An unprecedented audience of 1.5 million tuned in to watch Katie Taylor edge Amanda Serrano on Saturday, making the event the most-watched women’s boxing match ever.

Viewers from more than 170 countries tuned in to the historic matchup on DAZN, with the biggest fanbases coming from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Taylor retained the undisputed lightweight crown, putting on a thrilling fight against Serrano in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,187 at Madison Square Garden.

“Everyone was talking about this fight being the biggest in women’s boxing history, but I think it actually exceeded everything that people were talking about,” Taylor said. “This was a special, special moment. I think that both myself and Amanda have broken down so many barriers in the last few years in our sport. I love my sport and I want to keep making history.”

Serrano said the historic moment was about more than the two boxers and about more than a win or loss in the ring.

“We won,” Serrano said. “We won for equality. We won for fair pay. We won for boxing. We won for women. We won for young girls. So I raise my hand as a champion, no matter what the outcome of one fight was.”

NEW YORK — “Are you here for the Hulu theater?” the woman asked passersby, in her thick New York City accent, “or da fight?”

Madison Square Garden on Saturday night played host to twin attractions: Franco Escamilla, the comedian, told jokes in the smaller Hulu Theater. Upstairs, in the main building, with the concave ceiling and the championship banners and the 140 years of boxing history, was “da fight.”

The MSG official ended up directing far more people to her left, toward women’s sports history. For the first time ever, two women main-evented a boxing card at the World’s Most Famous Arena, and Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano put on a show for the announced sellout crowd of 19,187.

Taylor successfully defended her WBA, IBF, WBO and WBC lightweight (135 pounds) titles in a split decision over Serrano, but not before a thrilling finish. Both fighters, correctly sensing the decision would be tight, unleashed a flurry of heavy head shots as the final bell approached, foregoing defense as the crowd reached a fever pitch.

Two judges scored the fight 97-93 and 96-93 for Taylor, and a third 96-94 for Serrano.

“I had to produce a career-defining performance to actually win tonight,” Taylor said afterwards, with a cut over her right eye. “Everyone was talking about coming into this fight, it was the biggest fight in women’s boxing history, but I think it actually exceeded everything that people were talking about.”

That was hardly an easy task, given the heavy promotional campaign spearheaded by Taylor’s representation, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, and Serrano’s representation, Jake Paul of Most Valuable Promotions.

Paul and his brother, Logan, are a pair of YouTube stars who in recent years have cashed in on their fame inside the boxing ring. Brash, blond and surprisingly competent as boxers, the brothers have pulled in millions for their fights, against other social media stars and former mixed martial arts fighters and boxers (Logan lasted all eight rounds in an exhibition fight against Floyd Mayweather).

The Pauls, depending on the perspective, have either resuscitated boxing, a sport facing decades of decline, or squeezed it for its last drips of profitability. Either way, there’s no denying the renewed interest and bigger paydays for fighters across the board. Serrano and Taylor, who both pulled in seven-figure purses for Saturday’s bout, aired exclusively on DAZN, can both attest to that after years of being underpaid.

The excitement surrounding the event was clear Saturday night as the fighters walked to the ring.

Serrano, who was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in Brooklyn, beamed as her fans sang along in Spanish to her entrance music — “Pepas” by Mau Giemenez Ft. Dj Zeeggo. Taylor, the biggest name in women’s boxing and one of Ireland’s most decorated athletes, was stone-faced as she walked down the aisle. Her fans raised Ireland flags and waved green light sticks.

“Just looking at the packed stadium — unbelievable,” Taylor said later.

The first round was low on histrionics. The fighters were feeling each other out, each landing some notable combinations. Then, Serrano, who holds world championships in seven divisions but is a natural 126-pounder, went on the offensive in the fifth round, busting up Taylor’s nose with a steady stream of powerful blows. At several points in the round, Taylor needed to lean on Serrano to remain upright, and all three judges scored the round for the challenger (10-8, 10-9, 10-9).

Taylor was able to recover, however, and was the clear victor in the final three rounds. With the win over Serrano (42-2-1, 30 KOs), Taylor (21-0, six KOs) remained undefeated in her professional career.

“She’s tough. She’s a warrior. She’s Irish,” Serrano said. “She was able to withstand the power.”

It’s been quite the run for a fighter who was not even legally allowed to box when she began her amateur career. Pretending she was a boy named Kay, Taylor carved her own path and literally blazed the trail for female boxers in her country and abroad.

