Katie Taylor secures stunning Texas triumph in controversial clash with Serrano

“I prepared for that. I don’t care if the commentary team or crowd disagree with the result. The only ones that matter are the judges around the ring.” 

Jeremy Hayes of Canada, Nate Palmer of Indiana and Jese Reyes of Texas declared it 95-94 on all three cards. It would have been 96-94 if not for a point deducted in the second half of the fight. 

Serrano suffered a truly horrific cut during the contest that left her corner seething.

“I think 100% (intentional). She does it in every fight,” protested Serrano afterwards.

“It’s not the first fight. Out of 40-something fights; my first cut ever was with Katie Taylor. Like I said, she did it with Chantelle Cameron and other fights I’ve seen her use her head dirty. It is what it is.” 

A stunning AT&T Stadium closed its retractable roof to create a conducive container. The home of the Dallas Cowboys proved an arena fitting of the moniker: ‘America’s Team.’ It screamed showbiz and glamour, it housed a remarkable number of sunglass-wearing patrons, and it felt almost alien with the upper bleachers seemingly on another planet.

After a week with some worry about the speed of ticket sales, the crowd was encouragingly enormous. At 9.28pm local time, Serrano came into the ring. Her face was beaming. Six minutes later, the defending champion made her entrance to the familiar sound of 'Awake My Soul' by Hillsong Worship. Her face was stoic.

Serrano powered out in a rush, stinging with a straight left. The southpaw had Taylor in trouble by the end of the opening round with a wild overhand left landing hard and true. It prompted the Irish woman to find a cautionary stance, striving to establish her jab.

Both weighed in at an identical 137.4lbs but the longest layoff of her professional career evidently did 38-year-old Taylor no favours. She still seemed slow early in the second, eventually finding lateral movement to carry her towards the third. She clinched her way to a position of control. It didn’t last long.

A vicious exchange saw Serrano cut off the ring and pin her to the ropes. She returned to her corner with a nasty cut on her right brow, but it was the product of a head clash as an unsteady Taylor struggled to find her feet.

This sport has a proud tradition of pitting together appropriate foes. In the buildup to the bout, Taylor was asked about the all-time rivalries and spoke about how Serrano is the right dance partner. 

They are two sides of the ideal matchmaking combination: A boxer and a brawler. Serrano is a volume puncher; Taylor is a technical master. At the halfway mark, the boxer was trying to quench a forest fire of aggression.

The thing about prize fighting is that, even when competitors have a particular preference, at the pinnacle there is a requirement to be able to mix it up. Taylor’s path forward brought her to a new realm of greatness. She did it in familiar fashion. It seemed like finally, she was at the absolute limit. Until she smashed right through it.

“It was a very different fight tonight from the first time,” Taylor said in her press conference.

“I started off a bit slow and I changed it up in the second half of the fight where I just stood there and fought with her. I think I definitely landed the bigger punches tonight. Especially the second half of the fight, that is what actually won me the fight I feel. But another really close fight, two epic fights, two very close decisions. I am just proud to be part of another huge night for women’s boxing.” 

Her obvious ring IQ came to the fore in the latter period with sharp exchanges and holds interrupting the relentless rhythm. A serious stoppage came in the sixth due to the worsening wound on Serrano’s head. The Puerto Rican returned to the corner to consult the doctor where she was asked can she continue.

There is no doubt that collision was accidental, however the Bray bomber bore responsibility for the deteriorating condition of her opponent’s gash. Her tactic of stinging with a sweet left hook was brutally effective.

Before the seventh Serrano’s face was grimacing with pain as her Cutman performed miraculous work. 

What followed was the round of the fight. Taylor took aim for the head and in setting it up, left herself open to a huge right upper hook. The numbers from this showdown were extraordinary. Together in a two-minute spell they landed 89 out of 170 punches thrown.

Then came a contentious juncture. Referee Jon Schorle, having earlier warned Taylor for leading with the head, stood in and harshly docked a point. “You better change something,” he told her at the break while Serrano’s corner protested vehemently.

It was a thrilling conclusion. They stood toe-to-toe as a class Taylor went for broke. She snapped Serrano’s head back, she pinned her to the ropes, she demonstrated incredible heart to swing the tie her way.

Two years on from an immense occasion at Madison Square Garden, these women returned to better it. In doing so they banked a new seven-figure record payday and provided awesome entertainment that was sorely lacking in a shambolic main event. 58-year-old Mike Tyson was comprehensively beaten by Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul across eight two-minute rounds.

For 38-year-old Taylor, the perceived wisdom beforehand had been that a defeat wouldn’t be devastating. 

A tied series could pave the way for a trilogy. Now she has successfully navigated a hostile crowd, while expanding the fanbase to include the millions watching on Netflix. There is enough controversy, currency and intrigue to still set up a third meeting.

“I knew they were obviously complaining about the decision, but I really don’t care,” said Taylor.

“I am standing here as the victor again. I fought her twice. I beat her twice. I really couldn’t care less what is being said about the fight. I am standing here 2-0 against Serrano and I am very happy. If she wants, I have no problem doing it again.”