For the second time of asking, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano made history this past weekend; with their highly anticipated rematch on Netflix garnering the record for most watched professional women’s sports event in US history.
Whilst that is an outstanding achievement for two of the biggest role models in all of women’s sports, the controversial nature of their rematch on the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson card leaves the door open to a third and final showdown.
Eddie Hearn weighs in on Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano trilogy matchup
Katie Taylor won a razor-close split decision over Amanda Serrano in their history-making first fight in 2022, before going the distance once again in the co-main event of Paul vs Tyson last Friday evening.
Despite the Irish superstar ultimately retaining her undisputed Super Lightweight tiles with the unanimous decision victory, a series of controversial headbutts has meant that fans are desperate to see the pair face off for a third time.
Speaking on the new DAZN show, Ariel x Ade, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn stated that the likelihood of a trilogy depends more on Serrano’s future ambitions than Taylor’s.
“It depends on, probably, MVP – I mean look, Katie Taylor is with Matchroom and DAZN, and don’t forget that DAZN allowed that fight to take place, that was important that we do that because it was a tremendous opportunity for Katie Taylor.”
Despite his own personal differences with Most Valuable Promotions, Hearn admitted that the team did an excellent job in both promoting and hosting what was a history-making showdown between two of the best fighters in the world.
“She was financially very well rewarded for that fight, the audience was incredible and despite our differences with MVP, I think Nakisa [Bidarian] and Jake and MVP did a tremendous job on the show – tremendous job.”
That being said, when it comes to the possibility of a third fight between Taylor and Serrano being put together, Hearn believes that it’s his fighter who holds the all-important leverage.
“I saw Nikisa’s interview today with Off the Ball and he’s saying ‘no one thought Katie won the fight, Amanda’s the biggest star in boxing, and Katie is not appreciated like Amanda Serrano is’ – I mean, it’s all irrelevant.
“The reality is that they’ve got their options, we’ve got our options and it’s 2-0 to Katie Taylor… I don’t think that Katie would have an issue doing a third but it’s not going to be just no regard for Katie and her team to make one of the biggest fights in the sport.”
Netflix recently announced that more than 108 million viewers tuned in to watch the event last Friday: making it the most streamed global sporting event ever. Taylor vs Serrano 2 was seen by some 74 million people, which is now the most-watched professional women’s sports event in US history.
“Commercially, there’s a great opportunity to do it again and the numbers; the response has been incredible not just for women’s boxing but for boxing,” continued Hearn.
“To see an audience like that dialed in and tuned in… I certainly don’t rule out a third [fight], I mean Katie’s probably got three or four options [out there] right now and Amanda Serrano is definitely one that she would entertain.”
Should a trilogy bout be made, there would certainly be some added vitriol behind Serrano’s punches after she mocked Taylor over the repeated head clashes.