She faced perhaps her stiffest yet Saturday against Serrano, who looked impressive in defeat. So impressive, in fact, that the boxing world — including Serrano and Paul — is already looking toward a potential rematch.

“We’re going to get the next one,” Paul said, “in Ireland.”

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

The matchup between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano was billed as the most significant women’s boxing event in history, and the fight lived up to the hype.

Taylor of Ireland defeated Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano via split decision in front of a packed Madison Square Garden crowd Saturday night in the first boxing match headlined by two women at the New York venue. The victory secured Taylor the undisputed lightweight championship.

Saturday’s bout ended with both boxers visibly exhausted after throwing heavy rounds of punches into the 10th round.

Serrano looked poised to take the title in the fifth round, landing shots that left her opponent bloodied and stumbling. Taylor, however, stuck in the fight to preserve her unbeaten streak, improving her career record to 21-0 with six knockouts.

Serrano’s record now stands at 42-2-1 with 30 knockouts.

“We billed this as the biggest female fight of all time,” said Taylor’s promoter, Eddie Hearn. “And it became one of the biggest fights in boxing today. What we witnessed was one of the greatest fights in the history of Madison Square Garden.”

The MSG event was a long time coming. Initially scheduled for May 2020, the fight was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Saturday, before she stands in the ring opposite Katie Taylor in the first superfight in women’s boxing history, Amanda Serrano will step inside her sanctuary: the local nail salon.

Seated beside her older sister, Cindy, in a massage chair, Serrano will close her eyes as the nail technician paints her toenails red — matching with Cindy. “And,” Serrano said, “I (will) picture me winning.”

It is a pre-fight ritual that has grounded Serrano on her journey to the top of the sport. She enters Saturday’s match, the first women’s bout to headline Madison Square Garden in the building’s 140-year history, with a 42-1-1 record (30 KOs) and the owner of world titles across seven divisions.

She is considered the second-best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, behind Taylor, the undisputed lightweight (135 pounds) champion who brings a 20-0 record (six KOs) into the bout. Taylor is a national hero in her native Ireland and, along with Serrano, is credited with helping to elevate the sport’s global profile.

They are a pair of fighters powered by ability, hustle and, most importantly, belief in themselves. But both Serrano and Taylor admitted they never pictured themselves main-eventing MSG.

“This is going to be the pinnacle for me,” said Taylor, who will defend her WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring female lightweight titles.

When Taylor began boxing as a teenager, in the late 1990s, women’s boxing wasn’t allowed in Ireland so she pretended to be a boy with the faux name Kay. By the 2012 Olympics, when women’s boxing was sanctioned for the first time, Taylor was a household name in her home country, winning gold as a lightweight.

Around the same time, Serrano was starting her run of dominance in the United States. A native of Puerto Rico who grew up in Brooklyn, Serrano took up the sport as a way to connect with her sister Cindy, a multiple-time world champion before her career ended in 2018.

As Serrano rose up the ranks, winning championship after championship, she grew frustrated with the gender pay disparity.

“We were fighting for world titles and getting nowhere near what men were getting,” Serrano said. “When I won my title at 135, I got paid about $4,000-5,000. I didn’t get paid much, but we did it for the love of the sport. We were hoping and praying that one day it would get better.”

Serrano found her lifeline in an unlikely source: Jake Paul.

The controversial YouTuber turned boxer, whom Serrano referred to as a “feminist,” signed Serrano to his Most Valuable Promotions in September 2021. With Paul by her side, Serrano has reached even bigger audiences, and both Serrano and Taylor, who’s represented by Matchroom Sport’s Eddie Hearn, are set to earn seven-figure paydays for the fight.

Paul and Hearn during Thursday’s news conference agreed on a $1 million bet for the match, which will air on DAZN and have highlights featured on Buzzer. Paul noted that, if Serrano wins, he’ll give the bet earnings to her.

For all of the hoopla surrounding Saturday’s showdown, neither fighter will be content with just showing up at MSG. It’s one thing to headline the biggest women’s boxing match of all time; it’s another to win it.

“I love these sorts of challenges,” Taylor said. “I was born for these challenges.”

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

Kira “Pink Panther” Makogonenko is going viral for her awe-inspiring training routine.

The 13-year-old Ukrainian boxer can be seen on a balancing platform, juggling two balls in one hand while sparring with a punching bag in an incredible multitasking feat. Focused but seemingly unbothered, Makogoneko’s cool demeanor is earning the young athlete fans across social media. If you’re in need of some mid-week inspiration, watch the up-and-coming star’s transfixing training sequence for a shot of motivation.

