Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano will make history on April 30th as the first Women’s bout to headline at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The fight will be televised live around the world but if you want to be there the tickets go on sale next Friday, February 4th, starting at $56.
Taylor is unbeaten in her 20 fight professional career, with six knock-outs and puts all the Lightweight belts on the line for the sixth time since winning them in June 2019 against Delfine Persoon. A rematch with the Belgian was followed by wins against Miriam Gutierrez, Natasha Jonas, Jennifer Han and Firuza Sharipova.
After every one, the question loomed over whether the two best in the professional world would come together. Now they will.
Puerto Rican Serrano has 30 knockouts in her 42 win pro career and has been a world champion at no fewer than seven different weights.
Champion
The Brooklyn based champion dominated Yamileth Mercado in August and overpowered Miriam Gutierrez in two separate cards co-starring Jake Paul.
She was the 2021 Female Fighter of the Year for DAZN, ESPN and WBC among others, an accolade that Taylor won in 2020.
“This is a fight I’ve wanted for a long, long time and I’m just excited for it to finally take place because these are the kind of fights I’m in the sport for,” said Taylor. “People have been talking about this fight for years and there have been times I wondered if it was ever going to happen so I’m very grateful to Eddie Hearn, everyone at Matchroom, DAZN and Madison Square Garden for getting it over the line.”
“When I turned professional my goal was to be involved in huge events like this so to headline at Madison Square Garden in a fight of this magnitude is really the pinnacle of the sport. It’s such an iconic venue and has been home to so many of the historic moments in boxing and I truly believe this will be another one.”
“It is a dream come true to have the opportunity to headline Madison Square Garden and do so against one of the greatest boxers of all time in Katie Taylor,” said Serrano. “Since I was a young girl, my only boyfriend has been boxing. I have dedicated my life to him, and this event makes that commitment worth every minute. On April 30th I am going to make history for me, for my team, for my family, for Puerto Rico, for every Latina and Latino and for all women worldwide.”
Greatest
“This is the moment we always dreamed of,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “The moment the world will stop and watch the two greatest female fighters on the planet headline at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden.”
“We are honoured to be a part of this historic event, headlined by two historically dominant women. Bringing attention to women’s boxing has been a priority for us and Saturday, April 30th is a major milestone for not just the sport but girls globally who deserve equal opportunity,” added Jake Paul of Most Valuable Promotions that are staging the bout.
Taylor and Serrano will come face-to-face in the Big Apple on the first leg of a global press tour next Wednesday, February 2 – timed in honour of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a day of observance in the U.S. acknowledging the accomplishments of female athletes and recognizing the importance of equal opportunities in sport for girls and women.
Billie Jean King – tennis icon, equality champion, and Women’s Sports Foundation founder – is delighted that the fight will take centre stage at the legendary arena.
“The Taylor vs. Serrano fight at Madison Square Garden is historic and it is only fitting it is being held in the venue that has hosted so many important championships in sports,” said King. “These two women are breaking barriers and opening doors for others by being the main event and not the undercard, fighting for one of the biggest paydays in boxing and showing everyone that if you can see it, you can be it.”
Sport for Business Perspective
Ten years since winning Olympic Gold this will be the apex of Taylor’s professional career to date.The attention of the world will be on the fight, and the build-up, as well as probably the rematch afterwards. That attention will transform the way in which many see sport as the equal preserve of Women as it is of men. That it should be an Irish woman at the centre of the ring is something we can all be proud of.
