Taylor Serrano 2: The Real Reason To Be In Texas

Eighteen months ago, on May 1, 2022, in front of a sold-out house of 19,187 roaring fans at Madison Square Garden, Katie Taylor of Ireland and Amanda Serrano of Brooklyn became part of 140 years of boxing history with the first women’s main event.

The anticipated contest exceeded the hype, with Taylor prevailing in the high stakes contest, winning by split decision over Serrano to retain her undisputed women’s lightweight world championship.

Katie Taylor worked her way back to a win over Amanda Serrano in their first fight. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.

There was an immediate call for a rematch, given the narrow verdict. Both fighters and promoters, Eddie Hearn and Jake Paul were on board.

“One hundred percent,” said Paul to the rematch. “We got some unsettled business. I thought it was a draw at best. Let’s run it back in Ireland.”

It took 18 months, partly due to a delay with the main event. Perhaps you’ve heard of it: Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson. Now, Taylor and Serrano will face each other again in front of an expected 70,000 fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Friday, airing live to millions more worldwide on Netflix.

Taylor Serrano 2 Made Possible by Paul vs Tyson

Paul vs. Tyson is making the big platform for Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano possible. Photo: MVP Promotions

The rematch of the historic first fight would not have happened without the spectacle that is Paul vs Tyson. Whether you love or hate the scheduled 16-minute main event, it opened the doors to massive visibility for women’s professional boxing in front of a worldwide Netflix audience.

It will also give tens of thousands of people the chance to see women’s boxing at the highest level, including the super middleweight title fight between Shadasia Green and Melinda Watpool.

Moreover, Taylor and Serrano will be paid well for their efforts in what may be the last fight for either or both of the women who are locked for the Boxing Hall of Fame.

Tale of the Tape: Taylor Serrano 2

Katie Taylor's achievements make her a lock for the Boxing Hall of Fame. Photo: Esther Lin, MVP

Taylor of Ireland (23-1, 6 KOs) and six-division world champion Serrano (47-2-1, 21 KOs) of Puerto Rico will fight this time at a higher weight division, with Taylor's IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO women's super-lightweight titles are at stake. The pair fought at lightweight in 2022.

However, Serrano and Taylor have agreed to a catchweight limit of 138 pounds, two pounds below the super lightweight limit of 140 pounds. This is an advantage for Serrano, the current unified champion at featherweight (126 pounds).

“I believe that I won the last fight clearly, and I’ve just got to go in there and fight and beat her again,” said Taylor. “I'm super to be here on the same card as a legend in the sport. It's absolutely an amazing opportunity that we both have, and I just can't wait to step in there and showcase what I can do again and get another win.”

Amanda Serrano is the first and so far the only six division women's champion. Photo: Esther Lin, MVP

“The pressure's always there where you’re trying to be the face of a sport,” explained Serrano. “There's a lot of us that come together. We made history together. I made history multiple times, and I just have to go out there and make sure that I perform like I did the last time, and women won. I’m going to do what I do best, and I come to fight.”

Lessons Learned From 2022 Taylor vs Serrano Fight

Since 2022, Taylor made a single defense of her unified lightweight titles, then moved up to the super lightweight division to challenge Chantelle Cameron in May 2023. Taylor lost a majority decision to Cameron. The women fought a rematch last November, with Taylor on the winning end of another narrow majority decision.

Serrano returned to her natural weight class, making four successful defenses of her unified featherweight titles against solid opponents, smoking all four on the scorecards.

Serrano moved up to super lightweight to acclimate to the weight class, defeating Stevie Morgan of Tampa, Florida, with a spectacular second-round TKO.

Amanda Serrano found success bullying and backing up Katie Taylor during their first bout at Madison Square Garden. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom Boxing

Serrano is among the best power punchers in women’s boxing. Taylor is true to her double gold medal-winning Olympic roots with impressive tactical skills. However, Taylor can be drawn into a brawl, which proves successful for Cameron.

Serrano is a naturally smaller fighter, so her natural edge over her featherweight opponents is slightly hampered. But it doesn’t change her approach.

Both women are near the end of their careers. At 38, Taylor is showing her age more than Serrano at age 36. We should not expect much to change in their game plans. The southpaw Serrano will press forward, and the skilled Taylor will try to score and move. With two-minute rounds, every move becomes critical.

Serrano succeeded against Taylor in the first fight by going to the body in the middle rounds. She had Taylor hanging on for life in the fifth round, dazed and bloodied on stiff legs. With 20 seconds left, Serrano poured it on. Taylor got out of the round on sheer instinct.

But in coming up two weight divisions to fight Taylor, Serrano underestimated how hard it would be. She continued to press Taylor to the ropes, but the champion landed several body shots and took a risk to trade with Serrano.

This is where Taylor had to decide how badly she wanted to win. Taylor dug down just as Serrano eased off just the slightest bit. It was all the opening Taylor needed for a comeback. Serrano’s punch output dropped, and Taylor gave it everything she had to win rounds down the championship stretch.

With Taylor landing more punches, Serrano lost a grip on her rhythm. Taylor was now in control, and it won her the fight.

We will discover what Amanda Serrano learned from the first ten rounds against Katie Taylor. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom Boxing

What has Serrano learned from the loss? We will find out on Saturday. Serrano will benefit from two factors. First, she has been the busier fighter, facing five opponents to just two for Taylor, including Cameron twice.

Second, Serrano isn’t showing any decline due to aging, wear and tear. There is a truism in boxing about fighters getting older overnight. Taylor looked strong and fit in media workouts this week in Texas, but a show for the cameras isn’t a prizefight under the lights with thousands of screaming fans.

Rematches face the challenge of raised expectations. The first fight between Taylor and Serrano was a cultural, historical, and sporting event. With the rise of popularity and respect for women’s sports, including soccer, basketball, and now combat sports, women’s boxing is on a different level than even 18 months ago. On Friday, it’s simply a championship fight.

Prediction: Revenge for Serrano

Prediction: Amanda Serrano will get her revenge on Friday in Texas. Photo: Esther Lin, MVP

Oddsmakers don’t put much daylight between Taylor and Serrano. Due to her win in the first fight, Taylor is the slight betting favorite (-125), and Serrano is the +120 betting underdog.

Amanda Serrano knows now what it’s like to stand across from Taylor in the ring. She’s had five fights to apply those lessons. She will stand her ground where she couldn’t do so in the first fight due to Taylor’s formidable will.

Serrano also has the benefit of a 12-round championship fight with three-minute rounds. Going the distance gives her the confidence she can stay strong to the final bell in ten rounds at two minutes. She hasn’t lost since the first fight. Taylor can’t say the same.

“Katie’s a warrior,” said Serrano at Wednesday’s final news conference. “She might start off boxing, but once I hit her I know she’s going to come to fight. That’s who Katie is. But it’s going to be a war. The fans are going to be the winners come Friday night.”

It is Serrano’s time. Expect another exciting matchup and another narrow decision. This time, we expect to hear “And the new!” as Serrano becomes an undisputed champion in a second division.