Katie Taylor beat Amanda Serrano by unanimous choice to defend the undisputed super-lightweight championship and full a clear sweep of three victories of their trilogy.
After their 10-round conflict for the WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA 140lb titles at Madison Sq. Backyard, Taylor was declared winner by scores of 97-93 on two of the judges’ playing cards, whereas the third had them even at 95-95.
It was the third-straight shut contest between the 2, after Taylor gained a cut up choice of their first bout and a slim unanimous victory within the second.
Again in Madison Sq. Backyard, the positioning of their first combat, Taylor improved her file to 25-1 (6) in a bout which may not have been as thrilling as their first two, however was equally nearly too near name.
Serrano, 47-4-1 (31), by no means actually harm Taylor on this event, anticipated to be the pair’s ultimate combat.
It was a festive ambiance in entrance of one other sold-out crowd of greater than 19,000 cut up between Irish and Puerto Rican followers with the historic area internet hosting its first all-women’s card. Serrano was all smiles on a joyous ring stroll accompanied by the Knicks Metropolis Dancers.
There have been barely any significant punches within the first spherical. By the third they have been buying and selling photographs and each have been touchdown flurries. However Serrano appeared to combat extra cautiously than she had earlier than towards Taylor, holding her distance, maybe cautious of clashing heads which had left her reduce of their second combat.
Taylor regarded to manage the centre of the ring and landed some good counter photographs as she drew Serrano onto her.
A number of rounds might have gone both approach because the combat constructed to a tense climax, Serrano coming ahead extra and forcing Taylor right into a nook within the fifth spherical, however the champion fought her approach out.
Taylor was marked beneath the suitable eye within the eighth, however edged the ultimate two rounds to safe the decision.
Ruling out a fourth assembly with the Puerto Rican, Taylor was cagey about whether or not she would proceed to combat.
“I don’t know, I just don’t want to fight Amanda Serrano again. She punches too hard,” she mentioned after the bout.
“I have a huge ton of respect for Amanda, she’s such a warrior. It’s a pleasure to share a ring with her.
“We now have made historical past thrice. We’re historical past makers endlessly.
“I thought I was boxing very smart, she wasn’t able to catch me very much tonight. But it’s always close against Amanda.”
Taylor dominated out a fourth combat with the Puerto Rican star
Serrano mirrored she’d tried to work “smarter not harder” this time towards Taylor.
“We tried to stay with the long punches and one twos,” she mentioned, “and it just wasn’t enough.”
Savannah Marshall suffered a shock defeat on her return to boxing. After a sojourn in MMA, Marshall, previously an undisputed super-middleweight champion, misplaced to Shadasia Inexperienced in an IBF and WBO title unification at 168lbs.
The choice was cut up. One decide awarded the combat 96-93 to Marshall however America’s Inexperienced was awarded the decision 95-94 and 96-93 by the opposite judges regardless of a degree deduction for holding.
Ellie Scotney ended Mexican Yamileth Mercado’s six-year reign as WBC super-bantamweight world champion with a complete unanimous verdict.
The 27-year-old from Catford added the WBC title to her IBF and WBO crowns with a 100-90, 98-82 and 98-82 choice win.
England’s Chantelle Cameron, a former two-weight world champion, had a cushty unanimous factors choice over Jessica Camara, whereas Ramla Ali returned to the ring after a 12 months out with a tighter unanimous verdict over Lila Furtado.
American Alycia Baumgardner retained her undisputed super-featherweight title with a unanimous choice over Spain’s Jennifer Miranda.
