5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Taylor v Serrano III: Katie wins again

Episode Date: July 12, 2025

Has Katie Taylor strengthened her claim as the greatest female boxer of all time? Barry Jones joins Buncey to look back on a historic night in New York, where Taylor once again outsmarted Amanda Serrano. We hear from Katie herself, along with her promoter Eddie Hearn, and Ellie Scotney, who added another world title to her collection with an impressive win over Yamileth Mercado.

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Go to pockethose.com slash podcast. That's pockethose.com slash podcast for your two free gifts with purchase. Pockethose.com slash POD C-A-S-T. BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. This is five live boxing. Madison Square Garden delivers. The garden was on fire. tonight. A capacity crowd. The trilogy fight between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. Katie Taylor,

she won again. She's three and zero against the Puerto Rican idol. What a night it was. It was special, very special. The atmosphere was quite extraordinary. I'm Steve Bunce and this is five live boxing. And I'm going to give you the easiest question of the week and of the night, and possibly of even the year. Guess where are? I am. And with Barry Jones, obviously, and I'm in that place, yes, you guessed it,

the Tick-Tock diner. Just out the back at Madison Square Garden. We were in a booth. We've been in this booth once before. In fact, we were in this exact booth after Katie Taylor fought Delphine pursuined for the first time,

and Katie Taylor came in that night, marked and a little bit subdued. That was a tight decision. Well, she's not subdued after this fight, and she's barely marked. Barry, you and I sat down on the high line, the glorious sunset the other day, and the shimmering colours on the Hudson.

You remember all of my descriptions, you and Paddy left me standing, like a lemma now on that railway track. You couldn't take any more of it. We came up of all sorts of scenarios for the fight. Did we come up with the one we had tonight, which was Katie Boxing sensibly from start to finish, winning a...

Winning a, well, sorry, winning what I believe should have been a unanimous decision. In the end, it was one judge had it to draw, the other two had it to Katie, seven, three, if I'm not mistaken. We didn't come up with that scenario, did we? No, we didn't come up with a fight that had no drama, no points of excitement, and a really relatively comprehensive point of victory for Katie Taylor. Comfortable is a strong word to use, but at times it was. Yeah, I mean... A man of Serrano just didn't seem having any um um um um um um um um ff for one of them a better word

i mean they would say possibly would yes french footballer played for arsenal very good sorry i know i know yes i just thought i was disappointed in sarano i'll go be honest because i thought she was maybe the fresh of the two she didn't look it and she just wasn't willing to commit but what's that that you and i said after three or four rounds that we were saying why Why doesn't Serrana pulling a trigger? Why doesn't she letting it go? Well, perhaps it was because Katie just wasn't giving her anything. She wasn't there.

And we're going to hear from Katie in a moment. But Katie wasn't standing for Serrano. Steve, she wasn't doing that in the first fight, or the second fight. She made Katie stand for her. But Serrano, yeah, she was just forced to pace. I mean, it's easy for me to tear on the outside looking at it. Willing to take a shot to give a shot because she's the heavier-handed fighter. And she was just looking, like, afraid to overreach,

which is understandable. And then, so, you know, and, yeah, the first few rounds were very, the first round was a 0-0. Nobody did it. No, no, actually, you had a great line. Barry Jones had a great line. After the first round, Barry would turn to me

and he went, that was 9-9, which is a great line. It was, and you understand, because they know, no one wants to make a mistake. Yeah. But, you know, in two-minute rounds, so you can't, you haven't got the luxury to wait for too long.

