It will be a tough task now for Katie Taylor to outdo this Texas triumph

In the aftermath of a shambolic main event featuring YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and 58-year-old Mike Tyson, journalists were led from the field in the Dallas Cowboys’ home to the press room. 

Along the tunnelled way they met a belligerent security guard who seemingly had his colours mixed up. He raged at the blue-wearing lanyards in a controlled access zone, maddening even more when informed that they were actually in the correct area.

Eventually, the media reps were able to bypass him with a sharp exchange. What they encountered in the press conference was a worse wrath. 

The decree that only Katie Taylor would be permitted on stage to talk to the media was not well received. 

Long-time manager Brian Peters met it head-on: “Are you joking? Are you out of your mind? Everyone else gets three up. Don’t be acting the shit. Three people go up or not at all.” 

Three went up and lay six golden belts on the table in front of them.

The battle was part of a wider war between both camps. One poor foot soldier took the brunt. Promoter Eddie Hearn has an ongoing legal dispute with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. 

Matchroom had no part to play in Friday’s event, and Hearn had difficulty getting access all week. 

There were pointed celebrations in the ring as all three scorecards went Taylor’s way for a successful defence of her super-lightweight belts. Think Emmanuel Adebayor versus Arsenal, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian playing the part of upset fan.

This context matters when it comes to considering Taylor’s future. Together she and Amanda Serrano injected pride into prize fighting before Tyson and Paul later disgraced it.

Driven by heart as big as the closed-roof arena, the rematch moved the crowd of 70,000 attendees and millions streaming around the globe in an acute way. It was a skilful and savage scrap. 20 minutes of absolute punishment. 

A crushed Serrano raged against Taylor’s use of the head post-fight. She would later row back those comments, taking to social media to explain she should never have suggested it was intentional.

The champion for her part was spent. She mimicked Serrano for a moment after the final bell and held a victorious hand aloft but her face was a mix of blood and sweat, welts and worry. Even when her trainer Ross Enamait urged her to raise her arm again, she could only sustain it for a moment. Every drop had been poured into a thrilling contest.

All of the controversy will play a part in what comes next. It was in the fourth round when a clash of heads produced a truly horrific cut on the Puerto Rican’s brow that left her corner seething. In the sixth, a stinging hook forced referee Jon Schorle to temporarily halt proceedings and bring in the doctor. Two rounds later, he harshly docked a point from the Irishwoman.

That penalty, combined with the fact that the challenger outpunched Taylor left the Serrano-sympathetic bleachers furious when it was confirmed judges Jeremy Hayes (Canada), Nate Palmer (Indiana) and Jess Reyes (Texas) all scored the contest 95-94. Boos bounced around the dome.

Out in the scattered wildlands of the internet, the debate was dense. Greats of the sport, like Claressa Shields, Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson, did come to Taylor’s defence. Not that it bothered her either way.

“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.” 

Serrano won round 1 and 8 on every card. In the end, she wasn’t rewarded for her activity. Taylor’s ring craft and classier combinations earned a close triumph. It took everything she had. “And still,” demanded it all.

The 38-year-old has developed an inspiring capability for this sort of resolve. Ever since she conquered a fifth UK city with a win over Firuza Sharipova in 2021, her historic career has managed to keep ascending to a greater level.

The first Serrano showdown at the iconic Madison Square Garden was legendary. Then came a title defence, a homecoming that once seemed unimaginable and a homecoming revenge mission that looked impossible. Each triumph is labelled the greatest victory of her career and each time it is true.

Immediate soundings suggest a trilogy is in the works. This is entirely understandable. It carries enough intrigue, currency and controversy to sell big and top a bill. There were even hints of expanding to make it three-minute rounds. Both banked a seven-figure record payday in Texas.

But as we saw post-fight, there would be bother around it too. Hearn’s opening speech to the media in the early hours of Saturday morning ran to 215 words, over sixty seconds of charting Taylor’s trajectory from an amateur to the Olympics and through the pros. “Thank you,” she whispered to him gently as he finished.

Soon after Taylor was asked if it was true they had agreed a trilogy already. “No. No,” stressed Hearn in a second. They endured plenty of hassle dealing with that camp and they’ve beaten them twice. Chantelle Cameron is still pushing for another chance as well. “A score to settle,” she said on Instagram last weekend. There are also complications there.

The former undisputed light-welterweight champion was released from her contract with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in the aftermath of that Dublin defeat. She has since joined rival Frank Warren.

All of the talk and repetitive questions about retirement drive Taylor demented. She already knows this can’t last forever. 

This week in Stateside she seemed more reflective than previous, thanking supporters for their backing since day one and becoming emotional when asked about her mother’s constant presence by her side.

Two blockbuster fights are accessible should this extraordinary journey continue. However, that road is far from smooth. Hearn has been able to make surprising fights recently as part of Saudi Arabia's drive into boxing. 

The nation hosted its first-ever women's world title fight last October. How would it go down if Taylor became part of that?

There is one all-time dream that looms large, but the most recent Croke Park dealings would indicate that ambition won’t be fulfilled. Even if Taylor’s unprecedented exploits have shown you should never write her off.