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Fierce rivalries are a cornerstone of boxing. But Taylor and Serrano, who will fight for a championship title on Netflix on Friday, are going about it differently.
By Remy Tumin
Remy Tumin covered Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor’s first fight at Madison Square Garden in 2022.
Nov. 14, 2024Updated 1:54 p.m. ET
When Katie Taylor defeated Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden two years ago in what was billed as the biggest women’s boxing match in history, the calls for a rematch started before the sweat and blood even had a chance to dry.
A new rivalry was born. Fans and pundits wanted more. But the trash talk that is synonymous with boxing was largely absent.
That was April 2022. On Friday night, Taylor and Serrano are finally set for a rematch on an even bigger stage — Netflix — and under even bigger headline names: Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.
And yet the trash talking has been scarce — at least as far as Taylor and Serrano are concerned.
“It’s definitely business, I respect all of my opponents,” Serrano, 36, said in a recent interview. “I respect any woman that does this sport, that goes into the ring and gets punched in the face. The sport isn’t easy.”
“We have mutual respect,” Taylor, 38, said, “because I know how much courage it takes to step into the ring.”
Fierce rivalries are a cornerstone of boxing. Mutual hatred builds a story line around a match that is maintained and encouraged by promoters and the media.
English (US)