Boxing

KATIE TAYLOR will face Amanda Serrano in the ‘biggest women’s boxing fight in history’ on April 30 at Madison Square Garden.The undefeated Irish star, 35, will put her 20-match undefeated record – as well as the undisputed lightweight title – on the line against the Puerto Rican.
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano has been confirmed for April 30 at MSGCredit: Matchroom
Jake Paul described it as the ‘biggest women’s boxing fight in history’Credit: Getty
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn described it as the ‘greatest thing to happen to women’s boxing’ as Jake Paul also announced the big news on Twitter.
The two fighters were due to meet back in 2020 until the Covid-19 pandemic forced the bout to be called off.
Now history-maker Taylor, a two-weight world champion, is finally set to go one-on-one with the woman that has held nine major world titles across seven different weight classes.
Serrano is promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, and the YouTuber tweeted the official fight poster along with: “Biggest women’s fight in boxing history. We did it @Serranosisters  @MostVpromotions. 
“Thank you @KatieTaylor  @TheGarden  @EddieHearn  @MatchroomBoxing  @DAZNBoxing.”
Taylor said: “This is a fight I’ve wanted for a long, long time and I’m just excited for it to finally take place because these are the kind of fights I’m in the sport for.
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“People have been talking about this fight for years and there have been times I wondered if it was ever going to happen, so I’m very grateful to Eddie Hearn, everyone at Matchroom, DAZN and Madison Square Garden for getting it over the line.
“When I turned professional my goal was to be involved in huge events like this so to headline at Madison Square Garden in a fight of this magnitude is really the pinnacle of the sport.
“It’s such an iconic venue and has been home to so many of the historic moments in boxing and I truly believe this will be another one.”
Hearn added: “Everyone talks about the biggest fight in women’s boxing, but also, one of the biggest fights in boxing.
“We’ve been working hard for a long time on women’s boxing and I’m just so happy that fight is made and at the mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden.
“They deserve everything they get. Two trailblazers. One undisputed champion, one seven-division champion – it’s going to be a massive event.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is reportedly still willing to step aside from his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk – despite Tyson Fury’s claim he’s set to face Dillian Whyte.WBC heavyweight champ Fury hinted his long-awaited showdown with Whyte was on the brink of being finalised this morning just hours after accusing Joshua of snubbing a lucrative step-aside deal.
Tyson Fury recently claimed Anthony Joshua turned down step-aside money for his rematch with Oleksandr UskCredit: REUTERS
And the Gypsy King has since hinted his showdown with Dillian Whyte is a goCredit: Instagram @gypsyking101
Eddie Hearn insists Joshua has not made a decision on his next moveCredit: RETUERS
But promoter Eddie Hearn insists Watford warrior Joshua, unlike the Gypsy King, has yet to make a decision on his next move.
The Matchroom Boxing chief told The Daily Mail: “It seems Tyson now doesn’t want to fight Usyk next.
“You never know what he wants from one day to the next but at the moment he is insisting on a warm-up fight with his mandatory challenger Whyte which would delay everything.
“AJ can’t wait around all year while Fury goes on to meet Usyk in late summer.
“He would need contracted cast-iron guarantees that he would get his chance of becoming the undisputed champion by December at the latest.”
As it stands, Fury’s Battle of Britain with Whyte is set to go to purse bids at 6pm UK time on Friday.
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And barring a dramatic turn of events, Joshua’s rematch with the undefeated Usyk will take place in the spring as planned.
Hearn said: “We have lodged the fee and notice of our bid on Dillian’s behalf.
“Frank Warren and Bob Arum may seek yet another extension in that bidding and we would agree if it looks as if we really can reach a deal in advance.”
Hearn has accused former lineal heavyweight champ Fury of shying away from the opportunity to become undisputed heavyweight champ.
He told iFL TV: “The reality of the situation is; we would be willing to see a long-form agreement with a plan for AJ.
“But we’re not even at that stage. Tyson Fury had the opportunity to discuss – Fury doesn’t want to fight Usyk, in my opinion.
“Because he had the opportunity to do it through these discussions and really, when it came down to it, he really don’t want to.
“What Fury wants to do is have a little easy one in March, that’s what he really wants to do.
Dillian Whyte is the mandatory challenger for the WBC heavyweight titleCredit: GETTY
“Now, he’s going to have to fight Dillian Whyte, and by the way, after all of this kerfuffle, he’ll get beat by Dillian Whyte, he’ll get knocked out by Dillian Whyte.