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Kira is literally built different. 🤯 (kiramakogonenko/IG)

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The boxing phenom’s balancing act appears to be paying off, with the young star boasting of a 58-0 fight record on her Instagram page.

Makogonenko is no stranger to eccentric training exercises, posting videos of her boxing while blindfolded, throwing backflips in the ring, and even training in the snow. Her unique approach to the sport has earned the young boxer a loyal social media following, with her Instagram page attracting 158,000 followers.

If Makogonenko’s extraordinary acrobatics are any indication, the youngster will be a force in the ring and one to watch for years to come.

Sarah Thomas is boxer from Bethpage, New York, fighting out of Academy of Boxing in Huntington, New York. She began her combat career as a kickboxer, with an undefeated record. During her amateur career, she won the Ringmasters (formally Golden Gloves) tournament. Her professional boxing debut was delayed due to COVID-19. As a sports science graduate student who also trains younger boxers, she’s managed to keep busy in the meantime, even as much of her day-to-day has shifted online. Below, she spoke with Just Women’s Sports about how she discovered boxing, the importance of mental health, and what it’s like competing in a male-dominated sport.

What originally led you to boxing as a sport? 

I’ve always been more aggressive in sports. I actually played lacrosse in high school, but I would get kicked out of every game. I didn’t really actually know how to play lacrosse, to be honest, but I was just athletic, so my friends were like, “Yeah, join.” I just got in trouble every single game, because I was just charging directly at people. I was just the worst lacrosse player ever. And then I liked the idea that boxing was an individual sport. In an individual sport like boxing, I couldn’t blame anyone else. I liked that a lot.

I didn’t actually start until I was 20 though, and I’m 30 now. I first competed in kickboxing, but then my coach left. He told me he was in the FBI and that he was getting re-stationed. I didn’t even know he was in the FBI. So after he disappeared, I went to another gym, and I was dabbling with MMA for a little, but I realized I liked the boxing aspect the most out of all of it, so I decided to just stick with boxing. I like kickboxing, but I don’t actually like getting kicked. With boxing, I can focus on one thing, and I like practicing the same thing over and over, which I feel like a lot of people don’t like. I like the idea of, “I’m going to do the same thing a thousand times so I get good at it.”

How did you first realize you had a talent for combat sports? 

I took kickboxing just to try it out and as a workout. I went to the gym, took one class, and was like “All right, I really want to fight.” The coach wouldn’t train me because he had never trained a girl, like all those movies, and then finally he decided he would.

20 seems late. At what age do women usually start their professional careers?

Usually it seems that women start later in life. Really, you can turn professional whenever you feel ready, but the licensing to become a pro varies by state. So you just have to be able to pass the medicals and everything, and then you have to find a promoter who wants you. You have to find someone who likes you, and as a woman, you just have to be marketable. I have noticed that with women’s combat sports, what you look like goes a long way, as sad as that is. It’s like you either have to look good or just be so good that you’re almost some freak.

I wanted to ask you, what is it like being a female in what many would consider to be a male-dominated sport? 

I feel like it was harder in the beginning of all of it, and now there’s a lot more girls than there were before. I feel like every year continuously gets easier and there’s more acceptance. At first, it was really hard for me to find fights. I couldn’t just turn professional without having enough experience. But then the people who were amateur, they were few and far between, and they wouldn’t compete against me. I couldn’t gain experience to get better because I couldn’t really get matched up, so it was hard in the beginning with that.

With boxing, actually, in the ’90s it was really popular for women. That was during the time of Laila Ali. And even before then, it was popular for a little while, and then it fell off. It resurged again recently because it was allowed to be in the 2012 Olympics.

How would you describe the popularity of the sport now?

I think Ronda Rousey, even though she’s MMA, really helped make women’s combat sports more popular. And then also Claressa Shields won the Olympic gold in 2012 when women were allowed in the Olympics, and she won it in 2016. I think she brought the popularity back, and there’s been a few other girls who have made women’s boxing popular again. Now women are actually getting paid. I was actually going to have my professional debut on May 8th, but that didn’t happen because of COVID.

Do you have Olympic aspirations?

I had thought about it at one point, but the weight class I was competing at wasn’t in the Olympics. I sort of just wanted to go pro because I had kickboxed for a while, and when I made the decision to just focus on boxing, I had enough combat sport experience where I wanted to just be a professional rather than spend a lot of time as an amateur. And once you’re professional, you can’t compete in the Olympics.

