NEW YORK — The rematch is set, and Katie Taylor will finally have her first professional fight in her country.
Taylor will face undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano on May 20 in their epic rematch last April at Madison Square Garden. Taylor won that match by split decision to defend her undisputed lightweight title.
The rematch will take place in Dublin, Ireland, where the two will once again compete for Taylor’s lightweight title. The location has not been announced, but the 82,000-seat Croke Park and the 13,000-seat 3Arena have been mentioned as possibilities.
After Serrano defeated Erika Cruz by unanimous decision on Saturday night, Taylor joined her in the ring to announce the match.
“This is more than a dream come true — my Irish debut against Amanda Serrano, ‘The Real Deal’ Amanda Serrano,” Taylor said. “This is unbelievable and like I said, the final battle was epic, and I don’t expect anything more for the next one.”
Serrano coach Jordan Maldonado said a rematch with Taylor in Ireland was something that was always in the discussion – it was even brought up right from the post-match press conference after Taylor-Serrano I – and Maldonado says the only way they want to do the rematch is if it takes place in Ireland.
They say they understand how important that is to Taylor.
“She fought with us in New York. We are Puerto Ricans, but this is basically our home,” Maldonado said. “One of the things that I’ve been told is the only way for me to fight Katie Taylor is if it happens in Ireland.
“She deserves it.”
Serrano, who has won titles in seven weight classes, told ESPN in December and January that the only bout she will gain weight will be a rematch with Taylor.
Serrano told ESPN in December: “A lot of people want to see the match and I think it strengthens women’s boxing. “I think it puts an exclamation point and it shows that we’re here and we’re going to continue to take on the challenges.”
The first Serrano-Taylor match was a bright spot for women’s boxing. The first female boxers to top at Madison Square Garden, Taylor and Serrano sold out tickets at one of the sport’s most iconic arenas. They held a tight fight, competing to win the Fight of the Year from multiple publications and the Moment of the Year from many others.
The bout helped further elevate the careers of Taylor, 36, and Serrano, 34, two of the three best weightlifters in the world alongside undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields.
Serrano said: “The next day, I realized that the people watching the match were not only boxing fans, but celebrities outside of boxing knew who we were, what we were doing. . “Makes history. All it takes is the week before the game, the commercials, the way Madison Square Garden promotes the game, it’s amazing.”
Since fighting Serrano, Taylor (22-0.6 KO) beat Karen Carabajal in October. Serrano (44-2-1, 30 KO) beat Sarah Mahfoud in September to win the IBF featherweight belt, and victory over Cruz on Saturday made her the undisputed featherweight champion.
Maldonado and Serrano said they would start a real fight camp for Taylor in mid-March and train lightly until then.