I mean, you're playing chicken with time there, aren't you? And, you know, and, so no one, no one really folded. But then, I thought Taylor was just picking up, not doing a lot, just doing a little bit more. And even though Serana was walking forward, it was without any real commitment or speed in her work,

no acceleration and a pace, and her punches like she does in her past. And it made it then, maybe not physically, but tactically, and a little bit physically, but certainly tactically and technically for Katie Taylor, relatively comfortable now, because she didn't have to overthink stuff,

just kept having to do the same bounce back and forth, back and then, you know, and then when Toronto did come forward try and racked off a combination she took a few shots but not enough to really be concerned with and yeah I can't and I've seen online some people had it close or had Serrano, some black Serrano winning

which is ludicrous for me I think you know I mean 7-3 is the right score and if you're only going one way you're going further towards 8-2 further towards Katie I mean after four or five rounds

I had Katie in front but there wasn't a lot in the sense that she wasn't winning those rounds wildly, but then Serrano really wasn't winning them at all. So even open to interpretation, I don't think you can give Serrano too many of them. But certainly down the last three rounds, maybe the last four rounds, seven, eight, nine and ten. Katie was just that bit faster, just that bit smarter.

And in those three or four rounds, Amanda Serrano suddenly looked every hour of her 36, years. 52 fights, world championships at what, seven weights, all sorts of belts, moving up and down in weights from light fly or fly to light welter. I think she looks suddenly tonight a little bit old in those last three rounds. And also, from the first two fights, a little bit richer. A lot richer. Yeah, and that can have an effect on a fight. Not all fighters, but there's quite a lot of fighters have an effect, especially when you're not, like, you're not used to having many, because no she also

well her first world title fight was like peanuts yeah three and four and five hundred dollars she remembers when she first got a thousand dollars for a fight it was about a 25th fight a third like fourth world title fight yeah so you know so all of a sudden she's gone from that to get in seven figures

then you know maybe your hunger desire you think it's the same but it's not you might be training we're going through the motion I'm not saying any of this is true I don't know but that could be a factor why she why she looked a little bit lackluster in her And certainly, there was opportunities that she could have pushed her pace.

It just won in her. I mean, and there was always the questions that I would ask about Katie Taylor. Now, can you keep going to the well? I'd be saying that since 2019. And she continually does. But you didn't force that question out. Didn't force the answer to that question. That's what I should say.

You didn't ask Katie to answer it. No, you didn't know. So that never became a factor. Katie Box controlled the pace, which she does quite, She does quite well, but she hasn't been able to do that with Serrano. Even the fights that she's won, she hasn't be able to take the pace. Cirano's a south ball. Part of it's south board.

She's awkward. She's fast. And she hits, she hits hard. And she made every second of every round uncomfortable for Taylor. Even the wrong she lost, she'd be uncomfortable with Taylor. In this fight, not, I don't think. Even the wrongs that were very, very close you could have given to Serrano. They were never really any real significantly uncomfortable moment for Katie Taylor.

Before we hear from Katie, let me ask you this and we've never ever done this with Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano and this is now their third fight. I've never asked about the pressure leading in, the pressure going in, something that Katie had against Chantel Cameron and lost the very first fight with Chantel Cameron in Dublin. And then for the second fight,

she took the pressure off herself by basically excluding herself from interacting with anybody during the week. I wonder if Serrano, with the whole MVP explosion, I'm wondering if maybe she was under too much pressure and the level of expectation got to her. She's just, you know, her big thing, remember, is no mobile phone, lives a simple life, go shopping, goes to the laundry,

has this really easy life, really simple life. I'm just wondering if the kind of superstar and which she suddenly found herself wandering in and around. I wonder if it got to her a little bit tonight, Barry? Maybe, maybe these are questions that can't be answered, though, unfortunately, but only by the people who... It can't be answered by Super Barry in the TikTok. Let me just tell you, Barry had a litre large strawberry milkshake

that required him not just to use a straw, but to get a fork in there just to break up the ice cream. It was absolutely glorious. His super featherweight days, I can assure you, are finito. I had the chocolate version, okay. You're saying the same way, what are you on about? You're just absolutely, the stuff you come out with, unbelievable. Well, listen, you must get paid by the woods.

