In the world of women’s boxing, few rivalries have generated as much passion and intrigue as Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor. Their first fight at Madison Square Garden in 2022 was a historic showdown — the first women’s bout to headline the iconic venue — and it lived up to every ounce of its billing. Taylor emerged victorious that night in a razor-thin split decision that many felt could have gone Serrano’s way. Since then, both champions have carved out new chapters in their legacies, but the fire for a rematch has never truly faded. Now, as talk intensifies about a second meeting, Amanda Serrano might be closer than ever to flipping the script — thanks to the blueprint left behind by the only woman to ever defeat Katie Taylor as a professional: Chantelle Cameron.
When Chantelle Cameron handed Katie Taylor her first pro loss in May 2023, it stunned the boxing world. Taylor had gone undefeated through the Olympic ranks and into her pro career, becoming undisputed lightweight champion and an icon for women’s boxing. But Cameron, the naturally bigger fighter and undisputed champion at 140 pounds, exposed cracks that Serrano has studied closely. Cameron’s victory wasn’t a fluke or a lucky punch; it was a masterclass in controlled aggression, ring IQ, and relentless pressure — exactly the style Serrano excels at when she’s at her best.
Serrano’s camp has openly acknowledged that Cameron’s performance offered them invaluable insight. For years, Taylor’s speed, footwork, and flurries of combinations have frustrated opponents into fighting at her tempo. Cameron refused to play that game. Instead, she cut off the ring, forced Taylor into uncomfortable exchanges, and never let her settle into rhythm. Serrano, who holds titles in seven different weight classes, has long been one of the sport’s most relentless pressure fighters. Her stamina, punch volume, and southpaw angles give her tools that, if applied with the right tactical discipline, could replicate and even enhance Cameron’s game plan.
In their first fight, Serrano had moments when she made Taylor look vulnerable. The fifth round of that clash is still talked about with awe — Serrano had Taylor rocked, bloodied, and on the ropes. But instead of closing the show, Serrano allowed the Irish fighter to escape and regroup. In hindsight, that single round is seen as the turning point that cost Serrano the win. This time, Serrano is determined not to let history repeat itself. Watching Cameron stand her ground and impose her will for ten disciplined rounds has reminded Serrano of the importance of sticking to a plan and finishing what she starts.
Training alongside her longtime coach and brother-in-law, Jordan Maldonado, Serrano has been retooling her strategy with an emphasis on pacing, punch selection, and defensive awareness. She knows that simply charging forward won’t work — Taylor’s counters are too sharp, and her ability to steal rounds with late flurries remains dangerous. Instead, Serrano wants to fight “educated pressure,” cutting off Taylor’s escape routes and trapping her against the ropes more effectively than before.
There’s also the matter of mindset. Serrano, the reigning undisputed featherweight champion, has never lacked confidence, but Cameron’s win has given her proof that Taylor can be beaten — and not just by outboxing her from the outside, but by taking the fight to her chest. Cameron did not show Taylor too much respect, and that may be the final ingredient Serrano needs. Their first bout was a respectful clash between two legends. If there’s a rematch, it will be war — and Serrano knows she needs to fight with the belief that she is the bigger, stronger, hungrier fighter.
Beyond tactics, there’s motivation. At 35, Serrano is a pioneer for Puerto Rican boxing and women’s combat sports as a whole. She’s crossed over into MMA, defended countless belts, and broken pay-per-view records with Jake Paul’s MVP Promotions behind her. But one thing she doesn’t have yet is a win over Katie Taylor — the rival who denied her undisputed lightweight glory and a place atop the pound-for-pound debate. With Cameron’s blueprint and her own fierce pride driving her, Serrano may never have a better chance to change that narrative.
Katie Taylor, for her part, will not roll over. She learned from the Cameron fight too, avenging the loss in their rematch and proving why she remains one of the sport’s smartest tacticians. If Taylor vs. Serrano II happens, it won’t just be a fight; it will be a clash of adjustments, experience, and two champions desperate to have the final word. But if Amanda Serrano can channel Cameron’s ruthless blueprint — and add her own ferocious volume to it — Katie Taylor’s aura of invincibility may finally be shat
tered for good.
