Katie Taylor is less than two weeks out from the perhaps the biggest fight in women’s boxing history when she faces Amanda Serrano for the undisputed lightweight titles at Madison Square Garden. As the event nears, Taylor is convinced the matchup will go down as a legendary battle on the level of the best ever seen at Madison Square Garden.
Taylor, who’ll be defending her undisputed lightweight titles against Serrano on April 30, believes the fight’s intrigue stems from their respective years of dominance. Taylor is undefeated (20-0, 6 KOs) and has made 14 successful title defenses (six of them being the undisputed title). Serrano, since losing her lone bout 10 years ago, has made six title defenses over three different weight classes. When reflecting on which historic clash this fight could resemble, she cites Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s first two grudge match encounters at the Garden in 1971 and 1974.
“This fight is at Madison Square Garden, the most iconic venue in boxing. The Mecca of boxing, really,” said Taylor.” You think of Madison Square Garden, and you think the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier these kinds of fights.
“It’s definitely a 50-50 fight. I think that a lot of people will have me, and a lot of people will have her before the fight. I love being involved in these kinds of fights.
“This fight is genuinely the biggest fight in boxing as a whole right now!
“It’s years and years later we’re still talking Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier kind of fights. I think years and years later from this fight people are still going to be talking about Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano.”
Although aware the winner will be bombarded with new media and public attention as the face of women’s boxing, the private Taylor brushes it off as an afterthought to her sole goal.
“I don’t grave the attention or crave the media attention,” said Taylor. “I don’t want to be famous; I just want to be the best boxer in the world.
“I’m also very grateful for the women that went before me – the likes of Christy Martin and Deirdre Gogarty, Lucia Rijker, Laila Ali who were pioneers in their sport. I don’t think that I’d be in the position I’m in today if it wasn’t for all those girls who went before me. I’m obviously very grateful for those who went before me.”
Taylor vs. Serrano will air live on DAZN with supporting bouts including Jessie Vargas vs. Liam Smith and Franchon Crews-Dezurn vs. Elin Cederroos.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 