Katie Taylor once again reaffirmed her legendary status in boxing history by defeating Amanda Serrano by a majority decision on Friday night at Madison Square Garden. In doing so, Taylor successfully defended her undisputed light-welterweight title and, perhaps even more significantly, completed an extraordinary clean sweep in one of the most captivating trilogies in boxing history.
The sold-out arena bore witness to a fight that might not have carried the sheer fire of their earlier meetings, yet it revealed something impressive in the ability of Katie Taylor to evolve, adapt, and masterfully outthink a fierce rival who has pushed her to the very edge of her career.
At 39, Katie Taylor entered the ring with the poise of a veteran who understands that greatness in boxing comes not only from power but from control and strategy.
Serrano, now 36, had hinted before the fight that she would box more cautiously rather than pressing forward aggressively, a shift in style that ultimately played into Taylor’s hands.
Throughout the fight, Taylor’s counters landed clean, her movement frustrated Serrano’s attempts to close the distance, and her command of the pace ensured she never truly lost control. When the final bell rang, the judges returned scorecards of 97–93, 97–93, and a closer 95–95, confirming Taylor’s victory but acknowledging the closeness of the battle.
Taylor’s journey to this moment is itself a story of relentless ambition and quiet determination. From the moment she turned professional, Katie Taylor worked tirelessly not only to build her own legacy but to challenge the structures of boxing that had long kept women in the shadows.
Her rivalry with Serrano, one of the sport’s most dynamic and courageous fighters, has elevated the profile of women’s boxing more than any marketing campaign ever could. Their first meeting in 2022 was hailed by critics and fans alike as a modern classic, a ten-round war that many called the fight of the year.
Their second encounter retained much of the same energy, each woman refusing to back down. In this final bout, however, Katie Taylor demonstrated her evolution as a champion willing to win on different terms, by staying disciplined, fighting smarter, and showing that mastery sometimes means not trading punches but picking them.
Serrano, to her credit, accepted the defeat with dignity. Speaking candidly after the fight, she acknowledged that her plan to stay on the outside and outbox Taylor simply did not yield the result she hoped for. There was a quiet sadness in her words, yet also an unspoken pride at what the two had accomplished together, turning what was once an improbable main event into an undeniable global moment.
Katie Taylor, ever gracious, spoke about the toll of facing Serrano across three bruising fights, even joking that she wouldn’t want to do it again because “she punches too hard.” Beneath the humour was the truth: great rivalries test not only skill but resolve, and few in recent boxing history have tested each other quite like Taylor and Serrano.
What is Next for Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano
With this trilogy now closed, the questions naturally turn to what comes next for these remarkable athletes and for women’s boxing itself. For Katie Taylor, despite being 39, retirement does not feel inevitable just yet.
Speculation has already begun about blockbuster matchups, a potential clash with Natasha Jonas, who has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence; a renewed rivalry with Chantelle Cameron, the fighter who gave Katie Taylor her only professional loss before Taylor avenged it; or even an ambitious step into a higher weight division to challenge herself once more.
Katie Taylor has spent her career chasing not just titles but moments that redefine the sport, and it would not be surprising to see her pursue yet another historic fight.
Amanda Serrano, though defeated, remains a force that commands respect. She may choose to return to featherweight, where she has dominated, or continue to campaign at lightweight, a division where her power remains a threat. At 36, Serrano’s popularity and fighting spirit ensure she can still draw crowds and headline major events. Her presence alone guarantees that whatever path she takes, it will be followed closely by fans eager to see what comes next.
In the end, while the record books will show Katie Taylor’s clean sweep over Amanda Serrano, the real victory belongs to the sport itself. Their rivalry has forever changed perceptions, elevated standards, and reminded the world that true greatness in boxing transcends belts and scorecards.
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