Women’s Awards 2024: Taylor Serrano II Is Fight of the Year

Expectations were high for the rematch in November between pound-for-pound stars Katie Taylor of Ireland and Amanda Serrano. It seemed impossible for the pair to give fans a second performance that would live up to their 2022 fight in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, a pivotal moment for women’s professional boxing.

With a world-record audience for a women’s sporting event watching in awe, Taylor of Ireland (24-1, 6 KOs) and Serrano of Puerto Rico (47-3-1, 31 KOs) battled in yet another close fight for ten two-minute rounds with the undisputed super lightweight championship at stake at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in the co-main event for the Netflix Paul vs. Tyson event.

Amanda Serrano believed she won the fight, and so did many of the fans present. Photo: Netflix

It was intense. It was bloody. It was action-packed. And as in their first fight, the two were evenly matched, and scorecards were razor-thin down to the final bell. As she did in the first fight, Taylor won by narrow scores of 95-94 on all three cards. Again, as in the first fight, numerous observers believed Serrano won.

Taylor and Serrano put on a brilliant display of skill, determination, and heart as the crowd roared for both athletes. Just as their first fight won multiple honors, including Fight of the Year for 2022, Taylor Serrano II is our choice for Women’s Fight of the Year.

Taylor Serrano II Sets Record For Women’s Sporting Event Audience

Katie Taylor won her long awaited rematch against Amanda Serrano in a thrilling fight. Photo: Netflix

With an estimated 74 million live viewers globally, Taylor Serrano II is the most-watched professional women’s sports event in American history, a fitting tribute to two of the most accomplished women in professional boxing.

Viewers, many who were seeing a women’s pro fight for the first time, were treated to one of the most brutally beautiful boxing matches in modern history. As she often does, Serrano took control early, displaying the power punching skill that makes her fan-friendly and among the highest percentage knockout punchers in boxing.

Taylor fought her way into the fight, demonstrating the skills that won her Olympic gold, and the chin and fortitude that keeps her competitive. Just as one woman looked to pull away, her opponent got back into the bout.

Amanda Serrano wasn’t going to let a cut stop her quest to beat Katie Taylor in their rematch. Photo: Ed Mulholland

In the eighth round, Serrano suffered a wicked cut over her right eye, deemed a deliberate headbutt after being warned several times by referee Jon Schorle.

Schorle deducted a point from Taylor leading all three judges to score the round 10-8 in Serrano’s favor. It seemed the outcome was in Serrano’s hands, but there were doubts she could finish the fight given the serious cut. Nevertheless, Serrano soldiered on to the amazement and admiration of the fans.

In the final round, Taylor landed a right and left, but Serrano took control. Taylor took a heavy body shot but responded with a powerful counter that rocked the ring. It seemed with the point deduction, Serrano had done enough. But it was Taylor whose hand was raised.

In the fight’s immediate aftermath, Serrano, her trainer, and uncle Jesse Maldonado raged over the outcome

. Later, Serrano was gracious in defeat toward a woman she considered a friend.

Taylor Serrano 3 Ahead In 2025?

Writing on X/Twitter, Serrano said, “Tempers are flared when you’re in the heat of battle, and you say things you shouldn’t say. I’m not one to ever disrespect an opponent and these were never my intentions to Katie. She and I are cool outside the ring and the best dance partners in the ring.

“In no way should I ever had said she did it purposely, it’s her style that makes for them. I’m not perfect, and though I try my hardest to be the nicest person I can be, I’m human, and being emotionally hurt can sometimes misguide you in what you say,” added Serrano.

“I’m ok, I’m heathy a bit bruised and cut but still blessed beyond belief. We both came out with our health intact, and that’s what I prayed for. Whenever our teams can agree on a trilogy, I’ll be ready. I hope you guys all enjoyed women’s boxing at its highest level.”

Congratulations to Serrano and Taylor as the recipients of our Women’s Fight of the Year for 2024.

Fighter and Knockout of the Year: Gabriela Fundora

Gabriela Fundora punished Gabriela Alaniz with combination punching and hard right and left hooks. Photo: Cris Esqueda, Golden Boy Boxing

Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (15-0, 7 KOs) achieved her dream in 2024 of becoming the youngest unified, undisputed champion in boxing.

