Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano provided another block-buster fight in November on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson. Their first fight in 2022 was labeled the greatest women’s boxing match in recent history, and their rematch followed a similar script. Following ten rounds of jaw-dropping action, the result mirrored their first encounter.
38-year-old Taylor walked home with a disputed unanimous decision win, with many calling for a trilogy fight. Regardless, Taylor vs. Serrano quickly became the most-watched fight, with an impressive 50 million concurrent viewers reported on Netflix. This massive viewership is reflected in their substantial paychecks as well.
The rivals reportedly walked away with a staggering combined purse exceeding $12 million from the fight. Taylor’s share was reported at $6.1 million, while Serrano claimed her purse was even higher. This marked the largest payout in the history of women’s boxing, setting a new benchmark for the sport.
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Despite their record-breaking earnings, Taylor and Serrano did not make it onto Sportico’s 2024 list of highest-paid female athletes. According to Kurt Badenhausen’s report, the top 15 female athletes collectively earned $221 million. Leading the list was tennis star Coco Gauff, claiming the No. 1 spot with $30.4 million in total earnings.
Highest-paid female athletes of 2024 via @Sportico
▪️ Top 15 earned $221M, up 27%
▪️ Coco Gauff the 3rd woman to crack $30M after Serena, Osaka
▪️ Top 15 includes 9 tennis players
▪️ Newcomers in top 10: Caitlin Clark, Zheng QinwenFull breakdown: https://t.co/HLb5PT7FTr pic.twitter.com/NmlGw2ysX4
— Kurt Badenhausen (@kbadenhausen) December 4, 2024
In fact, nine of the top fifteen female athletes were tennis players. Newcomers to the list included WNBA star Caitlin Clark and Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen. To make it into the top 15, Serrano or Taylor would have needed to surpass $6.4 million, the earnings of New Zealand professional golfer Lydia Ko, who ranked 15th.
To break into the top ten, Serrano or Taylor would have needed to earn over $11.1 million, the amount WNBA star Caitlin Clark earned to secure the 10th spot on the list.
On a separate note, Serrano initially accused Taylor of headbutting during the fight on purpose. However, that seems to have changed.
Amanda Serrano takes back her accusations against Katie Taylor
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Right after the fight ended, Serrano, who is champion in seven weight divisions, blamed Taylor for headbutting her throughout the fight. One of these headbutts also opened up a vicious cut over Serrano’s eye. “She kept headbutting me,” Serrano said during the in-ring interview. “We knew from the first fight it’s what she does.”
Serrano even roped in Chantelle Cameron, stating, “Not only my fight, [Taylor] did it with Chantelle Cameron. She uses her head.” However, the next day she took to X to congratulate Taylor for her victory, noting, “Tempers are flared when you’re in the heat of battle & you say things you shouldn’t say.”
She also added, “In no way should I ever had said she did it purposely, it’s her style that makes for them.” Despite what was said or who ended up clenching the belts, there’s no doubt that Serrano and Taylor are the greatest women boxers in the current generation, if not ever.
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While women in boxing have made significant strides, there’s still a long way to go before they catch up to their counterparts in other sports. The rapid growth of women’s boxing is undeniable, and as more women rise through the ranks, the day will come when they dominate these lists. Do you think Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor should have been paid more?
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