ARLINGTON, Texas — Katie Taylor survived another onslaught by Amanda Serrano on Friday night.
The tough Irishwoman withstood several tenuous sequences, as well as a point deduction for leading with her head, countered sharply and edged Serrano by one point on all three scorecards to win their 10-round rematch on the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul undercard at AT&T Stadium. Serrano bravely, ferociously fought through a grotesque cut over her right eye for six-plus rounds and seemed stunned when it was announced that the seven-division champion from Brooklyn lost 95-94 on the cards of judges Jeremy Hayes, Nate Palmer and Jesse Reyes. Many in attendance gasped at the decision and booed during Taylor’s in-ring, post-fight interview.
Another debatable result notwithstanding, Serrano, 36, and Taylor, 38, produced a second spectacular slugfest before an enormous crowd at the home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys. Taylor won their first fantastic fight by split decision in April 2022 at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in New York.
Taylor retained the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO 140-pound titles Friday night that she won from England’s Chantelle Cameron in her previous fight, which took place Nov. 25, 2023, at 3Arena in Dublin. Cameron topped Taylor by majority decision in Taylor’s previous appearance, a 10-rounder six months earlier at 3Arena.
Serrano, who moved up three weight classes for this rematch, has lost only two narrow decisions to Taylor over the past 12 years.
Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs) and Taylor (24-1, 6 KOs) fought Friday night as if they knew their fight could be on the table at the start of the 10th round. They traded, but Serrano seemed to stagger Taylor, who was exhausted and tried to hold the strong southpaw.
Taylor rallied toward the end of the 10th round and hit Serrano with several hard rights.
A bloodied, fatigued Serrano slowed down during the ninth round. Taylor took advantage of her opponent’s work rate and consistently connected with effective punches in those two minutes.
Serrano sought a knockout at the start of the eighth round and unloaded power shots that put Taylor on her back foot. Referee Jon Schorle warned Taylor for leading with her head, directly into that huge cut around Serrano’s right eye, with just under 1:10 on the clock in the eighth round.
Just before the end of the eighth round, Schorle deducted a point from Taylor for intentionally pushing her head into Serrano’s cut.
Serrano and Taylor furiously traded power punches in the first 30 seconds of the seventh round. The action intensified again about 45 seconds later, which drew loud applause from the fans.
Taylor effectively countered Serrano by stepping back and landing right hands in the sixth round. Continuous clashes of heads worsened a grotesque gash over Serrano’s right eye, and Schorle called for a brief break with just over a minute to go in the sixth round, so that a ringside doctor could examine it.
Serrano stepped back and pawed at that cut before Schorle temporarily halted the action.
Schorle warned Taylor for holding during the fifth round. Serrano was the aggressor throughout those two minutes and landed the harder punches.
Serrano tattooed Taylor in exciting exchanges that made the crowd roar during the first minute of the fourth round. Taylor tried to hold to smother Serrano, but she also caught Serrano with two hard left hands in the final 30 seconds of the fourth round.
Serrano suffered a cut over her right eye during the fourth round as well, which was caused by a clash of heads.
A more active, accurate Taylor was the more effective fighter during the third round. Serrano’s pressure was negated in those two minutes by Taylor’s precise punching and ability to quickly step out of Serrano’s punching range.
Taylor took advantage of Serrano coming forward without moving her head in the opening minute of the second round, when Taylor landed various rights and lefts. Another stiff left from Serrano moved Taylor backward just before the second round concluded, though.
Serrano buzzed Taylor and landed an array of power punches during the fifth round of their brutal battle two-and-a-half years ago. An aggressive Serrano attempted to finish her off, yet the resolute Taylor took Serrano’s flushest punches, regained her senses, landed plenty of her own power punches during the final five rounds and won a split decision to retain her IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO lightweight titles.
In that first fight, judges Guido Cavalleri (96-93) and Glenn Feldman (97-93) scored the fantastic bout for Taylor. Judge Benoit Roussel scored Serrano the winner, 96-94.
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