Tyson vs Paul: Katie Taylor narrowly defeats Amanda Serrano on points in epic rematch

Katie Taylor from Ireland faced jeers from the crowd as she managed to keep her undisputed light-welterweight title, winning by a controversial decision against Amanda Serrano at AT&T Stadium in Texas.

The two fighters delivered another memorable battle in their rematch, showcasing Serrano's relentless barrage of punches alongside Taylor's tactical counterattacks.

In the fourth round, Taylor kept leaning in with her head, resulting in a serious gash above Serrano's right eye. This wound worsened as the fight went on, leading to blood streaming down Serrano's face.

The 38-year-old lost a point in the eighth round due to a headbutt, leading the spectators to believe that Serrano had successfully avenged her narrow defeat by points in 2022.

However, all three judges gave the fight a score of 95-94 in favor of Taylor.

"I realized it was a fierce battle inside the ring, a true showdown," Taylor remarked as she looked forward to the trilogy match.

"I completely disagreed with the loss of points. I wasn't playing unfairly at all. Things can get intense during the match."

The match served as the main support for 58-year-old Mike Tyson's return to the ring against Jake Paul, while Taylor successfully defended her IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO titles, bringing her record to 24 victories and just one loss.

At 36 years old, Serrano, a champion across seven divisions, has now faced only her third loss in an impressive total of 51 professional matches.

"I had a feeling that when it reached the judges, things might be a bit questionable," Serrano commented.

Whenever you get a cut, it stings. Blood drips onto your face. She kept butting her head against me, but we were aware of that from the start, right from our first fight.

The highly anticipated match truly deserved to be the main event, and as the boxers entered the ring, the impressive dome-shaped stadium was nearly at capacity.

With a big smile, Serrano soaked in the cheers as she gracefully moved past a row of Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.

Taylor, dressed in black with gold accents, took a more low-key approach during her ring walk. However, she clearly enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere as she casually strolled down the runway without any rush.

Serrano started off with great intensity, delivering a powerful left hook right before the end of the first round that made Taylor's legs give way.

Taylor, hailing from Bray, was well aware of her rival's strength, as she managed to remain standing during an unforgettable fifth round in their initial matchup.

She faced the challenges once more and started landing combos in the second round as the match intensified.

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who had doubts about receiving accreditation for the fight due to his criticisms of the Tyson-Paul match, observed the action from ringside.

The challenger raised an issue with the referee regarding Taylor’s frequent grabbing during their intense exchanges in the fifth round, where Serrano was landing precise hits.

The ringside physician examined Serrano following another head collision in the fifth round, while the audience reacted with surprise at the close-up shown on the big screen.

Serrano fought on bravely, struggling to see as she wiped away blood every few moments. Taylor focused on exploiting the openings, delivering left hooks while both fighters abandoned any sense of caution.

In the seventh round, Taylor took a hit from an uppercut but quickly responded with a quick two-punch combo. The match was meeting all expectations, as Serrano's fighting spirit captured the attention of fans who might not have been fully engaged with the main event before.

Following the penalty in points, Taylor maintained her offensive with punches, and Serrano responded in kind.

Similar to their fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, Taylor and Serrano kept exchanging blows right up until the last moments of the tenth round.

Serrano threw more punches than Taylor and demonstrated greater precision in her shots. She managed to connect with 324 punches throughout the ten rounds, surpassing the total number of punches both fighters landed together in their initial matchup.

Typically, sequels don't quite measure up to the originals, and although the quality of their first match would be hard to surpass, Taylor and Serrano once again created an impressive performance.

Two years after their initial bout in New York, they've both reached career-high earnings in the seven-figure range and continue to be two of the most well-known and popular figures in women's boxing.

The narrow outcome of the second match and the disputes surrounding its result create an exciting backdrop for the upcoming trilogy. Taylor expressed her support for three-minute rounds in this next fight.

During a week filled with controversy surrounding the main event, where Paul’s trash talk and Tyson’s slap took center stage, Taylor and Serrano maintained their professionalism and highlighted the sport's positive aspects.

The goal is that after thrilling fans with 20 amazing rounds and a rematch streamed to millions around the world on Netflix, the Serrano-Taylor rivalry will motivate a new generation of boxers and fans alike.