Hearn ranks Taylor-Serrano in the history of boxing’s great fights

EXCLUSIVE: Katie Taylor defends her undisputed lightweight title against seven-weight world champ Amanda Serrano at New York’s Madison Square in the early hours of Sunday morning

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Eddie Hearn is well used to staging colossal shows around the world, from Joshua-Ruiz II in Saudi Arabia to Joshua-Klitschko at Wembley.

He is the mastermind behind Katie Taylor’s historic clash with Amanda Serrano when the Irish superstar will defend her undisputed lightweight title against the Puerto Rican. New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden will be a sell-out for the clash in the early hours of Sunday and Hearn says the showdown is off the scale.

He has likened it to Mayweather-Pacquiao with the important difference that Taylor and Serrano are at their peak. Taylor is 35 and unbeaten in her 20 pro fights, while Serrano is 33 and has won nine world titles at seven different weights.

“It’s one of the biggest fights of all time,” said the Matchroom chief. “When you think undisputed champion, greatest fighter of all time, I think in Katie Taylor, against a seven-division world champion, it’s got a little bit of the Mayweather-Pacquiaos about it, but in their prime.

“Two pound-for-pound greats, going at it at Madison Square Garden.

“Commercially both girls are making seven figures for the fight and I don’t see a lot of bigger fights this year in boxing, yet alone being the biggest female fight of all time.

“The biggest female fight of all time is nice, it’s punchy, it’s got a nice narrative, but it’s one of the most important fights in boxing and it’s going to be a great fight. You only have to watch these two fight to know it’s going to be a thriller.”

Hearn admits he never thought Taylor could be this huge when the Irish superstar approached him to turn pro after the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“She messaged me after the Rio Olympics and sent me a direct message on twitter because there was talk of her turning pro after London,” he said.

“Back then, there was no female boxing on TV. We’d seen Layla Ali a few years back and Serrano. Certainly in terms of UK broadcasters, there was no interest at all. So I listened to her out of respect.

“I could see the fire in her eyes and the passion with which she spoke about boxing. I just thought I want to be on that journey, I think this is going to be really enjoyable.

“When we first put Katie on at Wembley six or seven years ago, we got laughed at really. I think my dad was one of those people who were laughing at me – ‘what are you doing?’, ‘no-one interested in woman’s boxing’, it sounds like Bob Arum now. Look at where women’s boxing has come.

“Katie Taylor sold this to me. She’s the first fight who pitched to me about her and her dream and I bought into that dream and she’s done 99 per cent of the work.

“In my office, I’ve got three photos up – Anthony Joshua, Canelo Alvarez and Katie Taylor.

“Although while financially, she may not be the most important to me and the business, she may be the most iconic of those Matchroom fighters because of what she has achieved against the odds.”

• Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano is live and exclusive on DAZN.