ARLINGTON, Texas — In a thrilling match on Friday night, Katie Taylor successfully defended her super lightweight championship against Amanda Serrano, securing a controversial win by unanimous decision. The judges all scored the bout 95-94 in favor of Taylor, which resulted in a mixed reaction from the audience at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium. The event also featured the co-main attraction with Jake Paul facing off against Mike Tyson.
At 38 years old, the Irish fighter Taylor continues to hold the titles in both the super lightweight and lightweight divisions, maintaining her status as the undisputed champion. This victory marks her third consecutive win since suffering her only professional defeat, bringing her record to 24 wins with 6 knockouts.
Serrano, who remained undeterred despite sustaining a significant cut above her left eye in the sixth round, garnered substantial support from the crowd. This following was reminiscent of their initial clash in 2022 when both women made history by headlining a major combat sports event at Madison Square Garden. The 36-year-old Serrano has established herself as a formidable competitor, boasting a record of 47 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, with 31 of her victories coming by way of knockout.
While the bout began at a slower pace compared to their previous encounter in New York, the action intensified after Serrano’s injury. The referee paused the fight in the sixth round to address the cut, but Serrano remained relentless in her attack. As the match approached its final moments, it seemed Serrano had Taylor on the brink, with the excitement building in the crowd.
Notably, Taylor faced a setback in the eighth round when she was penalized for a head-butting incident. This match marked Taylor’s return to the ring after successfully avenging her earlier defeat against Chantelle Cameron, where she took home the undisputed super lightweight title in a rematch held in her native country last year.