Taylor & Serrano return to New York for trilogy fight

Katie Taylor will fight Amanda Serrano in their trilogy bout on 11 July at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The Irishwoman narrowly won both her previous encounters with Serrano, most recently a points decision in November in Texas.

“I’m 2-0 against Amanda but it’s obviously a very special rivalry that delivers every time we step in the ring so I think it’s only right that we have the trilogy,” Taylor said.

Taylor will defend her light-welterweight undisputed titles again and the all-female card will be shown live on streaming platform Netflix. It will be the second time Taylor and Serrano have headlined the iconic venue.

Puerto Rico’s Serrano, 39, is a world champion at featherweight and said she had wanted the trilogy bout to be over 12 three-minute rounds, rather than the 10 two-minute rounds used in women’s boxing.

“I’m disappointed that Katie Taylor did not keep her word and make the trilogy 12 three-minute rounds,” Serrano said.

“This is a record-setting payday for both of us, and we owed it to the fans to honour the handshake deal we made. She didn’t.

“But make no mistake, every time we share the ring, it is war, and I know Friday, July 11, will be the greatest yet because I will finally get the official [win] I deserve.”

The rivals were the co-main event to Jake Paul v Mike Tyson in November and a reported 50 million people watched Taylor v Serrano 2.

What happened in the first two fights between Taylor & Serrano?

The first two fights between Taylor and Serrano are both considered modern classics.

Taylor and Serrano sold out MSG in 2022 and set a record for a fight purse earned by a female boxer.

Serrano almost knocked Taylor down in the fifth round of a ferocious bout, before the defending lightweight champion came back in the second half of the fight.

The scorecards were 97-93 and 96-93 for Taylor, with one judge scoring it 96-94 to Serrano.

Taylor v Serrano 2 broke their own fight purse record and was fought in front of 60,000 people at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.

Another great encounter saw Taylor docked a point for a headbutt in the eighth but she was eventually awarded a 95-94 points win by all three judges.

Serrano criticised the scorecards and complained about Taylor’s tactics, but immediately called for a third fight.

Las Vegas and Ireland were considered as possible venues before it was decided to take the rivalry back to New York.

Analysis – one of boxing’s best ever rivalries

BBC Sport’s Kal Sajad

The best of dance partners go again. It is undoubtedly the greatest ever rivalry in women’s boxing, and one of the best the sport has witnessed in recent times.

In November, the rematch added legitimacy to the circus of Paul v Tyson. This time, they are the main event – and rightly so.

The record books do not tell the full tale. Taylor was pushed all the way in both fights and it so easily could be 2-0 to Serrano.

Both fighters could have their pick of opponents, but the clamouring for a trilogy was just too loud to ignore.

Whatever happens on 11 July, Taylor and Serrano – with millions watching on Netflix – will once again raise the profile of boxing and inspire a generation to take part or follow the sport.