It’s OFF! Amanda Serrano pulls out of Katie Taylor fight

The biggest female fight in history is off according to Team Serrano.

Undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor [15(6)-0] and seven weight nine time world champion Amanda Serrano [40(38)-1(0)-1] looked all set to finally trade leather later this summer.

The Irish and Puerto Rican operators were said to have agreed to fight on Matchroom’s Fight Camp series, providing chief support to Dillian Whyte versus Alexander Povetkin on the last of the Matchroom grounds behind closed doors shows.

However, according to Serrrano’s manager, trainer and brother in law, Jordan Maldonado, the two big names won’t trade leather and the eagerly anticipated clash won’t go ahead.

Maldonado claims the purse for a fight, that was initially announced for May 2, has been halved for Serrano, but not for Taylor and in principle suggests they can not accept the refreshed offer.

 
“On four occasions, Amanda has signed on for the fight”, said Maldonado when speaking to Boxingscene.

“She signed to fight in late 2019 in New York, but Taylor opted to move up in weight. Then we accepted the fight for early 2020 in the same city, but Taylor’s team thought they needed more time to train and it was move to May 2 in England, but then a month and a half later, the COVID-19 pandemic came and it was moved to the 4th of July; all this, accepting a purse not up to par with the magnitude of the fight. But since Amanda wants to make history for Puerto Rico, we happily accepted”.

 
“Now they’re offering us the fight for August but removing almost 50% of Amanda’s purse. However, they are taking less from Taylor.

“We understand there is a situation around the world with COVID-19 and there are changes in the boxing platform, but big fights are big fights”

The coach and manager claims the decision isn’t just a personal one. He argues if they agree to a reduced purse they would be doing the female fight game in general damage.

“If we accept this new offer, we’d be creating a new negative precedent in female boxing, after so many women have worked so hard to heighten the level of the sport,” he continues.

While the fight is ‘off’ at present Maldonado does offer hope. He suggests if a higher offer comes in terms can be agreed.
 
“Amanda’s contract with promoter Lou DiBella expires soon. We hope they do their job because boxing needs this fight and if we have to wait, we wait. Amanda is a WBO world champion at 126 lbs, and interim WBC world champion. There are good unification bouts in Amanda’s weight class that can be made in the meantime”.

Irish fight fans will argue this is a common Serrano theme. The Puerto Rican favourite was calling for the fight before Olympic gold medal winner Taylor defeated her sister Cindy.

However, she has since changed her mind with regard to the fight with the same regularity as an emotional teenager’s mood ring changes colour.

The talented power puncher went from retiring from boxing to calling for the bout and from focusing on MMA and not needing Taylor to stating female boxing needed the clash and she was ready to dethrone Taylor to cement her legacy.

It is frustrating for Irish fight fans and more so for Team Taylor, but the bottom line is the Bray sensation is the money fight. It appears Serrano’s team are just pushing for a bigger purse.