The monumental rise of female boxing in recent years has been nothing short of memorable. Women now feature heavily on massive cards, but this weekend Irish sensation Katie Taylor and Puerto Rican legend Amanda Serrano headline Madison Square Garden, as Serrano looks to unseat Taylor as undisputed lightweight champion.
Taylor turned professional in 2016, four years on from her gold medal win in the London 2012 Olympics. Taylor signed with Matchroom Boxing, and impressed on her debut with a third round TKO victory over Karina Kopinska at Wembley Arena.
Promoter Eddie Hearn featured Taylor high on his cards, as she impressed on over tough opposition such as Viviane Obenauf and Monica Gentili.
Taylor's first professional title came on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, as she scored a TKO victory over Nina Meinke to pick up the WBA international title at Wembley Stadium. Taylor made her US debut next, as she defeated Jasmine Clarkson in Brooklyn.
In October 2017, Taylor became world champion for the first time, as she produced a stand out performance against Anahi Ester Sanchez in the Principality Stadium for the WBA world lightweight title. Taylor made defence of her title against Jessica McCaskill in York Hall, this win has matured like a fine wine now as McCaskill is now undisputed welterweight champion.
In early 2018, Taylor added the IBF title to her mantle as she unanimously defeated the tough Victoria Noelia Bustos in Brooklyn. Two fights later, Taylor faced Cindy Serrano, older sister of Amanda. Taylor dealt Cindy a unanimous decision loss, which got the ball rolling for the potential fight with Amanda Serrano.
Early 2019 saw the WBO world title added to Taylor's arsenal, as she scored a TKO victory over Rose Volante in Philadelphia.
The summer of 2019, it was confirmed that Taylor would challenge for undisputed as she would meet WBC champion Delfine Persoon in Madison Square Garden as chief support to Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz. Taylor and Persoon delivered an absolute classic, with Taylor crowned undisputed champion. However, the decision was seen as controversial as people believed Persoon won.
Taylor stepped up to super lightweight for one fight as she won the WBO world title from Christina Linardatou, before going on to rematch Persoon at Matchroom Fight Camp. Taylor would be crowned victor again, in yet another cracking fight.
Taylor has defended her title four times since the Persoon rematch, including a fantastic fight with Olympic foe, Natasha Jonas.
Serrano turned pro in 2009, stringing together four victories, until a shock split decision draw with Ela Nunez. However, Serrano would go on to defeat Nunez three times in the future. Serrano went on to win the IBF super featherweight title in 2011 against Kimberly Connor.
Serrano challenged for the WBC super feather title in 2012, but was dealt her first and only loss in her career as she came up short against Frida Wallberg. However, 2 years later, Serrano was world champion again, as she won the WBO world lightweight title from Maria Elena Maderna.
In 2016, Serrano stepped down to the featherweight division to lift the WBO world title, with a first round knockout of Olivia Gerula.
The end of 2016 saw Serrano drop down to another weight division, as she went to win the WBO world super bantam title, with a first round knockout of Alexandra Lazar.
In 2017, Serrano dropped to bantamweight, and produced an eighth round knockout of Dahianna Santana, to lift another WBO world title in another division.
2018 saw Serrano do the opposite and go up to super lightweight to win another WBO world title, defeating Yamila Esther Reynoso over ten rounds. Serrano's next fight took place at her lowest weight, as she dropped all the way down to super flyweight to win the WBO world title against Eva Voraberger.
Serrano faced Heather Hardy next at featherweight, Hardy held the WBO world title along with the WBC 'interim'. Serrano shone again and picked up the victory. Serrano was soon upgraded to the WBC world champion after.
Serrano has strung five wins together since the Hardy bout, which has lead to this huge undisputed fight, this fight was originally pencilled in for May 2020, but the pandemic put a stop to that.
Will Taylor's experience in the lightweight divison prevail, or will nine time world champion across seven weights for Serrano prove a factor to potentially add the undisputed lightweight title to her huge resume?