Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

In a more scientific battle, Katie Taylor defeated Amanda Serrano once again by majority decision to retain undisputed super lightweight world champion status and did it in New York City once again.

Dispensing with the bombs away attitude, Puerto Rico’s Serrano (47-4-1, 31 KOs) used a measured attack against Ireland’s Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs) but still came short in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden.

How two judges gave Serrano only three rounds is a puzzle.

In their first two clashes the two warriors unleashed furious blows with a ferocious intensity that left the fans breathless. In this fight both took measured punches from a distance with very few punches landing in the first two rounds. Serrano landed a few more than Taylor.

Things opened-up slightly in the third and fourth rounds with Taylor snapping off quick bursts after Serrano’s attacks. Nothing serious or remotely matching the intensity of their prior confrontations.

Serrano targeted the body to open the fifth round and suddenly both fighters became more animated. Taylor had more bounce on her step as the southpaw Serrano moved behind jabs and lefts.

The sixth round saw a busier Serrano advance at a faster pace. Though she was always the aggressor she remained vigilant about Taylor’s quick counters. She also seemed wary about Taylor’s head diving in like their last fight. The memory of the gash suffered by Serrano from Taylor’s head butts must have been on her mind.

Serrano seemed to have taken a little more control of the fight with hard blows connecting. Taylor landed blows too but more of a lighter connect with little steam on the punches. What did the judges prefer?

Pro boxing is different from amateur boxing which rewards speedy but light slapping blows. Professional boxing judges prefer the harder blows but not in this fight.

After 10 rounds Taylor was given the nod 95-95, 97-93 twice for a majority decision and retains all the titles at super lightweight.

It was a matter for the judges. They preferred Taylor’s style for the third time.

“Amanda is an amazing fighter. And it’s such a privilege to share the ring with her,” Taylor said.

Serrano thanked the fans for their support and attendance

“Thank you Katie Taylor. it’s been truly an honor. You are a true champion,” said Serrano adding they accomplished another feat in selling out the arena again. “We can fight and we can sell.”

Baumgardner Wins

Usually fights are determined by who hits the other more, but Alycia Baumgardner (16-1, 7 KOs) managed to retain undisputed super featherweight status against scrappy Jennifer Miranda (12-1) thanks to the judges.

Maybe it was the time off and maybe it was Miranda’s puzzling attacks but Baumgardner could not manage a consistent attack against the Spanish fighter through most of the fight.

Baumgardner found success with a good jab and body shots midway through the fight. But she never could hurt or land many clean blows against Miranda. The Spanish fighter snapped Baumgardner’s head back far more than the opposite.

The judges saw it for the American fighter 98-92 twice and 97-93. Baumgardner remains undisputed super featherweight world champion.

“I definitely give myself a B-plus,” said Baumgardner. “She was a smarter fighter; she had a good game plan. I want to be right back. No time off.”

Green Beats Marshall

After a very slow first half Shadasia Green (16-1, 7 KOs) turned on the after burners and evaporated the lead of Savannah Marshall (13-2, 7 KOs) and took over the fight and never let go to become a unified super middleweight titlist.

Marshall used her herky-jerky moves to keep Green moving backward and forced her to hold several times in the first round. She was warned several times by the referee for the tactic but continued to grapple. It cost her in the fourth round as she was deducted a point by referee Tom Taylor.

Green took that deduction as a wake-up call and made her move with a short right hand bomb that wobbled the taller British fighter. The tide turned. The American fighter made adjustments, especially with the left jab and shorter punches, in close. The British fighter seemed confused.

Marshall made adjustments in the latter rounds but Green kept the pressure on and kept Marshall from using her length. Each fighter tried to hurt the others but they fought evenly in the last three rounds. Green won by split decision 96-93, 95-94, 93-96.

“I’m so sorry, this is 20 years. I was 15 and I wanted to box. My mother told me no that I had to go to college,” said Green about waiting 20 years to be a unified super middleweight world titlist…20 years later we unified.”

Marshall was miffed by the scoring but credited Green for her performance.

“She was absolutely unbelievable,” said Marshall whose previous loss came at the hands of Claressa Shields.

Super Bantams

England’s Ellie Scotney used her speed and accuracy to defeat WBC titlist Yamileth Mercado of Mexico by unanimous decision after 10 rounds in a match closer than the scorecards indicated.

Mercado had problems adjusting to Scotney’s speed in the opening two rounds and scored with single shots while the Mexican swung at the air. But around the third round Mercado found the range by shortening her punches.

In the fifth round the super bantamweights clashed heads and Mercado emerged with a jagged cut on her forehead while Scotney suffered a small cut on her left eye. Though both fighters connected throughout the fight, it was Scotney whose blows seemed to move Mercado. Those blows were more telling though no knockdowns occurred in the fight.

After 10 rounds one judge saw it 100-90 while two others scored it 98-92 for Scotney who becomes the undisputed super bantamweight champion.

Other Bouts

Australia’s Cherneka Johnson (18-2, 8 KOs) won by technical knockout in the ninth round over Shurretta Metcalf (14-5-1) to become the unified bantamweight world titlist. The referee called the fight though Metcalf was not knocked down.

Chantelle Cameron (21-1) defeated Jessica Camara (14-5-1) by unanimous decision in a super lightweight fight.

Ramla Ali (10-2) beat Lila Furtado (11-3) by decision after eight super bantam rounds.

Tamm Thibeault (3-0) won by technical knockout in the fifth over Mary Casamassa (6-1) in a middleweight contest.

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