Boxing
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3: Who has the edge heading into their trilogy fight?
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The storied Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano rivalry returns to where it started — Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Taylor vs. Serrano 3 takes place at “The World’s Famous Arena” on Friday night with Taylor’s undisputed super lightweight world titles on the line.
Their historic rivalry has delivered 20 rounds of heart-thumping, frenetic action, with Taylor owning a 2-0 lead after producing a split-decision win in April 2022 and a unanimous decision in their rematch last November.
Both victories have been equipped with controversy, as many fans and critics alike believe that Serrano could have exited the ring as the winner, especially with their last clash.
With the stakes reaching a fever pitch for this trilogy fight, DAZN News analyzes who has the edge heading into their third fight in three years.
Boxing Styles
If their 20 shared rounds are any indication, it will only be a matter of time before the trilogy gets pushed into cramped quarters on the inside between these incredible fighters.
In that phone booth, both Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano are more than capable of countering, piecing together stinging combinations and dictating the pace of the fight.
That makes this category especially difficult to analyze. However, if there is one push, it could very well be the higher volume of punch output that Serrano can generate. For that, she gets the slight edge.
Edge: Serrano
Power
Serrano counts 31 of her 47 pro wins by knockout as opposed to Taylor’s six knockouts in 25 fights.
In both of their fights, Serrano managed to buzz Taylor — during the fifth round of their inaugural clash and the opening frame of the rematch.
Both times, a raucous left hook put Taylor on jelly legs, demonstrating just how potent the power of “The Real Deal” is.
Edge: Serrano
Defense
With 20 rounds of familiarity across two fights, both Taylor and Serrano know how to connect and land shots on each other. At times, though, Taylor can fight a bit too upright and stiff with little to no head movement or bounce in her step at all.
That lack of defense leaves her ripe for Serrano to time and uncork her power punches and overall high output.
Therefore, the defense edge goes to Serrano, too.
Edge: Serrano
Ring IQ
The recovering ability of Katie Taylor to absorb fight-altering power shots and get her legs back is phenomenal.
Sometimes it is done by resorting to the clinch and unloading on compact shots to the head and body, slowing down the pace of the fight and resisting Serrano, who was just walking her down moments ago.
Other times, the Irish superstar accomplishes a rally by unleashing pounding combinations at the right time, making sure to be credited for these flurries on judges’ scorecards in what have been frenzied two-minute rounds.
Generalship and veteran ring savvy have allowed Taylor to have her hand raised twice over Serrano and in position for the clean sweep.
Edge: Taylor
Mental Warfare
This trilogy puts a considerable amount of pressure on both fighters. For Taylor, both victories over Serrano have come with controversy, especially the rematch last fall. Can she claim a decision over Serrano that is truly unanimous in the public's eye?
For Serrano, despite generating higher punch counts, she has been unable to claim a victory in this rivalry. Is a knockout the only way “The Real Deal” can defeat Taylor at this point?
Upon further discernment, more of the pressure resides with Serrano entering this trilogy. What more must she muster against an older Taylor to find her way toward victory?
That is pressure that Taylor, up 2-0, does not have.
Edge: Taylor
(Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix)
Who has the edge in Taylor vs Serrano 3?
Across five vital categories, Serrano has the slight 3-2 edge by our count in what have been 50-50 rounds.
The action has been so close between these two that the slightest advantage could propel one over the other.
With nearly every category neck-and-neck, can mother time play a factor with Taylor, who turned 39 just earlier this month? Possibly.
But if history repeats itself, Serrano will buzz Taylor and deliver a higher punch count … only to fall short on the cards.
That is, unless this time around, when she catches Taylor with something potent, she ends the show in emphatic fashion.
Serrano gets the slightest and we mean slightest nod.
Watch the Ring III live from New York exclusively on DAZN PPV, Saturday, July 12 Buy the PPV now here
