Katie Taylor deals Amanda Serrano vile cut en route to victory in rematch
Join Our Free Sports Newsletter For The Latest!
Subscribe For The Latest Sports News Updates!
Subscribe For Free Sports News Updates!
I would love to receive emails regarding special deals, events, and news from The Independent. Please check out our privacy policy for more details.
Katie Taylor achieved a second win against Amanda Serrano on Friday, inflicting a severe cut on her opponent as she clinched the victory by points.
In 2022, Taylor edged out Serrano in a close decision, successfully defending her undisputed lightweight titles. This time, the rematch included the Irish fighter's super-lightweight belts as well.
Live Updates: Paul Vs. Tyson In Heated Bout
At the age of 38, Taylor narrowly defeated the 36-year-old Puerto Rican fighter, disappointing the audience at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, where the bout occurred just before the match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
Following a caution for using her head too much, Taylor had a point taken away in the later rounds of the match. Despite this, she still managed to secure three scorecards that read 95-94 in her favor. It's worth noting that Serrano, the unified featherweight champion, was not defending her titles during the fight on Friday.
The fight kicked off with Serrano claiming the center of the ring and moving aggressively, triggering intense exchanges between the two. It felt like both fighters were vying for each other's respect, though it wasn't really needed given their epic matchup two years prior. Towards the end of the round, Serrano, who fights left-handed, landed two powerful straight punches that seemed to catch Taylor off guard, making her stagger backward. After that round, Taylor received a harsh telling-off from her team before round two began.
In the second round, Taylor increased her output, but Serrano appeared to be hitting harder, even though she moved up three weight classes for this match. By the end of the round, Serrano's face was showing signs of damage. In the third round, Serrano kept pursuing Taylor, choosing her moments to unleash powerful punches, while Taylor focused on finding opportunities to counterattack.
Serrano started to ramp up her production, while Taylor pulled off one of her signature bursts of activity, showcasing her incredible hand speed that continues to impress even at 38 years old.
Round four proved to be a pivotal moment in the match when Taylor gained the advantage and caused Serrano to suffer a severe cut above her right eye, which needed medical attention before the fifth round. Despite the injury, Serrano continued to aggressively pursue her opponent. At one point, she even pushed Taylor in the face to break free from a clinch, especially as Taylor started to use her head to gain an edge. This tactic ultimately resulted in Taylor losing a point in the eighth round.
In the sixth round, the fight was temporarily halted to re-evaluate Serrano's cut. At this stage, the injury had significantly worsened, creating a flap of skin that hung over her eye, with blood streaming down her face and onto the mat. When the round started again, the crowd erupted with excitement, and Taylor showcased her impressive defensive boxing skills, relying on her footwork.
Round seven was filled with intense action, with both fighters hitting their targets almost effortlessly, taking turns to land punches. Every time Serrano connected, the crowd erupted with enthusiastic cheers, as if a win for her, the determined underdog, would go against all odds that had previously seemed certain.
In the eighth round, Taylor was awarded a penalty, leading to loud boos from the audience when the big screens displayed the graphic images of blood on Serrano’s forehead and cheek. By the conclusion of the ninth round, Taylor's own face was also smeared with Serrano's blood, and the round itself became a testament to Serrano's resilience. Despite the challenges, she kept pushing forward, impressively landing a series of punches even after Taylor had hit her with a solid cross that snapped her head back.
As the last round kicked off, the arena in Dallas erupted with cheers once again, and both fighters went all out with some of the most astonishing hits of the match. Remarkably, neither boxer went down; they both demonstrated an incredible resilience and stayed on their feet.
Next came the verdict, as the audience expressed their dissatisfaction with Taylor's victory by unanimous decision. Honestly, the match could have swung in favor of either fighter. Regardless, it provided what a great rematch should: the same high caliber as the first encounter, along with a new narrative.