Serrano: ‘I’m fighting the main event at Madison Square Garden!’

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano are set to make history in an epic battle for Taylor’s undisputed Lightweight title at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, April 30 live on DAZN.

Recently, Amanda Serrano opened training camp and welcomed young people from the Garden of Dreams Foundation and SCO Family Services. Amanda, along with actor Rosie Perez, welcomed the group before Serrano displayed her training routine and welcomed 12-year-old Jamiyah Lee from Bed-Stuy into the ring for one-on-one instruction.

Radio City Rockette Taylor Shimko was also in attendance to learn boxing techniques from the seven-division world champion.

Amanda Serrano quotes:

“It’s truly surreal, I’m excited to be in there with another great fighter … undefeated, undisputed champion, Katie Taylor. I’m over the moon.”

“Every other day me and my team just wanted to hang it up and say, ‘it’s not going to happen’ but, it’s the love of the sport – you keep pushing, you keep hoping that one day it’s going to change.”

“Being a Latina from Brooklyn, from Bushwick, I’m excited to say I made it. I never thought I would be able to but, I’m fighting the main event at Madison Square Garden! Who thought that in a million years? I’m making seven figures, a young Latina from Brooklyn.  I never thought it could happen.”

“When I turned professional, I never thought I would be someone who is breaking down barriers for women. I kept pushing, I kept fighting and slowly but surely, it’s coming along.”

“We have to fight ten-times harder than the men because we’re just not fighting for ourselves. We are fighting for the recognition, we are fighting for the acknowledgement, we are fighting for equality.”

“I hope that we show that we can perform, that we can bring people to the seats, we can bring excitement to the sport of boxing and I’m just hoping it’s not the last time women get this recognition, acknowledgement and pay.”

“Rosie (Perez) has been in my corner from the very beginning. She’s a proud Boricua, Latina and she is just a great supporter for any female athlete.  She is a huge boxing fan … and she has always encouraged me to be the best person I can be and the best athlete. When I found out where we were fighting and how much we were making I knew she was smiling and rooting for us and supporting us.”

Rosie Perez quotes:

“When I see Amanda Serrano step into the ring April 30 at Madison Square Garden, I think I’m going to be in tears. I’m going to be screaming “Boricua” and I think half of The Garden will be screaming the same.”

“When someone says Amanda Serrano, I think of a champion. I think of a young woman who is dedicated to her sport. Who’s been knocked around outside the ring in regard to lesser pay, who’s going to have her moment of her career come April 30 at Madison Square Garden.”

“It’s just so exciting. I’m so happy for her.  She’s going to rock The Garden.”

Years in the making, the biggest fight ever in women’s boxing between the pound-for-pound #1 and #2 fighters of the world is one that will not only make boxing history, but women’s sports history. MSG has hosted thousands of fights through its illustrious years, beginning more than a century ago on July 17, 1882; now, 140 years later, this matchup finally marks the very first time two female fighters are headlining a boxing event at the iconic venue.