Fundora added the WBC/WBO/WBA and Ring Magazine titles to her IBF belt with a seventh-round TKO win over outgunned Gabriela Alaniz of Argentina (15-2, 6 KOs) on November 1 in Las Vegas. Fundora surpassed Devin Haney at 22 years and 219 days old. Haney held the previous record at 23 years and 220 days old.

For her accomplishment with a knockout win, Fundora is our Women’s Fighter of the Year.

Supported by her father and trainer, Freddy Fundora Junior, and her brother, current WBC and WBO world super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora, working her corner, it was a win for the entire Fundora team.

Fundora boxed Alaniz with a high work rate to tire her out in the early rounds and then pounced. The plan worked to perfection. Alaniz is a volume puncher, and she was willing to trade shots to land her own.

Fundora landed a hard body shot worth of Gennadiy Golovkin in the sixth round, among her boxing role models. “I actually heard Bernard (Hopkins) say, ‘Throw to the body, throw the left upper!’ I told my dad back in the corner she slowed down with the body.”

The elder Fundora agreed. Gabriela Fundora went hunting for the knockout she wanted in the seventh round and scored a knockdown midway into round seven with a three punch left-right-left combination.

Alaniz beat the count. With 40 seconds left, could Fundora close the show? She could. Ten seconds after Alaniz hit the canvas the first time, Fundora landed a hard left hook, spinning Alaniz over face down. Alaniz bravely made it to her feet, but her corner threw in the towel.

More divisions to conquer for Gabriela Fundora in the future? Photo: Cris Esqueda, Golden Boy Boxing

Although she’s among the best power punchers in women’s boxing, she showed her boxing skills. “There are a lot of people who say I don’t know how to box. I think we proved it. We got her a little bit tired so in the later rounds, that punch came out beautiful. I told my dad, this is the one punch I want to get her knocked out with, and it was.”

Fundora understands how important knockout wins are because they are crowd-pleasers. “I think everyone enjoys a knockout. I wouldn’t watch women’s boxing if there weren’t any knockouts, and that’s what we delivered today,” said Fundora of her win.

Tall like her brother Sebastian at 5-foot-9, Fundora has the potential to move up multiple divisions but says she can make light flyweight at 108 pounds. Without a doubt, Fundora is on track to become a multi-division champion with all the time in the world to make it happen.

Fundora’s rise couldn’t come at a better time, with women’s boxing enjoying unprecedented attention and prominence. It’s largely due to fighters like Fundora, Amanda Serrano, and Katie Taylor, who understand it’s also vital to entertain and win.

Knockout Honorable Mentions: Claressa Shields and Lauren Price

Claressa Shields of Flint, Michigan (15-0, 3 KOs) added a heavyweight belt to her collection with a second-round TKO victory over a game but outclassed Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse of Canada (7-2, 2 KOs).

Shields had a banner year, including the Christmas Day debut of “The Fire Inside,” a feature film about her early years in boxing. See Shields’ red carpet interview at the Los Angeles debut.

Shields will defend her title on Sunday, February 2 in Flint, Michigan against Danielle Perkins of Houston (5-0, 2 KOs) at Dort Federal Event Center. The Salita Promotions card will be broadcast on DAZN in both the United States and the UK.

Shields’ biggest challenge in 2025 is finding opponents worthy of her in boxing. She will likely pursue opportunities in mixed martial arts, where the field is bigger and she’s still developing those specific skills.

WBA and Ring Magazine Welterweight champion Lauren Price of Wales (8-0, 2 KOs) blasted Bexcy Mateus of Colombia (7-1, 6 KOs) with three knockdowns, the third time sealing a knockout win in round three of their fight just two weeks ago in Liverpool.

Price, the Tokyo middleweight Olympic gold medalist, landed a two-punch combination that stunned Mateus, who froze out cold on her feet along the ropes. Price followed up with a left cross rocket that sent Mateus to the canvas in devastating fashion, and the referee rushed in to stop the fight.

Lauren Price and Natasha Jonas will face each other on March 7 in a fight for the undisputed super welterweight championship. Photo: Boxxer

Price will take on unified welterweight champion Natasha Jonas of England (16-2, 9 KOs) for the undisputed championship on March 7 in Liverpool, England.