‘we Created History’: Katie Taylor Savors Long-sought Closure In Serrano Trilogy

Katie Taylor said she was “very satisfied” aft outboxing Amanda Serrano complete 10 tactical rounds connected Friday nighttime to complete a cleanable expanse successful 1 of boxing’s astir storied rivalries and to yet put to remainder immoderate lingering questions complete who was superior.

“I deliberation I made nan conflict a batch easier for myself tonight,” Taylor said. “I knew I was tin of that benignant of performance. In nan first 2 fights I conscionable sewage caught up successful a spot of a warfare pinch her. This time, nan gameplan was to perpetually move and not fto her feet group and I was capable to do that. It was a very smart, clever performance. That’s what I’m astir proud of.”

The Bray fighter’s majority-decision triumph – scored 97–93, 97–93 and 95–95 – capped a triumphant return to Madison Square Garden, wherever nan brace first made history successful 2022 arsenic nan first women to header nan venue. This time, they topped an all-female card, a milestone Taylor described arsenic “an absolute privilege”.

“These are nan benignant of opportunities group didn’t deliberation were moreover imaginable a fewer years ago,” she said. “The ambiance was perfectly electrical again tonight. I didn’t deliberation it could get immoderate louder than nan first clip we were here, but coming it was conscionable unbelievable. I’m very, very proud to person headlined specified an important arena for women’s sports.”

Eddie Hearn, Taylor’s longtime promoter seated beside her early Saturday morning, called nan capacity “lights out” and suggested nan triumph had banished immoderate talk of retirement. “When you deliberation personification mightiness beryllium coming to nan extremity of their career, she conscionable rolls backmost nan years,” he said. “It was a capacity of skill, speed, boxing IQ. I deliberation she’s sewage 20 aliases 30 rounds near successful her, easy.”

Still, nan 39-year-old Taylor declined to perpetrate to what comes next. “I’m conscionable going to bask this victory, beryllium backmost and reflect,” she said. “But I felt caller successful there. I felt sharp. I was seeing nan punches coming, utilizing nan ringing better. I decidedly felt for illustration it was my benignant of fight, my benignant of pace.”

Asked if nan capacity mightiness redefine expectations astatine this shape successful her career, Taylor smiled. “I dream so. That’s ever nan plan: to container smart,” she said. “But sometimes I conscionable extremity up successful a war. This clip I really listened to Ross [Enamait] successful nan corner. I’m conscionable gladsome I was capable to execute what we’d worked connected for months.”

Katie Taylor celebrates Friday’s triumph alongside her mother, Bridget, astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York. Photograph: Gary Carr/INPHO/Shutterstock

The trilogy pinch Serrano ends 3–0 successful Taylor’s direction, though nan first 2 bouts were adjacent capable to animate heated statement and substance a communicative arc stretching complete much than 2 years. Friday’s clean, conclusive win, Taylor said, was gratifying not conscionable for nan grounds books but for nan history nan brace person created together.

“I don’t deliberation anybody could person said Amanda won tonight’s fight,” Taylor said. “So yeah, it is very, very satisfying. I deliberation we some beryllium backmost very proud correct now. We created history together 3 times. My sanction will ever beryllium embedded pinch hers forever.”

Pressed astir a imaginable 3rd conflict pinch Chantelle Cameron, who won connected Friday’s paper and remains nan only combatant to person beaten Taylor arsenic a master (before she reversed nan consequence successful an contiguous rematch), nan Irish prima didn’t mince words. “Maybe,” she said. “But I deliberation Chantelle has to spot if she tin waste retired a thousand-seater venue. I don’t deliberation she tin waste retired immoderate stadium astatine all. I made her much money than she really deserves, to beryllium rather honest.”

Taylor besides paid tribute to nan walking Irish supporters who erstwhile again turned retired successful unit astatine nan Garden. “These group are spending their hard-earned money to travel support me,” she said. “It conscionable intends nan world. Looking backmost connected nan full journey, what an astonishing life this is: headlining a sold-out Madison Square Garden connected an all-female card. These are nights I dreamed of arsenic a kid.”

While she conceded emotion a “bit of pressure” heading into nan Friday’s fight, which took spot astatine a catch-weight of 136lb, Taylor said her acquisition successful high-stakes contests helped support her composed. “Every azygous conflict I’ve been progressive successful these past fewer years has been a immense event,” she said. “There’s ever alleviation erstwhile your manus is raised, but besides conscionable complete joy. It’s specified a grueling sport, truthful erstwhile nan difficult activity pays off, it’s a awesome feeling.”

The fight’s lone 95–95 scorecard raised immoderate eyebrows, including Taylor’s. “I was decidedly amazed to perceive that,” she said. “But it doesn’t matter. At nan extremity of nan day, my manus was raised. And that’s each I attraction about.”