Erick Rasco/Sports Illustrated
NEW YORK — Your winner, boomed the voice of David Diamante and from a few feet away Katie Taylor gazed straight ahead, expressionless. Six years after turning pro, five since she won her first world title, three since she became the undisputed champion at 135 pounds and here was Taylor, battered and bloodied after a hellacious, Fight of the Year–caliber war with Amanda Serrano, awaiting the judges’ decision.
Next to her. Serrano, the rugged, Puerto Rico–born, Brooklyn-raised seven-division world champion. Serrano didn’t pick up boxing until she was 18. If Taylor, the Olympic gold medalist, was bred for this moment, Serrano had to claw her way there, through fights in small ballrooms and on untelevised undercards, mixing in MMA matches to pay the bills until a young YouTube star came along with the goal of making Serrano a household name.