Katie Taylor will need to bring her 'A' game to Madison Square Garden. And then some.
"I want to thank my dance partner Miriam Gutiérrez," declared Amanda Serrano after her latest win. "She didn't come to lay down."
Gutiérrez did not lie down, but she was on the receiving end of a real piecing up. The Spanish lightweight, who
lost to Katie Taylor in November 2020, was 14-1 going into her bout with Serrano but got a complete working over.
The Puerto Rican world champion took on Gutiérrez on Saturday night, on the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley fight, and put on a show. She landed an astonishing 236 punches during the 10-round fight, including 37 in just one round.
The Spaniard clung on until the end but there was never any doubt as to who would have their hand raised in victory. In the end, the three judges scored the win 100-90, 99-90, 99-91 in Serrano's favour. It is worth noting, that Taylor's scorecard against the 38-year-old was
similarly lop-sided.
[caption id="attachment_244899" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Miriam Gutiérrez reacts during a press conference at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa prior to her 135lb weight fight against Amanda Serrano. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)[/caption]
Miriam Gutiérrez poses with Amanda Serrano, post-fight
Following her unanimous decision loss, Gutiérrez posed with Amanda Serrano and her trainers back in the locker rooms.
You can see, when compared with the picture above, and by scrolling over, how damaged the Spanish fighter's face was. Gutiérrez said:
"I'm proud to have fought the great Amanda Serrano. She and [her trainer] Jordan Maldonado are incredible. I really enjoyed fighting her. We both have so much respect and passion for this sport."
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Amanda Serrano's next fight
While Gutiérrez, a former European champion, will now try to work out her next moves for 2022, when she will turn 39, Serrano's focus is most definitely on Katie Taylor.
41-1-1 in professional boxing - she has a 2009 draw and 2012 loss on her otherwise spotless record - Serrano has been largely dominant in featherweight and super featherweight.
Taylor is a lightweight, and the best in the business in that division, so it will be interesting to see if a catch-weight is agreed upon or if either woman decides to put all their belts on the line. Taylor, the undisputed lightweight champion, is not likely to drop down weigh classes, so Serrano could target the lightweight titles.
Eddie Hearn, Taylor's promoter, says he wants the fight to happen in April 2022 at Madison Square Garden. Jake Paul, who's Most Valuable Promotions look after Serrano, says he
will do all in his power to make that fight happen.