Well, yeah, you know, I've got a great by the word story I'll tell you later. I'll tell you during this interview. So there was a point, it was quite late at night. In fact, we're recording this now about 2.30 in the morning, so it's very, very late, even by TikTok post-Madison Square Garden standards. But Paddy and I rushed off and made our way in a very convoluted way where we actually walked through the empty felt forum, which is really weird when it's empty,

and there's no dressings on the wall. It's really kind of barren. It's quite creepy. And we found her way to Katie Taylor's room and Paddy and I could hear the laughter and the celebration and the joy before we got in there. But I got in there, Katie stood up, gave her a hug, stood there. It's Katie talking to me after the fight.

Katie, thanks for letting us in. Katie is a master class. It was brilliant, and you seemed like you were really enjoying it. Yeah, I am. I actually boxed this one this time around. That's what I was told to do. There are two fights as well, but I just happened to be able to execute the game plan a bit better tonight. Use my legs, use my footwork, and I was making her miss a lot more tonight.

And just thank God I was able to execute what I was told to do. I mean, you would just put your feet with right, your timing was right, some of your counters were right. Was it hard pulling yourself back once or twice? Because I saw your land and I just saw you like you were going to go. Yeah, I just knew that I couldn't be greedy in there tonight, I guess. single punches, one-toos and then get out. And the other two fights, I obviously would end up being a war. I just didn't want to

be in a fight like that again. Didn't need to. I didn't need to, exactly. And so I needed to be a bit smarter tonight and thank God it was. She looked a bit bemused at times. Like she couldn't quite work out what was going on. Yeah, just her

obviously she needs her feet to be set to have the land to land punches. So my plan was to move constantly and not let her feet set, basically. and she just needs to have her free planted and so if she can't have a free planted she can't hit me

it's quite simple now at the end and I won't keep you for long because you're surrounded by your real close family and your loved ones at the end you knew you'd won didn't you? There was no

was there any doubt in your mind that you'd get it? No I think it was a clear victory tonight The other two fights were obviously absolute wars and I just thank God that my hand was raising those to the fights but you can't deny this one

this one was a clear victory You know, I've seen you after really hard fights, Delphine Pursune, Chantel Cameron twice, the Amanda Serrana fights. I'm looking at you now, it's like the day before the fight or two days before the fight when you picked up a little mark from a sparring session. You're totally different Katie Taylor right now. Yeah, thank God. I like this side of me. It's not so battered and bruised.

This was an easy life for you tonight, thank God. And I've got to ask you one question. I hate asking these questions. We've still got a big night at some point in the future, somewhere. somewhere. I don't know. I'm going to enjoy this victory, that's for sure, and I'll make a decision and that in the near future.

And absolutely final question, as Brian hits me with the towel. Final question, what was it like? I mean, it was good enough 10 rows back. What was it like being in that ring and looking out? What was that like? The atmosphere was unbelievable. Again, I just can't believe the virus flags. I've seen the crowd was going wild for both myself and Amanda.

Unbelievable scenes. I can't believe that I... sold out mass to Greg Gard twice it's just an unbelievable what a journey what a life it's amazing so Katie there Barry very relaxed small mark underneath her right eye but just so relieved and relieved that she'd boxed that way because it was a fight devoid of you know as we've as as you said at the top devoid of all of the exchanges the lunacy the the the the massive attacks that existed in the first two fights the head or the clashes of heads the loose hair the blood I mean I think it was you that said to me, after four rounds at this stage,

generally the hair's flying around, they're both cut, they're both hurt, they both stumbled into the ropes. It was devoid of that because, well, because Katie just changed the whole pattern of the fight and Amanda Serrano couldn't adjust. Katie made it, I mean, she dictated the pace in the whole fight. She was in total control, and it was quite evident and obvious that Serrano either couldn't or wouldn't commit.

