The long-awaited rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano has been added as the co-main event to Jake Paul and Mike Tyson’s showdown in July, organizers confirmed on Tuesday.
With the bout to be contested at 135lbs, it means undisputed lightweight champion Taylor (23-1-0) will put her five world titles on the line against unified featherweight champion Serrano at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 20.
Their rematch will come more than two years after their record-breaking first bout at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, where Taylor won by split decision in one of the greatest fights in boxing history.
“This is the rematch the world has wanted to see and I’m delighted that it’s finally happening,” said Taylor. “The first fight in New York was obviously an epic occasion and it more than lived up to the billing, and I’m sure the rematch will be no different.”
Taylor ‘Delighted’ To Secure Rematch
The first bout was the first time a women’s fight had headlined Madison Square Garden, while also securing both fighters minimum purses of $1 million – another first for female boxing.
Following huge hype and anticipation, the bout was even better than billed. In a thrilling back and forth contest, that saw Taylor produce the higher volume of punches but Serrano land the heavier shots, the Irish woman edged it on the scorecards 96-93, 97-93, 94-96 but it really could have gone either way.
The first bout was also contested at lightweight, so once again Serrano will make the climb up two weight classes and nine pounds to face Taylor for the rematch.
Both fighters, promoters, and organizers had hoped to arrange an immediate rematch, with the plan being Taylor’s homecoming to Dublin. However, an injury to Serrano scuppered those plans.
Since then, Taylor has fought three times, comfortably defending her titles with a wide points win over Karen Elizabeth Carabajal before suffering her first career defeat against Chantelle Cameron via majority decision in May last year. Taylor took her revenge six months later, beating Cameron with another close majority decision.
Serrano Not ‘Leaving It To Judges’
Serrano, meanwhile, returned to featherweight and has successfully defended her belts four times, securing victories over Sarah Mahfoud, Erika Cruz Hernandez, Heather Hardy, and Danila Ramos – all by unanimous decision.
Serrano has been a big advocate of women’s boxing having the option to fight over 12 three-minute rounds – instead of the usual two-minute 10-rounders – but she said a rematch with Taylor would have been the only way she would revert back to 10×2.
“I promised my fans they would see this rematch after we made history at MSG and it feels like a dream come true to know that Katie and I are finally making it happen on the biggest stage possible to show the world what elite women’s boxing is all about,” said Serrano.
“While my focus continues to be on giving women the choice to fight with the same rules as men, I’ve always said that this is the one fight I’d go back to 10×2 for if that’s what Katie wanted. I’m coming for her belts, she wants 10×2, so that’s what we will do. I believe I won our first fight, but I didn’t get the decision, so this time I’m not leaving it to the judges.”
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