‘I’m pinching myself’: Katie Taylor speaks of her admiration for Mike Tyson ahead of Serrano fight

Irish boxer is co-featured with Mike Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul in Vegas in July

Katie Taylor, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, YouTuber and professional boxer Jake Paul, Puerto Rican professional boxer and WBA and IBF title holder Amanda Serrano. Photograph: Peter Foley/EPA
Katie Taylor, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, YouTuber and professional boxer Jake Paul, Puerto Rican professional boxer and WBA and IBF title holder Amanda Serrano. Photograph: Peter Foley/EPA

Katie Taylor has spoken of her admiration for Mike Tyson as she spoke ahead of the fight against Amanda Serrano, which will take place in Las Vegas on July 20th.

Taylor’s boutt is co-featured with Tyson’s return to the ring to fight YouTube boxer Jake Paul, the fights being broadcast on Netflix.

“When I grew up, I fell in love with the sport in the 1990s, Mike Tyson was the biggest name in boxing, during that time he was ferocious, it was amazing to watch,” Taylor said.

“He’s a real historian as well, I love his knowledge of boxing, his way of speaking. I just can’t believe I’m sitting next to Mike Tyson right now, I’m pinching myself.”

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Taylor and Serrano fought at 135lb in 2022, but after beating Chantelle Cameron to become the undisputed champion at 140lb last November, the rematch will take place at the higher weight on July 20th.

“I feel really good at this weight, lots of women fighters go up and down the weights, I do feel very strong this week. The last time myself and Amanda fought, it was an epic fight, it was an iconic fight in front of 20,000 people in Madison Square Garden,” she said.

“It felt like the whole of Puerto Rico and Ireland were there that night. To do it again in front of 100,000 people, this is amazing for the sport, live on Netflix. This is iconic.”

David Gorman

David Gorman

David Gorman is a sports journalist with The Irish Times