I'm going couldn't and then wouldn't. Me? Yeah, I mean, that's a value. That could be the case, really. It could be, you know. I mean, see, sometimes you can want to box mat and overthink things, and then all of a sudden, you're in round six,

and you're chasing a fight, that's unchaseable now, and then you think, well, I can't over it, and then you write, but then, but even then, actually, even then, the surroundings that we know would just go for it, wouldn't she? Bite down on a gun shield. And that's usually the sign of a fighter, who just can't pull the trigger anymore

and if that's the case then you have to say she's done because you can, I mean for someone like her who dimes out on the power and the strength then if you can't pull the trigger and the engine you're just somebody who's walking

forward that's good someone like Katie Taylor if they lack a bit of umph like again I use that word all the time now she's still got the footwork with the old box shoes she can just go lighted with the punches

and be a little bit faster but if like with some to lose what makes her good almost makes it impossible to fight. Do you think... Don't be a fighter anymore. We talked about it on the High Line the other night

on basically 30 hours or 40 hours ago. We talked about the fact that we couldn't remember a fighter yet, a female fighter yet, after a really good career, who suddenly realizes in one fight that she becomes an old woman or an old man.

You know, we used to call it, we call it it becomes an old man overnight for a men. So did we see Amanda Serrano become an old woman tonight? I would say yes. I mean, we've got to be careful there that we don't sort of make excuses for the losers, it's because they lost. Yeah, of course, yeah. And take anything away from the winner? They're both long in the tooth. That's the truth of it.

So, you know, they're not, we've never got, we're not going to get the very best versions of either one. But with that, I thought we were still going to get a good fight because of the way they were. But, yeah, one, and I thought it was, Taylor was that probably would have declined more than Serrano, and I think it's the other way around. And there is a fighter there that maybe just got old overnight. You don't see it in the gym. Of course not.

Because it's your vision goes, and then with that, your timing goes, and in the gym sometimes. But it's frashions. Just explain, but it's not like you suddenly are doing something. It's not like, say, the equivalent of running 100 metres in 15 seconds, suddenly you run it in 30 seconds. No, you're running it in 15 and a half.

But that half a second in boxing is a difference between winning and losing. Massif. Sometimes you might not be sparring great in the camp, but it's like not always sparring great. It's not always a problem. You know what I mean? You like to, but it's not always a problem. Don't mean you're not going to box great,

and vice versa, by the way. But I mean, so you don't really see it. And if you just slug down a bit, you go, okay, maybe you always get excuses because you're doing another training around, not just sparring and going home. So are you, sorry, by everything, are you in a bit of denial then?

Is the boxer, is the box a malafima in a little bit denial? Listen, let's go back to that. boxers at Agby the biggest lies on the planet because you have to lie about your weight

about how much money you're getting paid and you're lying about the size of your sweet and you have to lie to yourself yeah my sweet

man is when you see it tomorrow but you have to also you have to lie to yourself because otherwise to reach

from where you come from to where you might end up if you get to the top that's an unseen path so you lie to yourself that you are this good until in the end you almost convince yourself

that you're lying at yourself that you are good to be a world champion and then you end up and almost manifest yourself into reality sometimes. You know, you don't make any sense? Yeah, it does. So you're constantly lying to yourself,

lying to other people, I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm fine when you're injured, no, I'm fine. Your whole career is just lying. To get through it. Press conferences, the best camp I've ever had. You know what I mean? You've been dropped three times, it's about it. And it's just like...

But it wasn't four times. Yeah. But you like yourself, because you know what you can do at your very best. And you think, I'll get there. I'll get it right. I get it right. And someone like Serrano,

who's been always been elite for so long who's always got it even got it right in defeats because those defeats could have been wins possibly you know they've had a close fights right win I have a close fights so you're saying don't worry I know what I'm doing I'll push through this trade this barrier go on you carry on

no no no you know what Jack the former producer of this who's off in Hollywood making millions and Paddy the present producer of this is always in Monaco I'm not sure if he's a tax exile and Mike Costello used to sit with us on the pods. They all had a theory in here

that there was something in the air conditioning that meant you went off on these incredible tangents because I kept on going off on incredible tangents and I've got to tell you, I've seen, I'm looking at his eyes, I think the air conditioning is playing the same tangent trick. They're recirculating tangent air, and I don't mind that.

