Taylor v Serrano predictions and boxing betting tips: Taylor facing first defeat

Free tips, best bets and analysis for a huge weekend of boxing including Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano.

Where to watch

Taylor v Serrano DAZN, approx 3.15am Sunday
Smith v Vargas DAZN, approx 2am Sunday
Stevenson v Valdez Sky Sports Main Event, approx 5am Sunday

Best bets

Amanda Serrano to beat Katie Taylor
1pt 4-5 Betfair, Power

Jessie Vargas to beat Liam Smith
1pt 9-4 bet365

Shakur Stevenson to win by decision v Oscar Valdez
1pt 4-6 general

Taylor v Serrano big-fight preview

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano clash for the undisputed lightweight crown in the biggest women's boxing contest of all-time.

Serrano is a fantastic WBC, WBO, and IBO featherweight queen and the Real Deal has only suffered one defeat in her 44-fight professional career.

The Puerto Rican usually carries plenty of punching power and it will be interesting to see if she can carry that force up at 135lbs. Taylor, meanwhile, is the unbeaten and undisputed lightweight champion and the Bray Bomber is a brilliant performer.

That should make for a terrific tussle at Madison Square Garden and at the prices it could pay to side with Serrano.

Taylor boasts speed, timing and shot placement, but there isn't a great deal of bang in her punches and she was given a tough time by Natasha Jonas 12 months ago before underwhelming against Firuza Sharipova last time out.

It's possible that the Bray Bomber is slowing down at the age of 35 and that doesn't bode well ahead of her toughest test. KT doesn't have the power to stop Serrano in her tracks so take the Real Deal to live up to her name in New York.

Liam Smith v Jesse Vargas

On the undercard, there's an interesting bout between two former world champions in Jesse Vargas and Liverpool's Liam Smith.

Beefy is the strong favourite for this fight and the Merseyside puncher certainly has size and activity in his favour.

However, Smith was given a hard time in defeat against Magomed Kurbanov last year, and although a win against Anthony Fowler followed, that victory was far from routine.

The only three defeats on Vargas's card have come against Timothy Bradley, Manny Pacquiao and last time out against Mikey Garcia.

The New Generation has been out of action since that 2020 defeat to Garcia but the Californian performed with credit on that occasion and the tough 32-year-old is sure to be in top condition.

Quotes of 9-4 look to underestimate the chances of a Vargas victory.

Shakur Stevenson v Oscar Valdez

Over in Las Vegas, unbeaten duo Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson will duke it out in a super-featherweight unification bout.

Stevenson is one of the hottest fighters in boxing and he delivered on his promise when stopping the tough and experienced Jamel Herring to claim the WBO belt.

Valdez defeated Britain's Scott Quigg to win the WBO featherweight belt in 2018 and the Mexican destroyed his countryman Miguel Berchelt to win the WBC super-featherweight crown last year.

Stevenson's skill and class should swing this contest in his favour, but the New Jersey man is likely to be wary of the heavy-hitting Valdez.

Expect Stevenson to put on a boxing masterclass and secure a decision victory over the Mexican.

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