“But the reality is, when it really came down to it, he never wanted to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
“Because he could’ve gone straight into a fight with Oleksandr Usyk, but he didn’t want to go straight into a fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
“But you won’t ever hear that and the public won’t ever hear that. You’ll just hear Fury on Instagram, screaming and shouting with smoking mirrors.”
Although Fury has seemingly pivoted to settling the score with Whyte, Hearn is refusing to rule out the possibility of a unification bout with Usyk coming to fruition at the eleventh hour.
He said: “I don’t believe it’s off the table because people are still discussing it. That’s not a deal that I’ve necessarily put together.
“We’ve been approached with a plan and from my point of view, I’m saying I would be willing to see a long-form agreement to look at some kind of plan that would give AJ the opportunity to fight the winner between Fury and Usyk for the ‘best heavyweight in the world tag.
Eddie Hearn has claimed Tyson Fury wants a warm-up fight before facing Oleksandr UsykCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
“But the reality is that Tyson Fury’s the one that’s decided, really, that he doesn’t want to fight Usyk next.
“Whether he tells you that or not, that’s the truth. He was not willing to fight Oleksandr Usyk for undisputed.
“Because he wanted a fight first in March against someone else, now he wants to fight Dillian Whyte. He changes his mind every day.”
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EDDIE HEARN claimed Tyson Fury has pulled out of fighting Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title. Usyk is currently contracted to a rematch with AJ, having beaten the British superstar in September for the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
Anthony Joshua, Eddie Hearn and Oleksandr UsykCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Tyson Fury is in talks with Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
But Middle Eastern backers were leading talks for the Ukrainian to instead face WBC champion Fury in a historic four-belt unification.
For that to happen, Joshua, 32, and WBC mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte, 33, would need to receive a fee sit out, believed to be £15million and £5m.
And Hearn admitted they were ready to listen to offers for AJ, but would also need a guarantee of fighting the winner between Fury, 33, and Usyk, 35.
But the promoter has now claimed the Gypsy King ‘never wanted’ to fight Usyk next and will instead face No1 contender Whyte.
Hearn told iFL TV: “The reality of the situation is; we would be willing to see a long-form agreement with a plan for AJ.
“But we’re not even at that stage. Tyson Fury had the opportunity to discuss – Fury doesn’t want to fight Usyk, in my opinion.
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“Because he had the opportunity to do it through these discussions and really, when it came down to it, he really don’t want to.
“What Fury wants to do is have a little easy one in March, that’s what he really wants to do.
“Now, he’s going to have to fight Dillian Whyte, and by the way, after all of this kerfuffle, he’ll get beat by Dillian Whyte, he’ll get knocked out by Dillian Whyte.
“But the reality is, when it really came down to it, he never wanted to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
“Because he could’ve gone straight into a fight with Oleksandr Usyk, but he didn’t want to go straight into a fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
“But you won’t ever hear that and the public won’t ever hear that. You’ll just hear Fury on Instagram, screaming and shouting with smoking mirrors.”
The reality is that Tyson Fury’s the one that’s decided, really, that he doesn’t want to fight Usyk next. Eddie Hearn
Despite talks progressing between Fury and Usyk, at the same time the WBC have set a Friday deadline for a fight with Whyte to be agreed.
If no deal for Fury to face either Usyk or Whyte is struck, the WBC will go to purse bids for the mandatory title defence.
Hearn said: “I’m very confident there will be a bid tomorrow, for Fury against Whyte. And I believe that’s the fight that will happen next.”
The promoter revealed talks are still ongoing between Fury and Usyk, and is open to a deal that would allow AJ to step aside, and fight the winner.
But again he accused Fury of opting out of the challenging Usyk for all the belts.
He said: “I don’t believe it’s off the table because people are still discussing it. Thats not a deal that I’ve necessarily put together.
‘CHANGES HIS MIND EVERYDAY’
“We’ve been approached with a plan and from my point of view Im saying I wold be willing to see a long-form agreement to look at some kind of plan that would give AJ the opportunity to fight the winner between Fury and Usyk for the ‘best heavyweight in the world tag.
“But the reality is that Tyson Fury’s the one that’s decided, really, that he doesn’t want to fight Usyk next.
“Whether he tells you that or not, that’s the truth. He was not willing to fight Oleksandr Usyk for undisputed.
“Because he wanted a fight first in March against someone else, now he wants to fight Dillian Whyte. He changes his mind everyday.”
Hearn is now expected to bid against Fury’s promotional team of Bob Arum and Frank Warren to stage the fight with Whyte.
Meanwhile AJ is now set to rematch Usyk, with the chance to win back the belts he lost in London.
Eddie Hearn expects Dillian Whyte to fight Tyson FuryCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More