Totemic Taylor cements legacy with trilogy triumph over Serrano at the Garden

The iconic Irish champion faced another historic challenge in New York on Friday and conquered it. It doesn’t matter what comes next — Taylor has done it all.

HUNTING HISTORY: Katie Taylor, left, and Amanda Serrano during their undisputed super lightweight championship fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, USA. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The breadth of Katie Taylor’s storied reign stretched to new heights on Friday night as she conquered yet another summit. In the middle of boxing’s Mecca, she edged Amanda Serrano for a third time on a 95-95, 97-93 and 97-93 scorecard to retain her undisputed super lightweight crown and further cement her legend.

There was a suffocating heat hovering over New York on Friday and Taylor had to navigate a pressure cooker inside the city’s iconic Madison Square Garden to defend her titles. Across three bouts, the rivals have now delivered a combined hour of ferocious combat. Across three bouts, Taylor was better.

KATIE TAYLOR REMAINS THE UNDISPUTED SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION BY MAJORITY DECISION #TaylorSerrano pic.twitter.com/Ei9DnOjmTE

— Netflix (@netflix) July 12, 2025

All the raw ingredients for another magnificent night of prize fighting materialised. An all-women’s card produced thrills and TKOs and a helpful dose of controversy as it built towards a tense crescendo. Vendors paraded the aisles with tubs of popcorn on their heads, a proud tricolour hung from the bridge at the top of the bleachers, just beneath the banner that celebrated Billy Joel’s record-breaking MSG residency of 104-consecutive monthly shows.

Here was a fitting arena for Taylor to showcase the fighting heart that has been central to a remarkable career. A flame that was always burning, since the world's been turnin’.

It wasn’t until 11.30pm local time that the announcer confirmed a sellout and Serrano started her walk to the red corner of the ring. The defending champion came after to the soundtrack of Even Though I Walk. Such a lengthy wait for the main event resulted in a wondrous concoction of nervous energy and excitement and Puerto Rican meets Irish giddiness.

Finally, the bell sounded at quarter to midnight and they became reacquainted on the square white canvas. The first round was slow and uneventful. Any fear that the referee would look to stamp his authority on this contest earlier after the previous controversial incidents proved unfounded. He was hardly necessary at all.

Serrano stepped it up with a straight right jab in a bid to walk her old foe down. A wild left drew the first merited cheer from her fervent followers. The southpaw planted herself in centre ring, while wary of the Irish woman’s slick movement and fast hands. A swift exiting hook proved difficult to counter, although Taylor did remain calm throughout.

BEST OF ENEMIES: Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano after the fight. Pic: INPHO/Gary Carr

The Fields of Athenry started to sound during the fourth as Serrano turned her attention to the body. Evidently, her strategy had shifted from the previous full-throttle assaults to a more refined attempt to grind her older opponent down. The challenge was catching Taylor in the first place. It was simply another reminder of an obvious reality: Taylor is a tier above the rest. A lead left and flurry gave the Bray boxer an edge as they headed towards the second half.

Serrano stayed busy, briefly pinning Taylor to the corner in the sixth. It was here where the first head clash of this stanza occurred. The Real Deal’s three-punch combinations saw her hurtle towards an unavoidable collision.

There are many reasons why this fight took place including another seven-figure payday for both the protagonists, but one problem was the fact there was no more room for surprises. Each camp knows everything about the other. Even as they started to let their hands go, it was agonisingly close.

Heading into the final two rounds, Taylor’s trainer Ross Enamait told her straight: “This is a close fight. You have to pick it up now. You got to go on the front foot a little bit.” Message received. She took the lead, dictated the pace and picked Serrano off with a sweet lead right hand. In the final round, one fighter found the target with a swinging left hook. One swiped and missed.

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano complete their THIRTIETH ROUND in the ring together — closing out an historic boxing trilogy. #TaylorSerrano pic.twitter.com/2WRMFpnk1t

— Netflix (@netflix) July 12, 2025

“I thought I boxed very smart and very well,” said Taylor post-fight. “She wasn’t catching me with much tonight. But it is always a very close contest with myself and Amanda. Sometimes it is hard to tell after each round. I just thank god my hand was raised, 3-0.” In the immediate aftermath, she was asked if she would continue to fight.

“I don’t know. I just don’t want to fight Amanda Serrano again. She punches too hard.” 

Yet she came through it. The champion faced another historic challenge and conquered it. It doesn’t matter what comes next. She has done it all.