Katie Taylor: Ten rounds that sealed immortality

Irish Examiner

14 hours ago

When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer. When Katie Taylor did it, she bared her teeth and wheeled away with a winced grin.
In every conceivable sense, crowning this trilogy was a glorious tribute to an astonishing career. In the main event at a sold-out Madison Square Garden, she defeated her greatest nemesis Amanda Serrano once again and defended her undisputed light-welterweight title in the process.
The 95-95, 97-93 and 97-93 scorecard reflected this rivalry, its guts and its glory. Across three bouts, from New York to Texas and back, they have produced an hour of ferocious combat that Taylor edged throughout.
This one was different from the rest. There was less relentless fury, less darkness on display. All of that suited the Irishwoman seamlessly. There are no winners in a war. There could only ever be one when it came to pure boxing. That is the reason the champion took such satisfaction from the performance as well as the prize. That is a reason this might be it.
'I am just going to enjoy this victory right now,' said Taylor when asked about her future.
'Sit back, reflect and I will make a decision on that soon. But I am very, very happy with tonight's performance.'
Ten final rounds, ten pillars of greatness. Ten stanzas that explain how she made history.
1: It started slow. There was no question about her talent, but this ascent couldn't be rushed. There was significant Irish interest, a national love affair that has only grown stronger since the 2012 Olympic gold medal. Taylor was in control. Standard.
2: She would face constant aggression. Agitation. Accusations of favouritism, scorecard bias or dirty tactics. Back when she was making up way up the paid ranks in 2017, it was Jessica McCaskill who made her wobble. The all-black combatant was docked a point in the same fight.
Eight years later, Serrano went searching with a big left hook.
3: Taylor stayed calm. She knows this arena and all of its demands. Her first bout here was in 2018. The blockbuster against Delfine Persoon came a year later. Serrano strived to stay on the front foot, like Rose Volante and Christina Linardatou did previously.
4: Another flurry. Outside of the ring, a volatile combination of Puerto Rican and Irish fervour finally had cause to detonate.
At no point in her career has the Bray boxer become distracted by the sort of silliness that often accompanies that. Opponents come forward and propel all kinds of verbal shrapnel, usually after they were incapable of inflicting actual physical damage of their own.
We cast our mind back to an extraordinary press conference at the Manchester Arena in 2019. Linardatou and her camp label Taylor 'fake', her promoter Eddie Hearn 'the Vince McMahon of boxing.' Serrano stepped up her complaints in the weeks prior to this showdown until Taylor snapped back during fight week. Stop the nonsense. You did lose.
After a third defeat last Friday night, Serrano accepted the result graciously.
5: Now she had an opportunity to show her class. It was thanks to the 39-year-old that the sport hit the mainstream. It was her impact that created this all-women's card.
'When I was out there and Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano were walking out, that stadium was absolutely electric,' said an admiring Cherneka Johnson, who had just become the first Australian undisputed champion, male or female, in the four belt era.
'I had goosebumps and it was like 'wow this is truly happening.' To see that moment and to experience that feeling? It's special.' Taylor closed it out with a lead right to head into a rising second half.
6: She returned to stare down Persoon and secure a unanimous points decision in the rematch. She was better in the bright lights of the big city too thanks to familiarity with Serrano's strategy. Combinations bounced off the gloves. Yet another foe found it frustratingly difficult to catch her.
7: None of this is to say the challenge wasn't considerable. The Puerto Rican was stepping up. Her trainer Jordan Maldonado was content: 'You are doing good,' he told her at the break. 'You are winning this. You are looking fantastic.'
8: There were slips. The loss to Chantelle Cameron in Dublin, the first and only defeat. Throughout, it was slick mastery that brought her back into it. Trainer Ross Enamait has been by her side since day one. That is why she relocated to her Connecticut haven where the quiet and the gym provide sanctuary.
'Listen. Two more,' said Enamait.
'Last two rounds, this is a close fight. You have to pick it up now. You have to go on the front foot a little bit. Trust your hand speed to get off.'
9: It all flowed forward. Taylor controlled the pace. A gorgeous 1-2 sequence drew a volley of Oles from the upper tiers. The Irish arrived late on fight night, content to hydrate in the bars of Manhattan instead of taking in the full card. There was only one star in their universe.
10: A hard combination concluded the clinic. Serrano attempted to swing back and found fresh air. It was supposed to go like this.
'The two fights previous ended up as complete wars,' said Taylor post-fight.
'I came out of the ring battered and bruised and I'm thinking, what?
'Why am I just standing there fighting with her? I knew I was capable of using my legs just outboxing her.
'I'm just happy I was able to produce that tonight and execute the game plan that Ross has been telling me to do all along. So yeah, I'm very satisfied right now.' The belts, the banners, the headlines and the acclaim. Came, saw, conquered.