There’s an old saying, ‘Third time is a charm!’ Will this finally be Amanda ‘The Real Deal’ Serrano’s victory come Friday night at Madison Square Garden over Netflix against IBF, WBC, WBO World Super Lightweight champion Katie Taylor?
The former IBO and WBO World Featherweight champion has lost at lightweight and super lightweight to Taylor, and in having a third opportunity, feels this will be her third time and a victory for her.
In their second meeting last November, all three judges scored 95-94 for Taylor, who lost a point due to a head butting in round eight.
The 39-year-old Taylor and the 36-year-old Serrano know each other very well. In April of 2022 Taylor won by split decision in defending her IBF, WBC, WBO World Lightweight titles at Madison Square Garden against Serrano.
Eight months before this, Serrano had defended her IBO, WBC, and WBO titles, weighing 124 in August of 2021, defeating Yamileth ‘Yeimi’ Mercado, who will be on this Friday’s card against IBF, WBO, and IBO Super Bantamweight champion Ellie Scotney in a unified title bout, with Mercado being WBC champion.
After defeating Mercado, Serrano in a non-title bout in December of 2021, defeated Miriam Gutierrez of Spain, who had lost to Taylor two fights previously. Serrano weighed 139 ¼, for that bout, jumping some fifteen pounds, losing a split decision to Taylor.
Come Friday, Taylor, 24-1 with 6 stoppages and Serrano, 47-3-1 with 31 stoppages, once again will be fighting for Taylor’s super lightweight titles. Serrano had a limited amateur career, winning the New York State and New York Empire State titles. Taylor, on the other hand, was 170-10-1 in the amateurs and the 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist, losing in the second round of the 2016 Olympics after getting a bye in the first round.
Taylor’s only loss was to Chantelle ‘El Capo’ Cameron in May of 2023, winning the rematch six months later with both fights in Dublin, Ireland, ending in majority decisions.
Serrano’s other loss was to Taylor was to Sweden’s Frida ‘Golden Girl’ Wallberg, who was stopped in her next fight and retired. Serrano avenged her draw to Ela ‘Bam Bam’ Nunez, whom she defeated three fights later.
Will this be Serrano’s time for victory or the favorite Taylor’s defeating her a third time? This will be Taylor’s eighteenth title fight. She has fought in the USA six times, and I met her in Philadelphia in March of 2019 when she defeated previously unbeaten Rose Volante of Brazil, who retired with a 15-1 record in 2020.
Taylor was super nice to talk to and nice enough to have a picture with me. Not known for her power, with only 6 stoppages, she is rarely in a bad fight. On the other hand, Serrano, with 31 stoppages, is known for her power and will have a puncher’s chance. Fan’s will be looking forward to this one cheering their hometown favorite Serrano on.