Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano bring trilogy women’s boxing bout to MSG, site of the opener of their first matchup.
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By Katie Mahoney
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15 March 2025

After the nation’s top boxing league opened its doors for the first time in 17 months, the first match of the 2025 season was a spectacle that may be hard to forget.

The hour-and-a-half fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano was scheduled Friday at MSG in Arlington, Maryland, and was broadcasted on ESPN. Taylor, a 23-year-old challenger, came up against the 26-year-old Serrano, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the world heavyweight champion.

The boxing fight began with a 10-minute pre-fight timeout, and when the referee announced the start of the match, the air was thick with anticipation. The crowd around the ring was a mix of reporters, fans, and the fighters themselves, awaiting the inevitable clash.

The opening round was a tense start, as Taylor failed to connect with three of her light punches, while Serrano enjoyed a strong offensive attack. The fight continued to build tension, with Serrano delivering a series of well-received punches and Taylor showing some ferocity in her counterattacks.

After a series of close calls, the fight reached a notable moment, with a series of shots between the two fighters during a brief pause. Taylor attempted to hit her opponent with a series of left and right punches, but Serrano was able to catch her with a counterattack, earning a round by five.

The final round featured moments of tension and emotion, with both fighters exchanging charges and trying to win the fight with one last punch. Taylor's final punch was a powerful one, but Serrano was able to counter with a series of well-aimed shots on the last count.

The fight ended with a score of 10-0 to Taylor, marking a historic victory for Taylor. The match featured a unique fight style, with Taylor taking on a defensive stance and Serrano going in with a more aggressive approach.

The win came on a day that was not expected, as the nation’s top boxing league had been off since the 2023 fight between Daniel Sonny Cruz and Robert Roberts in January. The fight between Cruz and Roberts had been the first heavyweight match in 17 months, and the fights between Taylor and Serrano were the first in over a year.

"Watching the fight itself was really intense. I’m so proud of Katie on what she did," said Taylor after the match. "It’s been a long time since we’ve had a fight like this."

The match also featured a special surprise, as Taylor and Serrano had been scheduled to share a bottle of champagne after the fight, but instead received a bottle of wine, prompting a humorous comment from Serrano. "I don’t know what they were thinking," he said.

Overall, the event was a highlight of the first season of MSG, and the anticipation for future battles between Taylor and Serrano is building. The match is expected to be one of the biggest fights of the year, with more matches scheduled to follow.
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