Fight of the Century

Women’s Battle of the Century – Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano

By Uppercut Magazine staff

(All photos by JP Yim)

About 51 years ago the Fight of the Century took place at Madison Square Garden. Well, its times for another Fight of the Century in 2022.

Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano a winner of seven weight division titles fights undisputed lightweight world champion Katie Taylor on Saturday April 30. Many are calling it the greatest fight in women’s boxing history. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing and Most Valuable Promotions boxing card

It’s a mega fight.

Back on March 1971, a fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier took place at Madison Square Garden and was dubbed the Fight of the Century before they fired a single blow. After 15 rounds of back-and-forth action, the title aptly fit the clash of heavyweight champions.

Today, a half century later, we have two indomitable women both seeking greatness. The two highly skilled and fearless prizefighters are willing to meet each other in the prize ring for at least $1 million each. No two women ever fought for that much before in history.

Taylor’s trek

Taylor arrived via the Olympics as one of the most decorated European amateur boxers ever. Before entering the professional ranks the Irish boxer captured the gold medal in the 2012 London Olympic games. She was unable to repeat gold in the 2016 Rio Olympic games and soon entered the world of professional boxing.

As a pro her speed, agility and tenacious fighting spirit have zipped her past everyone she’s fought beginning in 2016. Within a year’s span she defeated Nina Meinke for the Anahi Sanchez for the vacant WBA lightweight title.

A year later, Taylor blew by Argentina’s Victoria Bustos by unanimous decision to add the IBF lightweight title to her possession. In 2019, she stopped Brazil’s Rosa Volante in nine rounds to add the WBO lightweight title. Three months later she in the 2019 Fight of the Year, she narrowly defeated Belgium’s Delfine Persoon for the WBC title and undisputed status as the lightweight world champion.

Since unifying all the titles only Natasha Jonas came close to upsetting Taylor’s undefeated record.

Serrano

Brooklyn’s Serrano had a different journey.

Raised in Brooklyn, New York, the southpaw slugger captured her first world title in 2011 when she knocked out Kimberly Connor in the second round to win the IBF super featherweight world title. She had fought two years as a pro before reaching a position to challenge for a world title.

An attempt to unify the super featherweight title against WBC Eva Wallberg was unsuccessful and she lost a disputed decision in April 2012 in Sweden. Serrano never lost again.

In 2014, Serrano accepted a fight in Argentina to vie for the WBO lightweight title against champion Maria Maderna. She won by knockout in the sixth round to add her second division world title.

In 2016, the brunette Puerto Rican dropped down in weight and knocked out viciously Olivia Gerula in one round to grab the vacant WBO featherweight title. It was her third division world championship.

Eight months later Serrano added a fourth weight division world title in knocking out Alexandra Lazar in the first round in a WBO super bantamweight fight. She then unified the super bantamweight division by a hard fought decision win over Mexico’s Yazmin Rivas three months later.

Next, Serrano dropped down yet another weight division and knocked out former world champion Dahianna Santana in the sixth round of a bantamweight clash. It was her fifth division world title.

In 2018, Serrano moved up to super lightweight and defeated Argentina’s Yamila Reynoso for the vacant WBO super lightweight title. This time she won by unanimous decision for her sixth division world title.

Four months after winning the super lightweight title, Serrano dropped down to super flyweight and knocked out Eva Voraberger in the first round to win the vacant WBO world title. It was her seventh division world title. Only Manny Pacquiao and his eight division world titles has more.

Most of the boxing world named her one of the best female fighters pound for pound.

Despite setting a record for winning the most divisional world titles, it was not until she met fellow pound for pound fighter Daniela Bermudez that the entire world see exactly what makes her special. Serrano knocked out Bermudez with a body shot a year ago that sent the boxing world stirring.

Two more victories helped set up Serrano as a serious threat to beat the might Taylor and now the stage is set for two top pound for pound fighters to meet at Madison Square Garden for bragging rights as the best in the business.

Super middleweight title bout

America’s Franchon Crews-Dezurn and Sweden’s Elin Cederroos meet for the undisputed super middleweight world championship. Its been more than two years waiting for them to finally meet.

Crews (7-1) holds the WBC and WBO titles and finally meets Cederroos (8-0) the IBF and WBA titlist in a 10-round match for all the world titles. It should be all action.

A third female bout pits Skye Nicolson (2-0) against Shanecqua Paisley (3-1) in a featherweight bout set for four rounds.

Several other male bouts are planned.