Both Taylor and Serrano appeared to enter the Jumbotron arena between rounds during the previous race. Taylor’s spectacle caused a stir from the stands, but there was even more noise for Serrano, who seems to have a marginal advantage in supporting the audience. The atmosphere in and around the building creaks all night. And here’s something you usually don’t see: at least three of the Irish pubs on Seventh Avenue were flooded with fanatics watching DAZN TV during my walk in the Garden tonight. Normally the TV restrictions around the games make it almost impossible for local bars to show boxing when they are so close, but the normal rules have been lifted for the night and it just enhances the sense of the occasion.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to New York for tonight’s blockbuster production between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for the undisputed lightweight championship. We stand by Madison Square Garden for this long-awaited meeting between the two best female boxers in the world of independent weightlifting: the first summit meeting between No. 1 and No. 2 on the list of men or women after the second fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez in 2008. It is noteworthy that tonight’s main event marks the first time that two women are the main attraction in the 140-year history of the famous Manhattan area. The second-final undercard match between Baltimore-based Franchon Crews-Dezurn and Sweden’s Elin Cederroos has just ended with Crews-Dezurn winning a wide-ranging unanimous decision to become the first undisputed super middleweight champion in female boxing history. This is followed by a 12-lap middleweight bout between Jesse Varga and Liam Smith, followed by Taylor and Serrano, who will have to make their walks near the top of the clock. Many more will come from now and then! Updated on 02.13 BST Brian will be here soon. In the meantime, here is Donald McRae’s preview of tonight’s main event.