Can you talk a little bit about how you manage to stay in shape, stay healthy and stay motivated while participating in such a punishing sport?

There used to be times when I would do three-a-days, which is so stupid, but I thought that more was better. I actually train less now, and I feel stronger now than I did, which is weird. I think I was over-trained for a long, long time. So now that I’m older and I train less and eat whatever I want, I actually feel stronger. I actually eat pretty clean, but I don’t count with macros and I don’t count calories or any of that. I honestly just eat whenever I feel like I want to. So if my body is like, “All right, I’m hungry,” I’ll eat. And I don’t do it according to a science or anything, I just try to stay healthy.

I’m sure there’s going to be a point where I feel like I’m getting weaker than I was, and I guess that’s when I’ll know that I’m on the downswing, but I feel like I’m still getting stronger, so for now I’m good. And I notice that with women in fight sports, it seems like a lot of them are older. There’s some girls that are still pros that are in their forties. It’s kind of crazy. I think it’s one of those sports where you can be older as a female.

How important is mental health to you in boxing? 

I’ve had anxiety and OCD since I was really little. The first time I ever noticed that I had OCD, I was eight. It’s a really weird thing to understand. I don’t know how to describe it, but basically it’s like an extreme form of anxiety where you feel like you have to do certain rituals to overcome bad things. Your brain tries to cope with the anxiety through some sort of action, and then you can also have thoughts and the thoughts can keep you up. It’s basically anxiety on steroids, and yeah, I’ve dealt with that since I was little. I always felt from a young age the only time I wouldn’t really notice a symptom of that would be when I was playing sports. So when I played soccer I would never notice that, because I’d be so in the moment that I wouldn’t be able to worry about anything else besides that moment, and boxing’s very much like that. Your head really can’t be anywhere else, because you’re so worried about defending yourself and throwing punches that you’re not thinking about whether you paid your credit card bill or something that gives you anxiety. It’s helped a lot. Honestly, it’s like my version of a drug. If I hadn’t found sports, I don’t really know where I would be. It helps me tremendously in coping with my anxiety. And I’m very open to talk about all of that, because anytime I say, “I have anxiety,” almost everyone that I say it to is like, “Me too.”

I imagine a lot of athletes view sports in a similar way. I have to ask, have you ever had any terrible injuries from boxing?

So in kickboxing, I actually broke my foot, but I didn’t know I broke my foot until after because of the adrenaline. I thought I broke my toe, and then after my fights I saw that my bone was sticking through my skin. I had to have surgery, because that kind of break doesn’t just heal on its own. And then I’ve broken my nose, but it wasn’t from getting hit. A girl accidentally headbutted me. That was not fun. And then besides that, surprisingly, not really.

I’ll have minor things, like maybe my wrist will hurt for a week and I’ll just rest it, or my knees would hurt for a week from running a lot, but then I just rest them. Nothing serious. I’m sure if I got an MRI of my entire body it wouldn’t be pretty though. I have disc issues too. I feel like that is from ten years of combat sports, but I don’t know. Nothing that gives me a lot of pain or anything.

Speaking more generally, how do you recover from a typical fight? 

I stopped doing this, but what I used to do is I would cut too much weight, and then I would compete, and then after the competition I would eat everything in sight and just drink lots of Gatorade and lay in my bed for two days and that was it. I mean, I’ve never really had any crazy recovery, but I actually changed weight classes because one time, two fights ago, I cut too much weight and I had to get IV fluid after, and then that’s when I finally was like, “All right, I’m getting older. My body’s not going to allow me to continuously drop this weight, so I’m just going to move up in weight and feel better and not have to worry about weight cutting anymore.”

Do you have any favorite memories or fights from your career that stand out?

I won Golden Gloves, which was fun. I think that was my favorite. I actually got no sleep the night before, and I had just broken up with this guy I was dating, and it was a really crappy time in my life. But I was just like, “Screw this, I’m winning.” And I won the whole tournament, and did it on no sleep. I felt like it was all in my brain mentally because I wasn’t even able to train the way I wanted to, but I just convinced myself that I was going to win, and it gave me confidence.

Looking ahead, what do you see for yourself in terms of moving forward in your professional career? Do you see yourself competing for a long time?

Honestly, I can’t really pick an end date, but I feel like I would just do it until I felt like my body wasn’t right. If I ever took like a head injury, I would leave too. I’ve never been knocked out or anything, and I think that’s something that would stop me. Because I don’t want to have brain damage.