The final hurdle is cleared. Undisputed super-lightweight champion Katie Taylor and seven-division world champion Amanda Serrano have successfully made weight, confirming their highly anticipated trilogy fight set to headline a monumental all-women`s card at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
This bout marks the third professional meeting between two of the sport`s modern legends, returning to the very venue where they first made history in their initial, furiously contested battle. The weigh-in saw Taylor register 135.8 lbs and Serrano 136 lbs, both comfortably below the 140 lb limit for Taylor`s undisputed super-lightweight title.
A Rivalry Reaching Its Climax?
While their first two encounters were battles of elite skill and unwavering determination, leaving fans breathless, the narrative around this third fight is framed by talk of a potential conclusion. Serrano, having dropped a controversial decision in their initial meeting and lost a subsequent rematch, expressed a desire to settle the score and potentially move on. “I`m kind of tired of Katie Taylor,” Serrano stated, suggesting a victory would provide closure with a 2-1 record in Taylor`s favour remaining permanently etched.
Taylor, ever the competitor, remained more open-ended about the future. “I am taking the third fight. If she wants a fourth fight, I`ll take it as well,” she remarked, redirecting focus squarely onto the upcoming battle. This difference in outlook adds an intriguing layer to the “final chapter” billing – is it a definitive end or merely the next brutal stanza?
Seeking Peak Performance and Redemption
At 39, Katie Taylor is aiming to defy age and deliver what she believes can be her finest performance yet. “I feel like people haven`t seen the best me yet… I can definitely make the fight a lot easier for myself and I just can`t wait to step in there now and actually perform,” Taylor declared, promising a strategic and dominant display.
Amanda Serrano, meanwhile, is driven by the clear objective of revenge and solidifying her legacy with a win over her fiercest rival. Her move up to the super-lightweight division, while not her natural weight, presents a challenge she seems ready to embrace in pursuit of victory and, perhaps, the final word in this intense back-and-forth.
A Card For the Ages
Beyond the main event, the entire fight card at Madison Square Garden is curated to showcase top-tier women`s boxing. This unprecedented lineup features multiple significant championship bouts:
- Savannah Marshall makes her return to boxing after a stint in MMA, facing Shadasia Green in a WBO and IBF super-middleweight title unification.
- Catford`s Ellie Scotney takes on Yamileth Mercado in a clash to unify the IBF, WBC, and WBO super-bantamweight championships.
- Chantelle Cameron puts her WBC Interim super-lightweight title on the line against Jessica Camara, a fight with clear implications for a future challenge to the Taylor vs. Serrano winner.
As Most Valuable Promotions` Nakisa Bidarian highlighted, this event represents a significant moment for the sport, bringing together elite talent on a major stage. “Come Friday night, they`re going to enter the ring and go to war,” he noted, emphasizing the competitive spirit while acknowledging the collective impact these athletes have had in elevating women`s boxing.
With the weigh-in successfully completed, all focus shifts to the squared circle at Madison Square Garden. Whether this is truly the “final chapter” remains to be seen, but another compelling, high-stakes encounter between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano is guaranteed.
Murray Blackwood