By: Sean Crose
They are saying three time’s a allure. That’s been confirmed fallacious repeatedly however there’s little question Amanda Serrano is trying to crown a stellar ring profession by lastly defeating arch rival Katie Taylor Friday night time at Madison Sq. Backyard. These ladies have battled twice earlier than, in 2022, and 2024. Each fights had been so good that Boxing Insider awarded each Struggle of the 12 months. Positive sufficient, the second Taylor-Serrano struggle was so heated at instances that it introduced again recollections of Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s 1985 struggle with Tommy Hearns. That’s no small praise. Right here’s the factor, although: whereas each fights may have gone both method, the victory was awarded to Taylor by the judges on each events.
One of many many questions the struggle world has main into Friday’s excessive profile bout is whether or not or not boxing judges will ever really feel Serrano has carried out properly sufficient to defeat Taylor. The proof suggests the reply is perhaps “no”. This isn’t an indictment on the judges a lot as it’s the subjective nature of judging skilled fights. Judges, like followers and analysts, want some types over others. It’s that easy. And, though not one of the six struggle playing cards handed in for Serrano and Taylor’s earlier battles have been something close to controversial, they’ve nonetheless collectively gone in a single course (Full disclosure: This author is a fan of Taylors, however has felt Serrano ought to have gained each fights).
With that being mentioned, Serrano is at the moment favored to beat Taylor on Friday. Which may be shocking when one appears at how the primary two fights ended. Taylor is 39 years previous, nevertheless. Serrano may not be far behind her at 36, but it surely’s onerous to think about anybody knocking on the door to 40 being nearly as good as they as soon as had been. On prime of that, each womentook quite a lot of put on in tear within the first two battels. Moreover, there’s a perception within the struggle world that Taylor might certainly be slipping a bit. This isn’t to say Taylor can’t placed on the struggle of a lifetime tomorrow night time in New York. It’s merely indicating that betters (for now at the very least) are feeling Taylor might not have what it takes to beat Serrano.
Nonetheless, one is left feeling that, regardless of what the gamblers are saying, Serrano should give a dominant efficiency Friday if she needs the judges to lastly tilt in her course. Neither Serrano nor Taylor are significantly heavy hitters, so a knockout or stoppage isn’t more likely to occur (although one by no means is aware of). To obviously carry out higher than Taylor might could also be a troublesome mountain for Serrano climb – but it surely gained’t be the primary mountain she’s managed to beat.
