I could argue at least somewhat convincingly that Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) and Amanda Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs) are the two best pound-for-pound women's boxers ever. With respect to Claressa Shields, Laila Ali, Ann Wolfe, and Christy Martin — among others — I could do that.
But ultimately, let's just call this one of the best fights in all of boxing to make. And we know this because we saw it already in 2022, and it was a Fight of the Year contender that sold out Madison Square Garden.
Taylor won a somewhat controversial split decision, and now they'll do it again. This is a 10-round bout with 2-minute rounds to become the undisputed champion at 140 pounds.
Let's make our Serrano vs. Taylor pick.
Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor Odds, Picks, Prediction
Odds via bet365.
| Winning Market | Serrano | Taylor |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -135 | +105 |
| KO/TKO/DQ | +400 | +1400 |
| Decision | +162 | +140 |
Pick:Katie Taylor by decision (+100 via DraftKings)
Long Shot: Draw (+1600 via FanDuel)
Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor Boxing Preview
Taylor is defending the undisputed title at super lightweight, and although Serrano has won titles in a record seven weight classes — most among women and second only to Manny Pacquiao — she only has two fights at the 140-pound super lightweight limit.
Serrano was recently Undisputed Champion at featherweight (126 pounds) and had jumped to lightweight (135 pounds) to fight Taylor over two years ago. Serrano's most recent contest was a second-round TKO win in July over Stevie Morgan, who authored perhaps the absolute worst performance in a prizefight of 2024. Any criticisms of an inflated record were quickly verified.
Taylor has spent her entire career at lightweight outside of three super lightweight bouts, including her most recent two.
Taylor's lone loss came via majority decision to Chantelle Cameron in her first bid for undisputed at 140 pounds, taking the loss in her home in Ireland in May of 2023; she got redemption in the rematch six months later, but that was also a majority decision.
Both ladies are roughly 5'5" with a 66-inch reach. Serrano is a brawling southpaw who will be in Taylor's face all night long. There's a gift and a curse with that.
The gift? The offense will be there. The curse? The defense won't.
Serrano is an output, pressure boxing machine who is as good an inside fighter you'll see in the sport, with great punch variety and stamina that carries late into fights. Taylor will brawl on the inside a bit too, but she prefers to lure opponents into counter-punching opportunities, and holding when in too close to reset and keep her distance. She's an expert from mid-range and has enough sting to keep you perpetually off balance.
I had Serrano narrowly winning 96-94 the first time around in what was a hotly debated fight that probably should've been a draw, and that was in Serrano's hometown, which brings us to the pick.
Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor Pick, Prediction
This is going to kill me.
So, Serrano is originally from Bushwick in Brooklyn. I grew up in Ridgewood, the bordering neighborhood in New York City. When I graduated college, Serrano was in her second world title run and one one hundredth the star she is now, and I profiled her for a local newspaper that circulated in Queens and Brooklyn, even meeting her in the neighborhood to hand her the paper, which she appreciated. And over the last eight or so years, she's one of the 10 or so athletes I've put out the most content on, including multiple interviews and a lot of praise. We're both Nuyoricans from damn near the same hood.
But I don't think she's going to win this fight.
This is a newer, bigger weight class for the 36-year-old star, who is entering professional fight No. 51. Taylor is closer to a natural super lightweight, and while she's 38 years old, this will only be her 25th pro fight in a career that began in 2016 after a lengthy run as an amateur, seven years after Serrano turned pro.
If Serrano couldn't get the decision at home when moving up to 135, it'll be harder to see it manifest in Dallas at 140. Additionally, Taylor has been on the favorable end of other scorecards. That second fight with Cameron could've easily been a draw. Her split decision win over Serrano could've easily been a loss. She barely beat Natasha Jonas three years ago, literally winning by a single point on two of three cards. And she got a gift in the first Delfine Persoon fight five years ago.
Serrano hasn't had a ton of close fights, but respectfully, Taylor has been in the ring with better quality opposition.
I've already bet Taylor by decision, and I may sprinkle on either a majority or split decision outcome.
But, because it's boxing, I could see Serrano getting the close rounds this time, setting up a trilogy. Taylor, narrowly on points, is my pick for what I expect to be another banger.
I think in a fight this close, there will always be hedge spots. I've also already sprinkled on a draw at +1600 and I will look to hedge with Serrano by majority decision or by split decision, likely the latter, when odds for that become available. Generally, that would be +1000 or so in a fight like this. And last time these two fought, Taylor won via split decision.
Pick:Katie Taylor by decision (+100 via DraftKings)
Long Shot: Draw (+1600 via FanDuel)
How To Watch Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor, Start Time
This event will be broadcast exclusively on Netflix. The prelims are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. ET before the main card, which will begin at 8 p.m.
Serrano vs. Taylor will not start right at 8 p.m., though. The estimated walk time is 9 p.m.
