KATIE TAYLOR made it a hat-trick of victories over Amanda Serrano – closing the chapter of their iconic rivalry once and for all.
It was not the thriller that came before it and did not live up to the action of the original and sequel.
Perhaps it never could.
But it was a more polished display of boxing between the two great rivals – who relied less on pure grit and ferocity this time around.
As the fight went to the judges scorecards – for the third time in a row – no one could truly know what would follow.
But, after verdicts of 95-95 and 97-93 twice, it was Taylor’s most decisive victory of all in the eyes of two of the judges ringside.
She said: “I just want to thank Amanda Serrano as well, what an amazing fighter, we’ve made history here.
“I thought I boxed very smart, very well. She wasn’t catching me with much.
“It was obviously very, very close. Just thank God my hand was raised. I planned to come in here and be disciplined and smart.
“I executed the game plan very well. Total respect for Amanda, what a warrior. I love you all, I love my country. Thank you so much.”;
The opening round was the most cautious of openers out of all three bouts in the trilogy series.
With nothing doing in the opener, Serrano took slight control in the second landing a left hand as Taylor continued to size her up.
Taylor let go a lightening combination in the third but Serrano came right back with her own – much of what we’re used to with these two.
The round ended with an exchange of blows in the corner, Taylor just getting the better of it with a clubbing check right hook.
Ireland’s Olympic icon found her rhythm in the fourth, boxing on the back foot with a bounce in her step, landing with the long right hand.
Taylor really gained control of momentum in the fifth round, landing a succession of rights as Serrano crept forward trying to land in numbers.
Serrano walked onto a combination from Taylor in the sixth but responded with a flurry of her own in a sequence of nip-and-tuck boxing.
Extremely tight and hard to separate rounds followed in the seventh and eighth, with Taylor landing on the back foot and Taylor walking her down.
Much like the previous two instalments, Taylor landed the cleaner while Serrano threw in bigger numbers and scored with a big left hook.
With two rounds remaining – the fight truly there for the taking – it was Serrano who put her foot on the pedal but it opened her up to Taylor counters.
The amateur boxing icon landed a couple of beautifully-timed right hands with Serrano committing over her front foot.
As the tenth and final round of the fight – the 30th of the rivalry – it was still all to play for.
And much like the two fights that came before, it was impossible to know who was heading to victory when the finished.
But the judges favoured Taylor’s cleaner work over Serrano’s pressure and more reserved approach.
Serrano, truly unfortunate to walk away empty handed from the trilogy, said: “We tried something different, it was all about working smarter, not harder.
“I tried to keep my distance because apparently it didn’t worth the first two fights. So we tried to stick with the long punches and it just wasn’t enough.
“I don’t know, I have to go back and watch it. My team told me they think I won, I’m going to believe what they tell me.
“I was really trying to apply what they were telling me. I really want to support every single one of you for coming out and supporting me and women’s boxing.
“What an amazing night for all of us women. I’m crying at the support, thanks to all of you.
“Thank you Jake Paul, you’ve changed my life. Thank you Netflix for showcasing us warriors.
“Thank you Katie Taylor for an incredible 30 rounds, it’s been a true honour.”;
