Katie Taylor makes retirement admission after Amanda Serrano victory: 'I have nothing left to prove!'
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The Irish star recorded her third victory over the Puerto Rican on Friday night
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Katie Taylor declared she has "nothing left to prove" in the sport after she defeated Amanda Serrano by majority decision at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, completing a clean sweep of their trilogy and retaining her undisputed super-lightweight titles.
The Irish fighter prevailed with two judges scoring the bout 97-93 in her favour, whilst the third had it level at 95-95.
The victory marked the 39-year-old's third consecutive win over the Puerto Rican in what has become women's boxing's greatest rivalry.
Taylor controlled the fight with smart boxing and effective counter-punching, frustrating Serrano's attempts to work at range.
Katie Taylor recorded her third victory over Amanda Serrano on Friday night
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The bout headlined a historic evening at the iconic New York venue, which hosted its first all-women's card featuring a record-breaking 17 championships - the most ever contested on a single boxing card in the four-belt era.
"We have made history three times," Taylor said after the victory. "It is such a historic fight and a pleasure to share the ring with her. We are history makers forever."
The evening saw Madison Square Garden transformed into a showcase for women's boxing, with the sold-out crowd of more than 19,000 split between Irish and Puerto Rican supporters creating a festive atmosphere.
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The Irish star won by majority decision on the night
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Taylor expressed deep respect for her opponent following their third encounter: "I want to thank Amanda Serrano, what an amazing fighter. I have a huge amount of respect for Amanda. What a warrior."
The historic card also featured other notable results, including Ellie Scotney's comprehensive victory over Yamileth Mercado to add the WBC super-bantamweight title to her collection, and Alycia Baumgardner retaining her undisputed super-featherweight crown.
Unlike their previous two encounters which were all-action brawls, this contest proved a more tactical affair with Serrano adopting a different approach.
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"I tried something different, it was all about working smarter not harder," Serrano acknowledged. "I tried to keep my distance and not fight with her because apparently it didn't work the first two fights."
The strategy failed to pay dividends as Taylor's economical work and sharp counters proved decisive.
The Irish star enjoyed particular success in the third round with rapid-fire combinations, whille Serrano's best moments came in rounds six and eight.
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Katie Taylor's loss to Chantelle Cameron remains the only blemish on her record
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"I thought I did enough. I boxed smart and well, she wasn't catching much tonight," the champion reflected.
Taylor ruled out a fourth meeting with Serrano, stating: "I don't know, I just don't want to fight Amanda Serrano again. She punches too hard."
The champion remained uncertain about her future in the sport, saying: "I don't know. It's not like I have anything left to prove, but I will take some time and then make a decision on what I want to do in a few weeks."
When asked about a potential bout with Chantelle Cameron to complete another trilogy, Taylor responded dismissively: "Chantelle has to see if she can sell out a [capacity] arena first. I don't think she can sell out any stadium at all."
However, Taylor's long-held ambition of fighting at Dublin's Croke Park appears increasingly unlikely due to venue restrictions and costs.
A bout there would be unlikely until 2026, when Taylor will have turned 40.