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Katie Taylor & Amanda Serrano To Meet
In Historic Boxing Clash On April 30
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano are set to make history in
an epic battle for Taylor’s undisputed Lightweight title at
Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday April 30, live
worldwide on DAZN.
Years in the making, the biggest fight ever in women’s
boxing between the pound-for-pound #1 and #2 fighters of the
world is one that will not only make boxing history, but
women’s sports history. MSG has hosted thousands of fights
through its illustrious years, beginning more than a century
ago on July 17, 1882; now, 140 years later, this matchup
finally marks the very first time two female fighters are
headlining a combat sports event at 'The World’s Most Famous
Arena'.
Irish icon Taylor (20-0 6 KOs) puts all the Lightweight
belts on the line for the sixth time since winning them in
June 2019 in a war with Delfine Persoon and seeing off the
Belgian in a rematch in England before repelling the
challenges of Miriam Gutierrez, Natasha Jonas, Jennifer Han
and Firuza Sharipova – and there’s added spice to the fight
as Taylor holds a win over Amanda’s sister Cindy in Boston
back in October 2018.
Puerto Rican sensation Serrano (42-1-1 30 KOs) already has
an unrivalled legacy in the sport as a seven-weight World
champion. The Brooklyn based champion enters the momentous
bout in sparkling form after knocking out Daniela Bermudez
last March, dominating Yamileth Mercado in August and
overpowering Miriam Gutierrez in two separate cards
co-starring Jake Paul. Amanda was the 2021 Female Fighter of
the Year for DAZN, ESPN and WBC among others.
“This is a fight I've wanted for a long, long time and I'm
just excited for it to finally take place because these are
the kind of fights I'm in the sport for,” said Taylor.
“People have been talking about this fight for years and
there have been times I wondered if it was ever going to
happen so I'm very grateful to Eddie Hearn, everyone at
Matchroom, DAZN and Madison Square Garden for getting it
over the line.
“When I turned professional my goal was to be involved in
huge events like this so to headline at Madison Square
Garden in a fight of this magnitude is really the pinnacle
of the sport. It's such an iconic venue and has been home to
so many of the historic moments in boxing and I truly
believe this will be another one.”
“It is a dream come true to have the opportunity to headline
Madison Square Garden and do so against one of the greatest
boxers of all time in Katie Taylor,” said Serrano. “Since I
was a young girl, my only boyfriend has been boxing. I have
dedicated my life to him, and this event makes that
commitment worth every minute. On April 30th I am going to
make history for me, for my team, for my family, for Puerto
Rico, for every Latina and Latino and for all women
worldwide.”
>From the moment Katie Taylor stepped into my office, this
is the moment we always dreamed of,” said promoter Eddie
Hearn. “The moment the world would stop and watch and watch
the two greatest female fighters on the planet headline at
the Mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden.
“Taylor vs. Serrano is a fight for the history books. Yes,
it’s the by far the biggest female fight of all time but
it’s also one of the biggest fights of all time, the
undisputed World and Olympic champion against the seven
division World champion.
“Both fighters deserve credit for getting this fight made,
as does Jake Paul and his team at Most Valuable Promotions,
DAZN and Madison Square Garden - together we’re going to put
on a special night in New York and create a fitting
spectacle for these trailblazers to shine.”
“We are honored to be a part of this historic event,
headlined by two historically dominant women. Bringing
attention to women’s boxing has been a priority for us and
Saturday April 30th is a major milestone for not just the
sport but girls globally who deserve equal opportunity,"
said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, Co-Founders of Most
Valuable Promotions. “We expect a battle for the ages and
have the utmost respect and admiration for Katie Taylor. But
make no mistake, we are standing next to Amanda Serrano and
know she will prove to the world that she is the
pound-for-pound greatest female boxer to ever enter the
ring. This is more than a fight, this is for forever.”
“This is without question the biggest fight ever in women’s
boxing,” said Ed Breeze, DAZN EVP, Rights. “Katie Taylor is
a trailblazer in the sport, with a perfect amateur record
and pivotal in catapulting women’s boxing into the
mainstream. Serrano is a true legend and will be Taylor’s
toughest test to date. This fight will be spectacular and
also one for the history books, and we’re thrilled to
deliver this exciting moment in boxing and sports history to
DAZN subscribers across the world.”
As the first ever women to headline at Madison Square
Garden, Taylor and Serrano will come face-to-face in the Big
Apple on the first leg of a global press tour next
Wednesday, February 2 – timed in honor of National Girls and
Women in Sports Day, a day of observance in the U.S.
acknowledging the accomplishments of female athletes and
recognizing the importance of equal opportunities in sport
for girls and women. Billie Jean King - tennis icon,
equality champion, and Women’s Sports Foundation founder -
is delighted that the fight will take center stage at the
legendary arena.
“The Taylor vs. Serrano fight at Madison Square Garden is
historic and it is only fitting it is being held in the
venue that has hosted so many important championships in
sports,” said King. “These two women are breaking barriers
and opening doors for others by being the main event and not
the undercard, fighting for one of the biggest paydays in
boxing and showing everyone that if you can see it, you can
be it.”
“Saturday, April 30 will be another historic night of boxing
at Madison Square Garden,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice
president, MSG Marquee Events. “The Garden has been home to
some of the most iconic events in the history of boxing, and
Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor will usher in another
legendary night, becoming the first women to headline a show
at the ‘Mecca of Boxing’. We wish them both good luck and
congratulate them on this groundbreaking achievement.”
Details around the London press conference early February
will be released in due course. Additionally, there will be
more information released soon around the fight not only
being available worldwide on DAZN, but also through select
cable & satellite pay-per-view providers in the U.S.
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