KATIE TAYLOR failed to close the book on her rivalry with Amanda Serrano thanks to a controversial victory in their undisputed lightweight rematch.
The pair took part in arguably the greatest-ever fight in the history of women’s boxing at Madison Square Garden two years ago.
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Pride of Ireland Taylor got the nod in the historic MSG melee, which fight fans wanted to be run back immediately.
Many thought that Taylor was gifted the victory against the seven-division champion.
And they thought the same thing after the judges controversially handed the Bray bruiser a unanimous decision victory on the undercard of Mike Tyson’s circus clash with Jake Paul.
A crestfallen and bloodied Serrano said: “I knew if it went to the judges, it was going to be a bit shady.
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“But listen, I came here and I chose to be great and I went up three divisions. I dared to be great tonight.”
Serrano sustained a horrific laceration above her right eyebrow thanks to repeated headbutts from Taylor.
She said of the war wound: “That’s what they do. Not only my fight, but she did it with Chantelle Cameron.
“But listen, I’m a Puericwah, I’m gonna die in this ring no matter what. No matter how many cuts to my face. I’mma go until the very end.”
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She continued: “I think 100 per cent they were intentional. “She does it in every fight.”
Round eleven of Taylor vs Serrano was a much more cagey affair than the chaotic final stanza at MSG in April 2022, which lives long in the memory.
But Serrano tried to put the champion on the back foot by advancing early and working behind the jab.
Taylor, however, was all too happy to operate on the back foot as she looked to work her way into range.
And she landed a beautiful counter right as Serrano tried to back her into the corner.
But slick southpaw Serrano rocked the champion with a huge overhand left seconds before the stanza.
Serrano went in for the kill but the bell stopped her from being able to land any devastating follow-up shots.
A rasping straight right from Taylor drew a big reaction from the crowd thirty seconds into the second.
Taylor then began to unleash punches in bunches midway through the round but seemed to be struggling with the pace.
Serrano looked to march Taylor down again early in the third but the wily veteran negated her power-punch-heavy approach with frustrating clinches and slick counters before circling out of range.
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Puerto Rican pressure continued to build in the fourth but Taylor matched the hellacious blows with combinations in tight.
There was a brief pause in the action after a clash of heads left Serrano with a cut to the side of her head.
And she closed the round with a nasty body shot to the midsection of the champion which made the fans in attendance wince.
Serrano continued to stalk Taylor in the fifth and looked to find a home for the same devastating overhand left she landed in the first.
Taylor looked hesitant to meet fire with fire and match Serrano’s pressure early in the sixth.
Serrano’s cut appeared to explode midway through the round following another headbutt and sparked fears the contest would be called off.
But the ringside doctor deemed her eligible to continue, much to the delight of the 78,000 fans in attendance at Cowboys Stadium.
Serrano wasn’t deterred by her crimson mask and continued to push forward in pursuit of a knockout.
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Both women worked their close range and dirty boxing in the seventh, unleashing several flurries in what turned into another war of attrition.
Taylor was lucky not to have a point taken off her before the stanza ended after once again headbutting Serrano’s gaping wound.
Sensing the tide was against her, Taylor began to press forward and started throwing multiple combinations.
And she cracked the dome of Serrano with two hard right hooks that would’ve dropped any normal human.
And the referee opted to take away a crucial point away from the Irishwoman.
An incredible roar from the fans in attendance lit the blue touch paper for a chaotic final round.
Both women dug into the depths of their souls to unleash laboured punches and try to secure a historic victory.
Taylor landed the better shots earlier in the round and stung Serrano with a huge right hook seconds before the final bell.
Both women received a rapturous round of applause after the final bell and had looks of concern on their faces as they awaited the judges’ scorecards.
The entire crowd expected Serrano to have her hand raised. But they were once again all left flabbergasted when Taylor was announced as the winner courtesy of 95-93 scorecards.
Taylor cut a stunned figure, perhaps aware she was gifted a decision, and promptly offered Serrano an immediate trilogy fight.
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