KATIE TAYLOR admitted she “doesn’t know” if she will keep boxing – but admitted to not wanting to fight Amanda Serrano again.
The 39-year-old retained her undisputed super lightweight titles with a majority decision win over Serrano at Madison Square Garden.
It was her third win over the Puerto Rican in a row and further added to her legendary career in boxing.
As she has been after every fight in recent times, Taylor was asked if she was going to keep going or retire.
And the Bray woman responded: “I don’t know”.
However, she did rule out a fourth clash against her biggest rival, adding: “I just don’t want to fight Amanda Serrano again.
“She punches too hard! She is amazing.”
If their first two fights were white-knuckle brawls that had fans on their feet, the third was a more strategic affair.
Both landed just 70 punches apiece across the ten rounds, as they learned from their previous concussive battles.
This was reflected on the judges’ scorecards, with one ruling it 95-95 even while the other two ruled 97-93 in Taylor’s favour.
She added: “I thought I was boxing very very smart, very well. She wasn’t catching me with much tonight.
“It is always a very, very close contest between myself and Amanda.
“Sometimes it is hard to tell from each round but I just thank God that my hand was raised and I am 3-0.
“I was coming in here planning to fight disciplined and smart. I was planning on doing it the other two times but it didn’t work out like that!
“Thankfully I was able to execute the gameplan really well.
“I have a huge amount of respect for Amanda Serrano. What a warrior! Thank you so much.”
Once again, Madison Square Garden was at a fever pitch throughout the ten rounds, with Puerto Rican and Irish fans packing the New York cathedral.
Serrano – a resident of Brooklyn – was the hometown girl and was greeted to the ring with a showpiece entrance compared to Taylor’s more stoic offering.
As the action unfolded at a methodical pace, the capacity crowd made their voices heard.
Every rendition of ‘Fields of Athenroy’ were answered and then some as another kind of duel played out in the stands.
But in keeping with the rivalry itself, there was little sense of antagonism, more one of respect and acknowledgement of two fighters who had set a new standard in the squared circle.
The victor hailed: “I cant tell you how much it means, people spending their hard earned money to come over and support me and watch me.
“I love you all and I love my country. Every time I step in here, I represent my country, I represent every single one of you guys.
“Thank you so much.”
