05 February 2023 , 10:02
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Amanda Serrano defeated Erika Cruz to set up a huge undisputed rematch with previous rival Katie Taylor.
Serrano was previously beaten by Taylor in a huge event last year at Madison Square Garden, where the pair left everything in the ring but she was narrowly outpointed. The Puerto Rican star next stepped up to the plate in another huge undisputed showdown, this time at featherweight where she touched gloves with Cruz.
Despite the showdown being a largely back-and-forth affair, Serrano picked up a comfortable points win with judges scoring the contest at 98-92,98-92, and 97-93 in the Puerto Rican's favour. She was able to navigate the tough test to become undisputed champion, where she celebrated with huge emotion after navigating another tough test.
Amanda Serrano will face Katie Taylor in Dublin on May 20 (JASON SZENES/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Just minutes after celebrating her tough day in the ring, her former rival Taylor was brought into the ring and the second meeting was officially announced for Dublin on May 20. Serrano is excited for the fight and believes that this spectacle will outdo their thrilling clash last time out.
“She’s a Mexican champion [Cruz],” Serrano said in the ring after her win. “And we knew that, and I said it from the very beginning. I knew she wasn’t just gonna let me take her belt. She worked hard for this, I worked hard for mine. And that’s what we expected, that’s what we trained for. But I wouldn’t expect any less than that.
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“You know, Katie [Taylor is a true champion. And she came here to New York and [we] fulfilled both of our dreams fighting each other. Now she deserves to fight in Ireland. And it’s gonna be a bigger and better fight over there.” Serrano will return to lightweight where she is less comfortable but put on a huge performance last year.
Who will win the second meeting- Katie Taylor or Amanda Serrano? Let us know in the comments section below
Serrano was narrowly on the losing end of the decision despite promoter Jake Paul insisting she won the fight, after the underdog managed to severely rock Taylor who was forced to dig deeper than ever. The Irish champion is relishing the opportunity to dust-up again and has revealed she was cheering for her long-term foe from ringside against Cruz.
“My whole team was cheering [Serrano] on because we want this fight, undisputed champion versus undisputed champion,” Taylor said after Serrano’s win. "The last fight was an epic fight, and I think the next one is gonna be exactly the same. Well, this is still the biggest fight in women’s boxing. And I only want the biggest fights. Yeah, this is exactly what I want.”