Notebook: Respectful rivals Taylor, Serrano revel in rematch
Barrios living dream; Benn aligns with powerful manager; Kabayel-Bakole no go; Cacace-Nunez deal made; Billam-Smith interview; Benavidez-Morrell lock in date, site; Quick hits; Tyson Show and tell
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Whatever happens in the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson heavyweight main event — and many think it will be a disaster with the 27-year-old Paul facing the 58-year-old former undisputed champion Tyson in his first official bout in almost 20 years — rest assured the co-main event is no joke.
The fight will pit undisputed women’s junior welterweight champion Katie Taylor against unified featherweight champion Amanda Serrano in a long-awaited rematch of surefire Hall of Famers and two of the best pound-for-pound female boxers on the planet on Friday (Netflix worldwide, 8 p.m. ET) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Their first fight was unforgettable in the highest-profile women’s boxing match in history in April 2022 in New York, where they were the first women to headline at Madison Square Garden, which they sold out.
Taylor, then the undisputed lightweight champion, won a disputed split decision over Serrano, who has won titles in a women’s record seven division and moved up to challenge for her title. It was an instant classic fight and it was obvious a rematch would have to happen.
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