, but it has grounded to extremity Taylor successful her tracks truthful far.

But does Serrano person nan ringing smarts to out-hustle alternatively than out-muscle?

Perhaps, pinch nan defending champion firmly successful nan twilight of her career, nan dream will beryllium that this is 1 conflict excessively galore for Taylor and Serrano will out-last her awesome rival this time.

Whatever they person near successful their tanks will beryllium emptied arsenic they activity to person nan last connection of an all-time awesome rivalry.

"It's not conscionable history, but this is taking spot successful nan large Garden and that says it all," said BBC 5 Live's Steve Bunce.

"I presume this will beryllium their last conflict - wherever they had their first awesome fight.

"I fancied Katie successful that one, fancied Katie successful their 2nd 1 and I still fancy Katie for this one.

"There's conscionable a horrible consequence of immoderate sentimentality creeping successful for this arsenic it's a tight conflict again, but who knows?"