Puerto Rican Amanda Serrano battered Ireland’s Katie Taylor in a savage fifth round, but the lightweight world champion rallied amazingly to dominate the second half of the fight and the judges rewarded her with a controversial split decision the night of the fight. Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
After the long-awaited fight went to the ballots after a sensational battle of 10 rounds, the judges scored the suit 97-93, 94-96 Y 96-93 for the Irish of 35 years, who outlasted his most difficult opponent. Serrano did not disappoint anyone, much less the Puerto Ricans, to whom he had dedicated the lawsuit.
In that formidable round 5 for Serrano, the Puerto Rican connected 44 of 114 hits thrown, while Taylor only hit 14 of 44 according to DAZN statistics. The portrait of Serrano’s aggressiveness and strength was the bloodied face of the world champion, who at times staggered in the ring.
However, Taylor (14-0) recovered in a surprising way in a hard-fought sixth round in which Serrano kept hitting. The Irishwoman then seemed to dominate the next three rounds, with increased aggressiveness and volume of punches. Serrano, who had asserted his greatest punch, conceded too much in that section.
The historic battle of million dollars per fighter ended with an epic round 10 in which both connected numerous power shots. Serrano (44-2-1) felt the urge to win the round and maybe he did, but he didn’t. clearly.
With blood dripping from both faces, the two living legends briefly embraced after the final bell while they were applauded by the Garden. The contest was so good that even a boxing star like Ryan García surrendered to the warriors and confessed to having seen one of the best fights of his life.
After the judges’ decision was made known, which made the Irish fans explode in the arena, both fighters and their representatives verbally agreed to a rematch, and there was talk of taking it this time to Ireland.
Katie Taylor has now defeated the two Serrano sisters: Cindy and now Amanda, who walked to the ring to the rhythm of the musical theme ‘Pepas’. The Puerto Rican fighter from Brooklyn, despite falling, left the ring enhanced by a brave and spectacular performance.