WBO, WBA, IBF, WBC lightweight champion Katie Taylor edged Amanda Serrano with a ten round split-decision victory in a sensational fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
It was the toughest fight of Taylor's career. The Olympic gold medal winner appeared to be on the verge of getting stopped in the fifth round.
Taylor did enough to win on two cards with scores of 97-93 and 96-93, and one judge scored it 96-94 for Serrano.
Serrano started start and had Taylor ready to go in the fifth. And then continued to batter her in the sixth. But once the seventh round came, it seemed that Serrano took her foot of the gas and Taylor began to rally with movement, defense and quick combinations.
The high drama will certainly create calls for a rematch in the near future.
Taylor does have a lot of interest in a second fight.
After packing over 19,000 into MSG, Taylor would like to have the rematch in Ireland if possible.
"Absolutely. We have to do this again. It was an absolute war for 10 rounds. I'm grateful to be in this position and sell out Madison Square Garden. Look what we've just done. I said before that when you think Madison Square Garden, you think Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier, but now everyone will be thinking of Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano.
"I knew I was going to have to dig deep and go to the trenches. I have the heart as well as the skill. I knew I was going to be able to pull through. She's a phenomenal fighter. A great, great person. It [would be] a privilege to fight her again."
