WHEN KATIE TAYLOR first stepped in a boxing ring more than 25 years ago, she disguised herself as a boy. Back then, girls were banned from competition in her native Ireland; if she was going to fight, she had to hide.
Now, Friday night and streaming live on Netflix (8 p.m. ET), the eyes of the boxing world will be trained on Taylor -- the fighter who transformed this sport in many ways -- and the rivalry that has transcended it. Taylor will return to Madison Square Garden to take on Amanda Serrano for the pair's third -- and likely final -- chapter, with Taylor's undisputed junior welterweight championship on the line.
Serrano, 36, is ranked No. 3 on ESPN's pound for pound list (Taylor is No. 2, behind Claressa Shields). She's held nine major world titles across seven weight classes.
Their first contest, a classic back in 2022, was the first women's fight to headline New York City's iconic arena, and ended in a split decision in Taylor's favor. Last November's rematch was also hotly contested -- on the scorecards, where all three judges handed a slim 95-94 victory to Taylor; and in the discourse, fueled by Serrano's accusations of Taylor intentionally fighting dirty (allegations which she later retracted).
The duo's intrigue and talent have pushed women's boxing to heights Taylor would have deemed unimaginable when she was an amateur tying up her long hair to hide under her headgear -- seven-figure paydays; headlining MSG's first all-women's card, a blockbuster lineup that features 17 world titles contested across five fights, presented by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions. All of which, Taylor says, in a conversation ahead of Friday's fight, explains why -- at 24-1 in her career and 2-0 against Serrano -- she didn't need this fight, but wanted it.
These days, in this sport she has helped build, she will not hide for anyone or from anyone. Here comes the trilogy.
Editor's note: This conversation with Taylor has been edited for length and clarity.
ESPN: You've won the first two fights against Amanda; why did you feel like you wanted a trilogy fight?
Katie Taylor: I just wanted to be involved in as big a fight as possible. And I knew after the second fight, this was still the biggest fight in women's boxing. And I don't think anybody can ever say that I ever avoided any fighter.
ESPN: Amanda has been vocal about her objections to the outcomes of the previous fights. How did those objections, or the debate that surrounded those objections, factor into your determination to pursue a trilogy fight?
KT: I don't really care what Amanda or her team or anybody else has to say about the fight really. My hand was raised at the end of those fights and I am 2-0 here. I just wanted to be involved in these huge, history-making fights. And with all the complaining and stuff from the other side, I think that they definitely should be sitting down and thanking me for this opportunity because I didn't need this fight.
ESPN: How do you think about Serrano as a challenge?
KT: She's obviously a super fighter. I have a lot of respect for Amanda. I think she's a great person as well. So she's obviously just a fantastic champion in her own light. We're going to have to show a lot of heart in there, a lot of grit. It's always going to be that way against her. I think we both get the best out of each other because of that.
ESPN: In combat sports, the rivalries that become hallmarks in those sports almost transcend it. Frazier and Ali, and in the UFC, Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones. What does it mean to women's boxing to establish that caliber of rivalry?
KT: I think it's incredible. And I'm just so grateful that I have someone like that, because in order to have these history-making fights, you need the right dance partner. And we definitely helped everyone to grow the sport and elevate each other as well. So I'm very, very grateful that I have Amanda Serrano during this time.
ESPN: Having the right dance partner, how did it change you as a fighter?
KT: Myself and Amanda, we get the best out of each other each time. And you're thinking of these, like, amazing trilogies in the sport-Gatti/Ward, Ali/Frazier, Golovkin/Canelo-these kind of trilogies, they always show amazing skill, amazing heart. I think that's what people are seeing out of myself and Amanda over these last two fights. You're seeing the skill, you're seeing the heart, you're seeing the chin, you're seeing the will to win.
ESPN: Where do you want to see the sport go next?
KT: I just want these nights to continue. Where we're actually headlining these big, huge shows on a consistent basis. I think the talent is there right now, to actually do it. The quality of this card alone is absolutely mega.
ESPN: Is there a moment (besides Taylor-Serrano) that you're most excited to see how it plays out?
KT: The likes of Ellie Scotney is very, very exciting to watch. The co-main event, Alycia Baumgardner [facing Jennifer Miranda] is amazing to watch. There's just so much talent on the show. I'm just excited to see how people actually perceive it. And I'm looking forward to seeing all the comments and the remarks afterwards.
ESPN: When you think back on your journey, what moment for you -- whether it's been a fight or just a moment when you walked into a gym to train -- crystallized for you the distance between where the sport is now and what you walked into?
KT: I think one of the most amazing moments for me was after the first fight in Madison Square Garden, when I went back to the gym, and there's some female boxers in the gym just purely because they watched that fight.
We have an impact on that young generation coming up; it's actually inspiring the next generation. And there's gotta be something about fighters going off to be world champions just because they watched myself and Amanda Serrano and our first fight and even again the second fight.
That's the impact that you want to make on the next generation. And I can't imagine just the inspiration that's going to be for some of the young girls watching on July 11th.