AMANDA Serrano has achieved many things in boxing. On Wednesday evening, the multiple-weight world champion added another accomplishment to her resume when she managed to get the usually reserved Katie Taylor to have a little bite.
The punching pair were in New York to promote their third meeting on July 11, televised live on Netflix. Even though Taylor has won two of the previous meetings, they are so well matched that a third instalment is acceptable.
While the same respect remains, there’s a little touch of spite hanging around this one, if their meeting of mics and minds was anything to go by. Serrano used the press conference to bemoan the losses while pulling Katie up on a supposed agreement over rounds.
“She didn’t agree when we went to sign the contract,” said Serrano, who reckons Taylor had previously agreed to fight 12 rounds, at three minutes a session.
Firmly reminding her opponent that she is the woman in the driving seat when it comes to dictating terms, Taylor told Amanda to be grateful for the cheque and stop moaning about previous results.
“I have a long history of big fights against big names and a line of people queuing up to fight me for the payday,” said the Bray boxer.
They first met in Madison Square Garden in April 2022 for all of the lightweight marbles, with Taylor winning a split decision. The rivalry resumed in Texas last November, as Taylor won a unanimous decision by identical scores of 95-94 across the board.
The Irishwoman was deducted a point for headbutting. Serrano wore a head guard for the photographs last night in a subtle protest at Katie’s supposed overactive skull.
All of her championship contests have been fought at a frenetic pace over 10 two-minute sessions—not the 12 three-minute rounds that Amanda wants. Taylor doesn’t think the fans or broadcasters will be asking for that new duration either, given Serrano’s previous performances.
“How many knockouts did you get in your 12 three-minute rounds? Zero. They end up being boring fights and it wasn’t a good advertisement for 12 three-minute rounds for women,” blasted Taylor.
