It’s been a long time since Madison Square Garden has been the site of a game in the NBA Finals or the Stanley Cup Finals, but that doesn’t mean the world most famous arena isn’t familiar with championship atmospheres. More than years ago, tens of thousands of rabid fans waving Puerto Rican and Irish flags piled into their seats as they watched to pugilistic practitioners throw punches until their arms nearly fell off. When it was all said and done, Katie Taylor walked away with her hand raised, but that doesn’t mean Amanda Serrano was a loser. In fact, she was quite the opposite.
On April 30, 2022, Taylor and Serrano did something that couldn’t be quantified or frankly, properly put into context through words. When the two future International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees met in Madison Square Garden for the first time, it was as if magic was as real as the punches the two women threw. While it be disrespectful to the likes of Laila Ali, Ann Wolfe and Christy Martin to say they put women’s boxing on the map, it’s not untrue to say they took it to a new level and tonight, they’ll do the same yet again.
After their first two fights ended in a disputed judges’ decision, Taylor and Serrano will meet for a third time. Serrano, the betting favorite, has everything to gain if she could beat Taylor to capture titles in yet another weight class. Meanwhile, a win for Taylor would arguably make their greatest woman to ever lace up a pair of gloves (No disrespect, Claressa). But above all else, bragging rights are on the line. While Taylor nor Serrano are one to boast about their accomplishment, please know that they are competitors who would love nothing more to say they reigned supreme in one of the sport’s greatest sagas.
Tamm Thibeault v. Mary Casamassa
Division: Midddleweight
Round(s): Eight (Three Minutes Each)
Odds: Tamm Thibeault (-1800) v. Mary Casamassa (+900)
Outcome: One year ago, Tamm Thibeault was training with the goal of a winning a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. While she fell short in her quest to bring Olympic glory back to Canada, she didn’t fall short in her next big opportunity. Opening the biggest women’s boxing event in modern history, Thibeault did more than win; she delivered a performance that could very well win her the $250,000 performance bonus. The former Olympian frustrated and dominated a game, yet outmatch Mary Casamassa en route to a stoppage in the fifth round. Getting her third pro win, the sky appears to be the limit for the rising middleweight in the MVP stable.
Thibeault def. Casamassa (TKO, 5)
Highlight(s)
Note: Odds obtained from Draftkings on Friday, July 11 at approximatelt 2 a.m. EST. Odds may change as fight nears.
Ramla Ali v. Lila Furtado
Division: Super Bantamweight
Round(s): Eight (Two Minutes Each)
Odds: Ramla Ali (-475) v. Lila Furtado (+330)
Outcome: Ramla Ali walked away with the win after eight hard fought rounds, but that doesn’t mean the fans at Madison Square Garden were too pleased. In fact, in-ring host Ariel Helwani mentioned that he had scored the fight in favor of Lila Furtado, who walked out of the ring shaking her head immediately after the scores were read aloud. Still, less than stellar judging aside, Ali moves forward and bounces back after suffering a loss at the hands of Yamileth Mercado nearly one year ago today. While a fight with a Yamileth Mercado or Ellie Scotney seems a step or two further along her career path, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see her in the ring with the likes of Mayelli Flores Rosquero or Erika Cruz.
Ali def. Furtado (UD, 8)
Highlight(s)
Note: Odds obtained from Draftkings on Friday, July 11 at approximately 2 a.m. EST. Odds may change as fight nears.
Chantelle Cameron v. Jessica Camara
Division: Super Lightweight (interim WBC Super Lightweight Championship)
Round(s): Ten (Two Minutes Each)
Odds: Chantelle Cameron (-2500) v. Jessica Camara (+1000)
Outcome: Tonight, Katie Taylor has an opportunity to beat Amanda Serrano for a third time and cement herself as arguably the most accomplished fighter in the history women’s boxing. Regardless, there will always be one blemish on her resume — a loss to Chantelle Cameron. Now, that loss isn’t a reflection of a let down on Taylor’s part. It’s a reminder of just how good Chantelle Cameron is and if anyone needed yet another reminder of how good she was, Cameron let the world know about her talent tonight. The former undisputed super lightweight champion threw her entire toolkit at her opponent, Jessica Camara, and there was nothing that could stop her from walking away without the judges’ decision. Now, she waits to see if she can get a third fight with Katie Taylor later this year.
