Katie Taylor Beats Amanda Serrano Via Split Decision to Keep World Boxing Titles

Stephen McCarthy/Getty Images

Katie Taylor survived her toughest challenge yet as a professional boxer, retaining her status as the undisputed women’s lightweight champion with a split-decision victory over Amanda Serrano on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The judges scored the bout 97-93, 94-96, 96-93 in favor of Taylor, who remains undefeated.

The fight was touted as the biggest in women’s boxing history, as Serrano and Taylor were the first women to headline a card at Madison Square Garden. Taylor has dominated at lightweight as both a pro and an amateur, while Serrano has won titles in seven different weight classes, most recently at featherweight.

The battle lived up to the hype. Serrano dominated the middle rounds thanks to her power, coming close to scoring a knockdown in the fifth. Taylor was the better fighter in the early and late goings, using her footwork and feints to make Serrano miss and land punches from difficult angles. 

This is Taylor’s sixth win as undisputed lightweight champion. She first unified the belts in August 2020. For Serrano, it’s the second loss of her career. Her only other defeat came via decision against Frida Wallberg in 2012.

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

Get the best sports content from the web and social in the new B/R app. Get the app and get the game.