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Hearn predicts ‘career defining’ ‘big bucks’ Garden bill topper for Taylor and Serrano

Eddie Hearn is backing a match up between Katie Taylor [14(6)-0] and Amanda Serrano [37(27)-1(0)-1] to be an ‘historic fight for women’s boxing.’

Speaking after Serrano defeated Heather Hardy in New York on Friday, to all but officially set up a ‘Mega Fight’ with the Irish sensation, Hearn was waxing lyrical about the potential meeting.

Undisputed lightweight world champion Taylor and seven-weight, nine-time world champion Serrano have constantly claimed it’s the biggest fight in women’s right now, but the Matchroom boss suggests it’s bigger than just that.

The English promoter believes it could be a career defining fight, the first female fight to headline at the famous Madison Square Garden and suggests it’s the biggest female fight of all time.

“For me, that could be the first all-female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden, Katie Taylor against Amanda Serrano,” Hearn said in the ring on the weekend.

“Serrano was brilliant tonight, and Heather Hardy showed so much guts.”

“I think Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor are going to move into the big bucks now, and I think that it a massive fight and a career-defining fight for both fighters, and a historic fight for women’s boxing.”

Serrano won’t be Taylor’s next opponent. The Bray native will trade leather on the top of a November 2nd Manchester card in a light welterweight world title fight versus Serrano’s WBO successor Christina Linardatou.

The rumours are the decorated pair will meet in New York in February of 2020.

Hearn didn’t give too much away, but intimated at the move to 140lbs – although he reveals the move up in the scales doesn’t bring down the chances of Taylor, who would perhaps be best suited to super featherweight, trading leather with Serrano.

“Katie might go up to 140 for her next fight to try and become a multi-weight world champion herself,” Hearn told DAZN post-fight.

“She’ll still hold all the belts at 135 — 135 [is] not a problem for Katie Taylor to make.”

Serrano’s promoter Lou DiBella also sees The Theater at the Garden as the ideal venue.

“I told Eddie if that is the main event at The Theater, it will go clean. There will not be a walkup crowd because it will sell out in advance,” insists DiBella.

“That’s how significant that fight is. It will bring out the entire Irish population in New York, the entire Puerto Rican population in New York.”

“It will bring out the boxing fans who will recognize it not just as a women’s match but a great fight between two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.”

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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