The highly anticipated third bout between boxing greats Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano is looming, and the pre-fight tension is already palpable. At a recent press conference in New York, the rivalry took a sharp turn as Taylor directly addressed the lingering grievances from her opponent.
Facing off just days before their Madison Square Garden clash, Taylor made her position crystal clear. She expressed weariness with what she termed the “complaining and whining” emanating from Serrano`s camp following their previous two encounters. Taylor grounded her argument in the undisputed facts: “The fact is, I am 2-0 against her. Opinions are opinions, but facts are facts.” She underlined her intention to maintain that perfect record against the Puerto Rican star.
Much of the recent friction stems from their tight November encounter in Texas, where Taylor secured a unanimous decision victory with all three judges scoring the bout a razor-thin 95-94. Post-fight, Serrano publicly alleged intentional headbutting by Taylor, a claim that appears to have particularly irked the Irish champion. This history includes a cut sustained by Serrano from an accidental headbutt in the fourth round of that fight, and Taylor receiving a point deduction in the eighth for repeated warnings about leading with her head – a complex interaction that fueled the post-fight debate.
Asked about adjustments for the third meeting, Serrano offered a telling remark, stating she plans to “use my head, but not the way it was used on me.” This pointed comment, while delivered calmly, reinforced her previous stance. She added a promise to “be smarter, work smarter” this time, expressing confidence in achieving victory.
Serrano herself questioned why Taylor, holding a 2-0 advantage, would risk her winning record in a third fight. Taylor`s response was direct and underscored her fighter`s mentality. She explained her motivation wasn`t solely about maintaining the perfect record against Serrano, but about embracing the sport`s greatest challenges. “I want to take the best fights,” Taylor stated, emphasizing that despite her two wins, the trilogy remained the biggest fight in women`s boxing. For Taylor, taking the challenge again is about proving she can beat Serrano “again.”
With two back-and-forth classics already in the books – including their iconic first meeting at Madison Square Garden in 2022, which saw a heavily pro-Serrano crowd voice their displeasure at the close decision – the stage is set for a decisive third chapter. The verbal jousting at the press conference only heightens anticipation for what promises to be another memorable night in women`s boxing history.
Murray Blackwood