Taylor beats Serrano in epic rematch to retain undisputed title

Katie Taylor eked past Amanda Serrano by the slimmest of margins in a Fight of the Year candidate to keep her title.

Taylor defeated Serrano via unanimous decision (95-94, 95-94, 95-94) in their highly anticipated rematch to retain the undisputed women's junior welterweight championship Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The fight was the co-main event to a heavyweight bout between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.

Serrano, the unified featherweight champion, moved up three divisions to challenge Taylor in a rematch of their April 2022 instant classic. Taylor, then the undisputed lightweight champion, beat Serrano by split decision in the first women's boxing match to headline Madison Square Garden in New York.

In the rematch, Serrano topped Taylor 324-217 in total punches landed and 287-208 in power punches landed.

Taylor said after the victory she would be open to a trilogy bout with Serrano.

Serrano had a strong start to the fight, rocking Taylor with an overhand left in the first round and landing the more effective punches throughout the first few stanzas. But Taylor bit down on her mouthguard and rallied in the second half to make the fight very close on the scorecards and, in the end, seal the judges' nod.

Serrano suffered a gruesome cut - caused by a headbutt from Taylor - above her eye in the sixth round.

With the victory, Taylor is now riding a two-fight winning streak and improves to a career 24-1. The Irishwoman captured the undisputed junior welterweight title in November 2023, beating Chantelle Cameron to avenge the sole loss of her career.

Serrano had won five fights in a row and hadn't fallen short since first facing Taylor almost three years ago. The Puerto Rico native now holds a 47-3-1 record.