Taylor vs Serrano is the first-ever female headliner in Madison Square Garden’s 140 years of boxing.
It doesn’t get much bigger.
Katie Taylor will officially defend her WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles against Amanda Serrano on April 30 at Madison Square Garden.
Epic fights such as Rocky Marciano vs. Joe Louis, Ali-Frazier 1 and 2, and Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones, Jr all took place in the iconic New York venue, and now, for the first time in the Garden’s 140 years of boxing, it is finally time for a female headliner.
And what a match-up. Taylor, undisputed lightweight Champ vs. Serrano, 7-Division World Champ.
Ireland’s Taylor said about facing her long-time rival Serrano: “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.
“People have been talking about this fight for years and there have been times I wondered if it was ever going to happen.
“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.”
Serrano said: “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.
“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 30 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.”
Promoting the historic bout in a joint effort will be Eddie Hearn and Matchroom, who takes care of Taylor, and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who signed Serrano last year to his Most Valuable Promotions banner.
Taylor-Serrano will be broadcast on DAZN in the U.K. and around the world, with a pay-per-view availability for American viewers.
Meanwhile, Claressa Shields is aiming to set up a fight with Savannah Marshall which would add to a landmark 2022 for women’s boxing. First, the G.W.O.A.T will have to overcome Ema Kozin on Saturday.
Saturday 5 February in Cardiff, live on Sky Sports
Claressa Shields vs Ema Kozin – IBF, WBA, and WBC middleweight titles.
Caroline Dubois vs. Vaida Masiokaite, 4 rounds, lightweight
Las Vegas, Fox PPV
Jamie Mitchell vs. Carly Skelly, 10 rounds, for Mitchell’s WBA bantamweight title,
12 February in London, DAZN
Ellie Scotney vs. Jorgelina Guanini, 10 rounds, super bantamweight
19 February in Manchester, Sky Sports
Natasha Jonas vs. Ewa Piatkowska, 10 rounds, for the vacant WBO super welterweight title
25 February in Tokyo
Eri Matsuda vs. Ayaka Miyao, 10 rounds, for the vacant IBF atomweight title