“It’s Not Fair!” – Frustrated Amanda Serrano fumes at Katie Taylor coverage
Taylor [12(6)-0] has helped bring the female pro fight game to the mainstream and played her part in increasing the focus and interested in the sport outside of the male sphere.
In terms of her opponents they have benefited too. Every single one of Taylor foes have secured pay-days that dwarf their previous career-high purses, finally got some time in the spotlight, and have higher profiles they can use to maximize their talents – with three of her former opponents winning titles at light welter.
Serrano especially has, unquestionably, been a major beneficiary of the London 2012 Olympian’s pro arrival. Since a fight between the pair has been mooted she has received some casual attention and increased her cross over appeal potential.
Indeed, the 30-year-old ‘retired’ from boxing due to a lack of financial viability and instead focused on MMA where she has a 1-0-1 record in the Combate Americas promotion.
However, she has been tempted back by Matchroom and DAZN platform who are keen to find reputable and memorable opponents for Taylor – with the decorated and outspoken Serrano fitting the bill.
With the Taylor bout no doubt in mind, Serrano is being afforded the most coverage of her career ahead of her attempt to make more history next Friday when she fights for a world title at a seventh weight.
Serrano drops down to super flyweight next Saturday to take on Austrian Eva Voraberger [24(11)-5(1)] for the vacant WBO title at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on a bill which also features Portlaoise’s TJ Doheny..
Should she, as expected, win, ‘The Real Deal’ will become the sport’s second only seven-weight world champion after Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao.
However, the powerful Puerto Rican is frustrated. She feels her legacy and what she has achieved should be respected outside of the context of the unified lightweight world champion.
The New Yorker points out that female boxing existed before Taylor’s arrival and feels the spotlight afforded to a fighter who also changed the face of the amateur game is unfair.
“I don’t dictate my life and career around Katie Taylor,” she blasted when speaking to Boxingscene.
“I’ve been around the pro game a long time and I’m just going to continue to live my life, do my career and leave my legacy and continue to break records and do what I need to do.
In what, somewhat, resembles a point made by Taylor’s team, Serrano notes how it is not sustainable for the entire sport to be based around the Irishwoman.
Taylor’s manager, Brian Peters, has often said that other fighters need to ‘do their bit’ and the defiant Serrano definitely is ticking this box.
She described how “I’ve been fighting for 12 years and I’ve been a pro for 10 years and now that Katie Taylor’s in the sport, now people want to open their minds and their pockets for female fighters. It’s not fair.”
“The sport of female boxing isn’t Katie Taylor. We’ve been around here for so long and now that’s all they want to talk about.”
The Taylor fight is inevitable, in fact it’s said to be agreed and looks set to play out in New York later this year.
Taylor herself calls it the biggest fight in female boxing and it could prove a ground breaking event.
However, Serrano is adamant she doesn’t want a successful career to be defined by that one bout.
“I don’t want all my sacrifices to be defined by a Katie Taylor,” she adds. “I sacrificed my body and I put my life on hold for my career and for myself.”
“Everybody’s talking about Katie Taylor, and she’s just another girl. The sacrifices are hard, but when you want to become someone and leave a legacy in the sport, they’re good, and it keeps me pushing on.”
