Why Katie Taylor was heavily booed in win over Amanda Serrano in stunning rematch

16 Nov 2024, 04:40 by Shane Ireland, Husmukh Kerai, Martin Domin · Wales Online

Katie Taylor retained her world titles after an intense battle with a resilient Amanda Serrano, despite facing boos while exiting the ring. The rematch, which happened two years following their epic first meeting in New York, was part of the undercard for Mike Tyson's fight against Jake Paul on Friday night and did not disappoint in delivering action.

Although Taylor was docked a point for using her head, she emerged victorious by a close margin as the judges scored in her favour, confirming her status as the undisputed super-lightweight champion.

Reflecting on the contentious fight and amidst the audience's discontent, Taylor expressed, "Well, it's obviously hard to score the fight, but I knew it was an absolute slug fest in there, an absolute war," recognising the ferocity of their clash. She continued with praise for her opponent, "Thank God I won this fight, congratulations to Amanda. She's a fantastic fighter. I think we agreed to 12 three-minute rounds in our next fight; the triple is on."

Unfazed by any criticism regarding the outcome, Taylor emphasized, "That's what a boxer does, we train to recover from those moments. Any punch can change a fight in boxing. She's a hard puncher, she's a very tough woman and I prepared for that. I don't care if the commentary team or the crowd disagree with the result. The only ones that matter are the judges around the ring."

Taylor expressed her disagreement with the officials for a point deduction during the match, stating, "I didn't agree with the point deduction. I certainly wasn't fighting dirty. Sometimes it gets dirty in there and you have to prepare for those moments. This is an amazing moment for women's boxing, we put on a show for everybody."

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Serrano made a strong impression right from the start, landing a straight left that had Taylor on the ropes early on. Although taken aback, the champion recovered quickly, only to face a relentless attack from Serrano as the second round got underway.

Serrano showcased her composure as she efficiently chased Taylor across the ring. In the fourth round, Taylor switched tactics, engaging more aggressively, which electrified the 70,000 fans present, reminiscent of the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden.

Taylor finished the round strongly with a series of left hands that gave Serrano pause for thought. The intensity dropped slightly in the fifth round, but Taylor appeared more in control, while Serrano, now injured above her right eye, began to lose her composure.

In the sixth round, the situation worsened for Serrano as the cut above her eye became more severe and visible frustration set in. The ringside doctor checked her condition, yet the bout was allowed to continue, bringing a sense of urgency to Serrano's approach.

Any doubts about the fight living up to its predecessor were quickly put to rest as Serrano fought back fiercely in the seventh round, ramping up the pressure. The Puerto Rican's corner had managed to control the worst of the bleeding as she tried to assert her dominance in the remaining rounds.

Taylor was dealt a significant blow when she was deducted a point in the eighth round for leading with her head, having been warned earlier in the bout. The champion seemed to be targeting Serrano's cut which threatened to reopen.

The rivals were trading blows in sync in the penultimate round, responding to each other's hits instantly and with equal precision. The final round was a spectacle, with neither woman backing down until the final bell, although Taylor appeared to gain momentum in the closing moments.

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