The highly anticipated third encounter between boxing stalwarts Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano concluded in New York City on Friday night, with Taylor emerging victorious via a majority decision. This win extends Taylor`s perfect record against Serrano to 3-0 and sees her retain her undisputed super lightweight championship status.
Fighting at the iconic Madison Square Garden, the bout was a strategic, closely contested affair, mirroring the competitive nature of their previous meetings. The judges` scorecards reflected the tightness of the contest, with two scoring it 97-93 in favor of Taylor, while the third judge saw it as a 95-95 draw.
In contrast to the explosive pace sometimes seen in their earlier clashes, both fighters appeared to approach this trilogy bout with a degree of caution, focusing on tactical exchanges. This slightly more measured pace arguably played into Taylor`s strengths, allowing her to navigate Serrano`s power and land scoring blows.
Following the announcement of the decision, immediate reactions from across the combat sports world began to surface. The majority decision proved divisive, particularly among professional fighters who watched the event streamed live on Netflix. While Taylor celebrated retaining her belts, a significant portion of the viewing audience, including some fellow athletes, expressed disagreement with the scoring, with comments suggesting the outcome felt unjust to Serrano.
The “robbery” narrative, though subjective and often used hyperbolically in sports, highlights the inherent difficulty in scoring razor-thin professional boxing matches. Even in a contest where the champion was officially declared the winner by two out of three judges, the perception of the fight`s flow and effectiveness of each fighter`s work varied widely among observers.
For Taylor, the victory solidifies her position at the pinnacle of the sport, overcoming a formidable and persistent rival. Her plans for the future, including potential retirement, remain unannounced. For Serrano and her supporters, the outcome is undoubtedly frustrating, leaving the score settled officially but perhaps not in the court of public opinion.
This third meeting will likely be remembered not only for Taylor`s successful title defense but also for the immediate and passionate debate it ignited regarding the scoring criteria in elite-level boxing, underscoring the drama that often surrounds fights left in the hands of the judges.
