With the heavy weight of the tag of ‘the biggest fight in women’s boxing history’ on their shoulders Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano delivered on Sunday.
A sold out Madison Square Garden erupted when Ireland’s golden girl picked up a split decision victory to extend her unbeaten record to 21 wins and retain her WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
Almost more substantially though the duo continued to break barriers for women’s sport and inspire the next generation, and they look set to do it all over again on Croke Park this Autumn.
The legend of Taylor versus Serrano has been unavoidable since given the celebration of the fight has engulfed TV coverage and social media, but here’s what you mightn’t have known about the historic night.
Same same but different.
“I shook up the world.”
When you think Madison Square Garden, you normally think Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier. After this weekend, people will now also think Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano. One of the epic fights in boxing history. pic.twitter.com/etZ63NaVU3
— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) May 3, 2022
How much they got paid
AND STILL 🏆 @KatieTaylor #TaylorSerrano pic.twitter.com/1iU9WsSzge
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 1, 2022
You would expect the gravity of the encounter would translate to a correlation in the purse, and it appears Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) and Jake Paul (Most Valuable Promotions and youtuber) made good.
The headline bout is flagged as the biggest payday for a women’s boxing match ever, with both fighters rumoured to have bagged over $1 million each, with additions to come based on the pay per view sales.
Paving the way for women’s boxing’s equality in all sectors, Serrano in particular disclosed on Twitter that the pair proved they were worth every penny.
I proved I Am.
Maybe not to Haters but I’m getting it regardless 😝
7+ figures to be EXACT 😉😉— Amanda Serrano (@Serranosisters) May 4, 2022
The behind the scenes
"Family First, Always" From Bray to Madison Square Garden, @KatieTaylor and her mother Bridget have taken every step on the journey together ❤️ (📸 @Gary_Carr_) pic.twitter.com/A3qNyxYHtR
— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) May 1, 2022
On Wednesday broadcaster DAZN revealed some behind the scenes insights into the entire card, the video showcasing Taylor and Serrano in their dressing rooms pre and post fight as well as some fresh angles on the match itself.
It also includes more footage on the unforgettable ring walk from Taylor to ‘Awake My Soul’, the Bray native relaxed as she takes a mental picture of the packed cheering venue.
After the triumph there’s also visits in the dressing room from Ryan Garcia and Laila Ali, while Taylor sports her cuts and bruises as well as a t-shirt that says ‘it is god who arms me with strength’.
Celebrity reaction
What a monumental, defining and historic night in boxing.
Been enjoying this build up.
So happy for and proud of @KatieTaylor @Serranosisters + all the women of boxing 👏🏾👏🏾💪🏾
Long overdue, but inspiring to see.
LFG!!! @EddieHearn @jakepaul @DAZNBoxing https://t.co/T90F5kuVyj— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) May 1, 2022
Those big names weren’t the only ones to chime in on the sensational night.
Dwayne Johnson, Conor McGregor, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and a host of other celebs all had their say on Twitter, with 'The Rock' referring to it as a “monumental, defining and historic night in boxing.”
He also added that it was “long overdue but inspiring to see.”
What a performance from both ladies!! So happy for @KatieTaylor 🇮🇪.
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) May 1, 2022
How close it really was
A night to stir the soul! Humbled by all the support at @TheGarden. A special fight on a special night. 💚 pic.twitter.com/gigYeP7Qbr
— Katie Taylor (@KatieTaylor) May 1, 2022
If you watched the fight you’d have known it was going to go down to the wire, but statistics courtesy of CompuBox show just how close it really was.
Six of the rounds were separated by two punches or fewer, but Taylor came out on top, out-landing Serrano by five rounds to four and with one marked as a draw.
It also proved that perhaps Serrano was in fact Taylor’s toughest opponent to date, throwing the most punches the Bray native has ever came up against.
Serrano had a 173-147 edge in landed punches, bolstered by a 44-14 edge in round 5. They landed within 6 punches of each other in 8 of 10 rounds. Serrano landed 36% of her power shots, Taylor 47%. landed 47%. Serrano's 173 landed punches were most by a Taylor opp. #TaylorSerrano pic.twitter.com/zvc7DZS0CG
— CompuBox (@CompuBox) May 1, 2022
Record breaking views
So proud of the performance we put. We didn’t come to play, we came to entertain & show why we are the Best in the Game. Congratulations to @KatieTaylor i said it before couldn’t have asked for a better dance partner.
Thank you Everyone 🙏❤️ https://t.co/1orhwysKSR— Amanda Serrano (@Serranosisters) May 1, 2022
While 19,187 lucky people got to watch Taylor and Serrano battle it out in person, there were also a record breaking 1.5 million who tuned in on DAZN.
The 10 round fight was viewed across 170+ markets and lived up to the pre hype fight.
“Everyone was talking about this fight being the biggest in women’s boxing history, but I think it actually exceeded everything that people were talking about” Taylor told DAZN afterwards.
"This was a special, special moment. I think that both myself and Amanda have broken down so many barriers in the last few years in our sport.”
“ I love my sport and I want to keep making history” she said.
#TaylorSerrano saw an unprecedented audience of 1.5M on DAZN to achieve a record-breaking viewership night for women's boxing 🤩
Fans tuned in on DAZN across 170+ markets worldwide to make the April 30 event the most watched female headlined boxing broadcast ever in history. pic.twitter.com/ZSD9ReqLmX
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 4, 2022