Cameron def. Camara (UD, 10)
Note: Odds obtained from Draftkings on Friday, July 11 at approximately 2 a.m. EST. Odds may change as fight nears.
Cherneka Johnson v. Shurretta Metcalf
Division: Bantamweight (Undisputed Bantamweight Championship)
Round(s): Ten (Two Minutes Each)
Odds: Cherneka Johnson (-400) v. Shurretta Metcalf (+300)
Outcome: And the new! Cherneka Johnson may have been one of the last fighters added to tonight’s card, but she came to put on a show! Through nearly nine full rounds, Johnson’s accuracy, speed and angles proved to be too much for the durable and game Shurretta Metcalf. With the win, Johnson not only becomes the first Australian native to win an undisputed title in the bantamweight division, but she’s also the first-ever undisputed bantamweight champion of any gender. After the fight, she told Ariel Helwani that she’d like to fight once more before the end of the year. With Dina Thorslund seemingly out for the remainder of the year, she could move up to challenge the winner of Yamileth Mercado v. Ellie Scotney or convince Gabriel Fundora to move up six pounds for a super fight.
Johnson def. Metcalf (TKO, 9)
Note: Odds obtained from Draftkings on Friday, July 11 at approximately 2 a.m. EST. Odds may change as fight nears.
Ellie Scotney v. Yamileth Mercado
Division: Super Bantamweight (Lineal Super Bantamweight Championship)
Round(s): Ten (Two Minutes Each)
Odds: Ellie Scotney (-1000) v. Yamileth Mercado (+550)
Outcome: Yamileth Mercado’s pressure and grit forced Ellie Scotney to use her speeed, range and footwork to earn the biggest win of her career. Now, with the lineal super bantamweight title, could we have a big fight in the works? Earlier this evening, Cherneka Johnson shut out Shurretta Metcalf en route to a ninth round stoppage. Afterward, Johnson told Helwani that she’d like to fight once more before the end of the year. With Scotney and Johnson under the same promotional banner, it’s fair to ask if we will see that fight sooner rather than later.
Scotney def. Mercado (UD, 10)
Highlight(s)
Note: Odds obtained from Draftkings on Friday, July 11 at approximately 2 a.m. EST. Odds may change as fight nears.
Shadasia Green v. Savannah Marshall
Division: Super Middleweight (Lineal Super Middleweight Championship)
Round(s): Ten (Two Minutes Each)
Odds: Savannah Marshall (-650) v. Shadasia Green (+450)
Outcome: When Savannah Marshall burst onto the scene, the UK native built a reputation as a power puncher capable of putting down middleweights and super middleweights with a single punch. However, the Silent Assassin, was handcuffed when Claressa Shields outpointed her in front of her fellow UK natives. Still, most felt only someone of Shields’ talent and skill could stifle Marshall in the way that she did. For a moment, at least, it felt as if that line of thinking was true as she bounced back with a win against super middleweight champion Franchon Crews Dezurn months after losing to Shields. Then, Marshall pivoted to mixed martial arts, seemingly leaving the sport behind for a period, but an opportunity to find in front of thousands of fans at the historic Madison Square Garden drew her back in. Little did she know, another super middleweight champion from nearby Patterson, New Jersey would have her number. After seemingly falling behind in the first three rounds, Shadasia Green began to bite down on her mouth piece and bring the fight to Marshall, rather than the other way around. Hurting Marshall multiple times in the second half of the fight, Shadasia Green fought her way into position to earn a majority decision in a hotly contested fight.
Green def. Marshall (MD, 10)
Note: Odds obtained from Draftkings on Friday, July 11 at approximately 2 a.m. EST. Odds may change as fight nears.
Alycia Baumgardner v. Jennifer Miranda
Division: Super Featherweight (Undisputed Super Featherweight Championship)
Round(s): Ten (Two Minutes Each)
Odds:
Outcome:
