Fight of the Year 2024: Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano 2

By: Sean Crose

The first fight was amazing. The second one was even better. Make no mistake, Katie Taylor’s violent rematch with Amanda Serrano last November was more than just a great fight between women: It was a great fight, period. There’s a good reason why the 10-round battle is Boxing Insider Fight of the Year 2024. Some fights come and go. Taylor-Serrano 2 was relentless. Watching the two future Hall of Famers trade blows, it was hard to deny that this was a fight that would be remembered for a long time. The finish was controversial, but there’s no denying it was one of the true boxing gems of 2024.

The reality is that Taylor-Serrano 2 should have been the biggest fight on the card which took place in Arlington, Texas in November of last year. Unfortunately, though, Taylor-Serrano 2 was the main event of a card that featured the infamous fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. That meeting, as anyone who saw or had access to information knows, was a disaster. The only good thing to say about such a dangerous fight is the fact that Tyson emerged unscathed. More good news is that over seventy million people tuned in to watch Taylor and Serrano get it on for the second time that night.

The bout itself was essentially pure action from the opening bell onwards. Taylor was tagged in at the end of the first as both women shot full speed. By the fourth Serrano had a massive cut on his head. The gash became such a problem that the referee stopped the fight in the sixth so the ring doctor could make sure all was well with Serrano. All was indeed going well for the brave New Yorker – or at least as well as could be expected of someone in the heat of a glove fight – and so the fight resumed.

Things got so ferocious in the seventh Boxing Insider wrote the following: “The seventh was ferocious… like the first round of Hagler-Hearns, ferocious.” Aside from the fact that Taylor was deducted a point for headbutting in the eighth, the rest of the fight remained as intense, fast-paced and frankly thrilling as it had been up to that point. Ultimately, Taylor retained his numerous junior welterweight titles thanks to the judges’ decision, a decision that many – including this author – thought should have gone to Serrano.

Controversial decision or not, there is simply no doubt that Taylor and Serrano not only stole the show that night, but also put on the best fight of 2024.