KATIE TAYLOR and Amanda Serrano have already agreed to field 12 three-minute rounds in the event that they struggle a 3rd time.
The rivals have agreed to disagree, nevertheless, concerning the conflict of heads that prompted Serrano’s grotesque gash over her proper eye within the fourth spherical of their rematch Friday evening at AT&T Stadium. Serrano insisted after narrowly shedding a 10-round unanimous choice that Taylor head-butted her on function.
Taylor disputed Serrano’s accusation throughout her post-fight press convention.
“It simply occurs generally whenever you’re combating in opposition to a southpaw, particularly,” Taylor mentioned.
“The fighters go in shut and it simply occurs. It was fully unintentional. They’re calling me a grimy fighter or no matter, however that wasn’t purposely carried out. Clearly, I’m in there combating like she is, and it’s a tough sport, and generally you get head clashes. It’s a must to struggle by way of these issues, and that is the struggle sport.”
Eire’s Taylor, who additionally suffered a reduce over her proper eye, appeared later of their struggle to push her head into Serrano’s reduce, significantly whereas locked in clinches that the undisputed 140-pound champion largely initiated. Referee Jon Schorle deducted a degree from Taylor within the eighth spherical for main along with her head, but Taylor nonetheless received by the identical rating, 95-94, on the playing cards of all three judges – Jeremy Hayes, Nate Palmer and Jesse Reyes.
Serrano’s reduce worsened over the ultimate six-plus rounds of what was one other spectacular slugfest between Taylor and Serrano, this time on the undercard of the closely hyped Jake Paul-Mike Tyson struggle. The size and width of Serrano’s laceration made her efficiency all of the extra spectacular.
Brooklyn’s Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs), who misplaced their first struggle by cut up choice in April 2022 at a sold-out Madison Sq. Backyard, praised Taylor (24-1, 6 KOs) for successful their second showdown. She additionally accused the previous undisputed light-weight champion of utilizing her head as a weapon.
“I feel [it was] 100% [intentional], as a result of she does it in each struggle,” Serrano instructed Netflix’s Ariel Helwani within the ring. “It’s not the primary struggle. It was my first struggle out of 40-something fights, my first reduce ever was with Katie Taylor. Like I mentioned, she did it with Chantelle Cameron and it’s been in different fights that I’ve seen her use her head, soiled.
“However it’s what it’s. I’m a champion. It doesn’t matter what, I’m nonetheless the featherweight champion. I went up three divisions. Hear, I’m pleased with my workforce. I’m tremendous grateful. I’m honoured to be right here. Hear, I’m in Jerry’s World proper now, combating on Netflix. Who knew two ladies would co-headline an awesome struggle like this? I’m on Netflix.”
In a joint press launch with Paul’s MVP Promotions issued Saturday, Netflix estimated “practically 50 million” subscribers watched Taylor-Serrano worldwide. They produced one other spectacular slugfest, however Jordan Maldonado, Serrano’s coach and supervisor, believes it was marred by Taylor’s use of her head.
“If head-butting shouldn’t be included,” Maldonado instructed Helwani when requested a couple of third Taylor-Serrano struggle. “Head-butting shouldn’t be included, and we get a good referee, one which is aware of what he’s doing and is gonna do what he has to do, as a result of whenever you’re getting head-butted repeatedly and the ref is [saying], ‘I’m doing what [I can],’ he didn’t do something. You realize what I’m saying? It was a lotta head-butting. Amanda Serrano has 50 fights. The primary time she ever obtained reduce was the primary struggle with Katie Taylor.
“In the event you have a look at Katie Taylor’s fights, you’ll see lots of her opponents have gone out with grotesque swelling within the head. Have a look at the way in which Chantelle Cameron regarded, cuts of their face. She fought Nina Meinke, stopped the struggle on cuts, head-butts. So, that’s nothing new. That’s what they do, they lead with their head. And Katie’s a good looking individual, however has an especially large head.”
Taylor, 38, retained the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO 140-pound championships. Serrano, 36, nonetheless holds the WBA and WBO featherweight titles.
