Amanda Serrano: Third Time Lucky?

Amanda Serrano: Third Time Lucky?

Amanda Serrano has lost only twice since 2012. Those two defeats might not define her career, but Serrano wants revenge on the one fighter that she can’t seem to beat. At least, not yet.

Multiple world titles in multiple weight divisions. Serrano will walk into the Hall of Fame when her legendary career is finally over. But like her opponent on Friday night, the end is coming. And fast. It might be coming sooner than we think. Or want. But Serrano isn’t quite done yet. Or so she hopes.

Both Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano head into their trilogy fight, looking for something they haven’t yet found. There is still lingering doubt, despite Taylor being two-up in their personal rivalry. Two wafer-thin decisions over two years apart. Taylor got the benefit of the doubt on both occasions. I had no problem with Taylor winning that savage first fight in 2022. But when Serrano was again judged the narrow loser in their rematch last November, I found that a little harder to understand. Taylor lost a point for repeated headbutts. I also had Serrano winning six rounds, but the three scoring officials all saw it to Taylor by a solitary point. You can’t call it a robbery, but you can nevertheless expect the three judges to get it right on the night. Many will say they failed to do so last year in Texas.

But Serrano goes again on Friday night. One final attempt to put it right. Serrano calls it her last hurrah. It just might be. A third defeat, no matter how controversial it might be, Serrano will know she will not get another go.

“Losing is never fun, but you only lose if you feel like you lost. And I didn’t feel like I lost,” Serrano said at the post-fight press conference on Wednesday. But Serrano did lose. At Madison Square Garden on Friday night, a venue where it all started, Serrano probably accepts that doing enough won’t be enough. The Puerto Rican will know she has to do more than enough. Where there was doubt in the first two fights, this time, Serrano can’t leave any.

Serrano is the fighter who is probably under the greatest pressure. Another defeat to Katie Taylor won’t hurt her legacy too much, if at all, but there is personal pride at stake. Two close calls that many dispute, and plenty think Serrano was hard done by in both of their incredibly brutal wars. But a third straight defeat, the sympathy of an often fickle public will almost certainly subside somewhat. But most of all, Serrano heads into their third meeting, knowing it’s very much a case of now or never.

But there is real hope that Serrano can get the job done at the third time of asking. Serrano will start the fight as a slight betting favourite. At 39, Taylor is perhaps the fighter showing more signs of decay, despite still retaining that almost superhuman will and desire. With the exception of her only professional reversal to Chantelle Cameron in 2023, even when a fight is seemingly slipping away from her, she always finds a way to win. A champion needs a heart to match the skills; Taylor has that in abundance. But at some point, Taylor will find her body has given enough. Serrano will hope that day is only a few hours away. If anyone is to crumble unexpectedly in New York, you suspect that fighter will be the current undisputed super-lightweight champion of the world. Taylor looks more ready to go than Serrano.

But Amanda Serrano will have to find something different. What we have seen previously hasn’t quite been enough, although many will claim it should have been. The Taylor ‘head’ will have to be navigated more safely this time. The fragile skin, the wounds of battle from the last time these two incredibly gifted fighters shared a ring together, will open far more easily now. The referee will need to be mindful. But if you know something is coming, the Serrano team needs to adjust accordingly. In many ways, more of the same will likely give us the same ending in all probability.

Taylor will surely look to drag Serrano into another dog fight. But if Serrano boxes to the right game plan and avoids what Taylor does so well, she can win. Taylor will give everything again, and she could add another memorable chapter to her illustrious career. But as I have written elsewhere, I think Serrano will finally have her moment. The more I think about it, I think it might be a little easier than many people think. Power and freshness will likely be the deciding factor. Serrano has that. Taylor doesn’t.  

Photo Credit: Esther Lin/Most Valuable Promotions