Katie Taylor digs down deep to edge Amanda Serrano in superfight

The sellout crowd was electric as lightweight world champions Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano threw hands at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City Saturday night.

The question reverberating throughout the arena was who would walk out of the ring with all the championship belts?

The champions battled tooth and nail, but in the end, it was Taylor, railing back from being buzzed to win the fight.

Scores were 96-94 Serrano, 97-93 Taylor, and 96-93 Taylor

In the opening stanza, Serrano, a southpaw, jabbed. Taylor (21-0, 6 KOs) moved and let fly with a combination. Serrano moved forward – throwing heavy shots.

Taylor dodged, feinted and scored, likely banking the round. Taylor stepped in with fast hands - buckling Serrano’s knees. She connected with a straight left.  

In round three, Taylor glided to her left. She tried to first with her blows. Serrano (42-2, 30 KOs) stalked and connected with two left hands. Taylor fired right hands. Serrano scored with another left while Taylor rallied at the bell. Serrano landed a hook to the gut in round four. Taylor fired back – slowing down and standing her ground. Both fighters landed in a very close and competitive fight.

Round five was a war. Both champions fired big shots that landed. Taylor was bleeding and wobbling. The heavy-handed Serrano continued to work. Taylor staggered back to her corner. Serrano had her close to going down on a couple of occasions. Serrano, who moved up in weight, continued to fire away in round six. Bloody but unbowed, Taylor battled back – landing a three-punch combination.

In round seven, Taylor looked to counter. Serrano, likely ahead on the scorecards, jabbed and moved inside – cracking Taylor to the ribs.

Taylor started fast in round eight. Serrano fired a one-two. Taylor connected with a left hook. Taylor continued to dig down deep in round nine.

She connected with a sweeping right. Serrano was missing. Taylor was scoring. Serrano banged to the body. Taylor knocked her back a step with another combination.

The fight had tightened entering the 10th and final round. Serrano upped the ante, Taylor countered. She scored with a left. And a combination. Serrano was also bleeding. Taylor let fly with blows. Serrano fired back, with both landing shots to the bell.

“The biggest fight in female boxing history,” said Taylor. “I had to dig real deep in this fight.”