Women’s boxing has reached a level of attention that would have seemed almost unimaginable a decade ago. But with Katie Taylor preparing for her retirement fight and Amanda Serrano also signaling that the end of her career could be approaching, a major question is hanging over the sport: what happens when two of its biggest stars are gone?
Taylor and Serrano did far more than produce three major fights. They helped turn women’s boxing into a major attraction. Their first meeting at Madison Square Garden in April 2022 became an historic event, with Taylor winning a close split decision. The rematch followed in November 2024, again with Taylor getting her hand raised, this time by unanimous decision.
The trilogy finally ended in July 2025, when Taylor defeats Serrano by majority decision to complete a 3-0 sweep and retain her undisputed super-lightweight championship. The fight headlined an all-women’s card at Madison Square Garden, another major moment for the sport. Their rivalry gave casual fans a reason to follow women’s boxing. But its biggest legacy may be the platform it created for the generation coming next.
Taylor is now preparing for what has been announced as her retirement fight against Flora Pili at Croke Park in Dublin on September 5, 2026. The 40-year-old Irish star has already cemented herself as one of women’s boxing’s most accomplished fighters, becoming a two-weight undisputed champion and Olympic gold medalist. Her farewell at Croke Park is expected to be a huge celebration of her career.
Taylor has also revealed that she essentially retired after the third Serrano fight, only continuing because she wanted the opportunity to have her final fight at Croke Park. So, unless plans change, women’s boxing is preparing to say goodbye to one of its biggest stars.
The end of Taylor and Serrano’s careers does not necessarily mean the end of women’s boxing’s golden era.
There are already fighters capable of carrying the sport forward. Claressa Shields remains one of the biggest names in women’s boxing and recently added another major victory, stopping Kaye Scott in the sixth round. Yet even Shields has acknowledged the importance of finding a genuine rival who can create the kind of rivalry-driven excitement that Taylor and Serrano produced.
Chantelle Cameron, who famously defeats Taylor in their first meeting before losing the rematch, remains another elite name. Cameron is also campaigning for important changes in women’s boxing, including the use of three-minute rounds. Then there is Ellie Scotney, who recently became Britain’s youngest undisputed champion in the four-belt era before moving up to featherweight. She has already identified Serrano as a potential legacy-defining opponent.
The sport is also seeing greater promotional investment. Most Valuable Promotions and Matchroom recently announced a strategic partnership aimed at creating more opportunities and bigger events for female fighters, while Skye Nicolson joined MVP and is being positioned as one of the faces of the next generation.
Women’s boxing has the talent. What it needs is for promoters to consistently put those fighters against one another, build meaningful rivalries and give them the platforms needed to become household names.
