'We're history makers forever' - Triumphant Taylor celebrates another epic night

The Bray boxer was cagey when asked if Friday night's third victory over Amanda Serrano will be her last fight as a pro but she's certainly seen enough of her Puerto Rican rival

HONOURING THE HEROES: Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano after Friday night's fight in New York. Pic:INPHO/Gary Carr

Katie Taylor was in no rush to reveal whether her masterclass win over Amanda Serrano will be the last bout of her historic career. It will however be the last time she faces her great Puerto Rican rival. 

In front of a raucous Friday night sell-out at Madison Square Garden, the Bray boxer put in a performance which was a hark back to her dominant amateur days as she once again defeated Serrano to run the trilogy record to 3-0 in her favour. This majority decision win had come in much more controlled and classy fashion to the two chaotic victories in her earlier meetings with Serrano. 

Afterwards, the undisputed super middleweight champion caught her breath and first paid tribute to the rival who she has shared 30 utterly engaging rounds of boxing with.

“I just want to thank Amanda Serrano. What an amazing fighter. We made history again. Three times. It’s such a historic fight and such a privilege to share the ring with her. We’re history makers forever. I’m so happy about that," Taylor told Netflix interviewer Ariel Helwani minutes after she had her hand raised after two judges scored the bout 97-93 in her favour, the third calling this much cagier affair a draw.  

“Yeah I obviously thought I had done enough," insisted Taylor who ran her professional record to 25-1 with victory. "I thought I was boxing very smart and very well. She wasn’t catching me with much tonight. But it’s always a very, very close contest between myself and Amanda. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who has won each round but I just thank god that my hand was raised and I’m 3-0.

“I was obviously planning to come in here and fight disciplined and smart. I was planning to do it the other two times as well but it just didn’t work out like that. Thankfully I was able to execute the game plan very well, move my feet, don’t let her set her feet. That was what I was trying to do. I just have a huge, tonne of respect for Amanda. What a warrior."

Taylor was roared on by a huge swell of Irish support at the Mecca of New York sports and an arena which is the most storied in the fight game. 

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me," she said after raising the Tricolour in victory. "People are spending their hard-earned money to come over and support me. I just love ye, I love my country. Every time I step in here I represent my country, represent every single one of you guys. I thank you so much.”

Helwani turned to Serrano, who had seen her very different tactical approach to such a vexing challenge end the same way all over again — a narrow defeat but a defeat nonetheless. 

"Listen I tried something different. It was all about working smarter, not harder," said Serrano, who landed exactly the same number of punches as Taylor but who was far less efficient in doing so. "I tried to keep my distance and not go in there and fight with her because apparently it didn’t work the first two fights. 

"So I was trying to stick with the long punches, the one-twos and I guess it just wasn’t enough. One judge saw it even. I got a couple of rounds but honestly I don’t know. I’ll just have to go back and see it. My team said I won. Obviously I will go with what my team tells me."
 Serrano then saluted Taylor as the pair embraced in the ring and celebrated another historic night for the women's side of the sport. Giving the last word to the victor and the person who has done the most to transform women's boxing, Helwani asked Taylor if this would prove to be her final night in the ring.

“I don’t know," smiled Taylor, who turned 39 earlier this month. "I just don’t want to fight Amanda Serrano again. She punches too hard!”