Back in April, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fought to a split decision for the undisputed lightweight titles at the Madison Square Garden. Jake Paul and Eddie Hearn, Taylor’s and Matchroom’s boss, co-promoted the fight, which was the biggest women’s boxing fight in history.
The relationship between the two sides soured pretty quickly, and even the soft-spoken Taylor, who very rarely bites at her opponents, trash trash talk, had something to say. For the historic bout between Taylor and Amanda Serrano, the Puerto-Rican fighter moved up weight to challenge Katie Taylor for her undisputed titles. After defeat, Jake Paul insisted that Taylor should follow suit and go down two weight classes to fight Serrano for the rematch.
The YouTuber turned fighter has put $2 million on the table if the Irish legend goes down two weight classes to fight the seven-weight world champion. Paul believes it is 'unfair' if Serrano goes up to Taylor’s weight class again and prefers that the fight at least be made at 130lbs, 5lbs short of the lightweight limit. For context, Katie Taylor has gone to the super-lightweight for a world title once but has never gone under the 126lb that Serrano is asking for.
“That’s where I think it should [the rematch] happen, or at a catchweight of like 130," said Paul.
"All Katie would have to do is cut like five pounds, it takes like six hours, and that would really settle who the greatest woman of all-time is. Katie Taylor is the greatest at 135, Amanda Serrano is the greatest at 126, so if they meet in the middle, there would be no debate there.”
Jake Paul: "We have $2million for Katie Taylor to come down to 126lbs. Katie Taylor - why don't you come down to 126lbs, go against Amanda Serrano in that weight? She came up to fight you. Come down to 126lbs, see if you're really the pound-for-pound best." [@DAZNBoxing Show]
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) July 29, 2022
The Bray boxer has hit back at Paul's comments. As the reigning, undefeated champion, Taylor argues that she shouldn’t have to compromise and should have the fight on her terms.
“I’ve never heard such nonsense in all my life," said Katie Taylor, laughing off the question.
"I’ve never heard someone say something as stupid as that to be quite honest. I think they’re just trying to play a few games. I don’t know if he is playing games or if it’s naivety from him, but obviously, any rematch is going to be at 135 pounds. I’m the champion and if they want to run the fight back that’s the weight division it’s going to be at.”
Despite the talk of a rematch with Serrano, Katie Taylor has other fish to fry. The undisputed lightweight champion will defend her titles on October 29th at Wembley Arena in London as she takes on Karen Elizabeth Carabajal. It will be the first fight for Taylor since she beat Serrano by split decision at Madison Square Garden.