Yeah, but you asked the question that I answered it. I know, I know, I know. And I've been in the detail, those aren't paid to do. You are, you're talking about. You are. I'm going to take us back. By the words, by the way. I'm going to take us back to Katie Taylor's dressing room.

I finished with Katie and Eddie Hearn was off over the other side. He was wearing a green bucket hat and he was very, very happy. I had a little chat with Eddie about what we saw tonight and what we might see in the future. And a little bit of reflection. And I tell you what? It was fairly emotional, Eddie. You've been saying it for about seven years, basically.

Just go out there and box you what? You can't lose. And it's like time and time again. She wants to get into a war, going to the trenches, and tonight she just did what she should do every time, which is be too good, outclasser, out pointer, outskiller. And it was a straightforward job, if I'm honest. And, you know, 7, 8, 9, 10, just, I'll say Serrano gave up,

but she just knew she was getting schooled. Nearly, nearly, nearly. You could see the body language. It was a really straightforward night. Yeah, I mean, she kind of broke her heart without bashing her up, which is real skill. it's a green bucket out for you she broke her heart

without bashing her up and that's a skill yeah for sure I mean that's the ability of Katie Taylor like I said time and time again she's made it so difficult for herself

it's so nice to see her in a changing room not out on her feet bashed up I said we've got another six or seven fights I reckon tomorrow I don't want to dwell on the what's coming up but she's I asked her

and she just laughed so it would be nice to do something one more big fight, it would be nice to do loads more big fights. Honestly, if it was a real hard fought war tonight, you know, then maybe you look at it and after the last fight in the change rooms,

I kind of said to her, it's getting hard now, isn't it? She said, it is. And tonight, she feels like she could fight another 20 rounds. So it just shows you when you box like that. I mean, you know, I know that everyone likes to see a toe-to-to-to-war, but you've seen that. And every Katie Taylor fight tonight, you saw a master class from the greatest of all time.

Were you, did you think she would get dragged in tonight? Do you think, did you, did she, listen, she was warming up in there, and I was looking at her on the pads thinking, and then Serrano was on the big screen in our change room, and I was thinking, she's so slow with her feet. Like, if you just box, you can't lose. And, you know, tonight, sometimes she's boxed like that for five rounds, then as a war. Sometimes it's a war after two rounds, and tonight you got to five, six.

And like the first three rounds were kind of nip and tuck, but then it was a real straightforward fight. I mean, listen, I know that Netflix, you know, they added a draw, which is just baffling. And there's obviously a narrative there. But, I mean, I can't believe Mark Lyson had it a draw. I mean, when I heard that scorecard, I'm thinking, this is a turnover job. And thankfully, the two Americans... Which is a dread all week.

And to be honest with you, 9793, I thought was about as lenient as you could be. I just didn't even have it as a close fight. But, you know, Toronto's a great fighter. And we appreciate the opportunity. from MVP. They've done an amazing job for women's boxing, but this is just, she's the greatest of all time,

simple as. She's different league. Listen, I'll leave it there. See you in, are you around next week? No, I mean,

we've got Bam in Texas, so I'll be a big show in Texas and watching Dubois against Usick during the day. And we'll see you after Bam when you come back or whatever. Yeah, see you there. Hey, listen, it's been fantastic all with, thanks.

So that was Eddie Herman, a green bucket hat in Katie Taylor's dresser. After that, we all left and got in a giant lift. It's the same lift. I interviewed Anthony Joshua in all those years ago, and it got beat by Andy Ruiz. That was a somber lift with just two voices.

Mine and Anthony Joshua's today. They were doing jigs. They were singing Irish songs. Eddie was doing a questionable Irish accent. Bridget Katie's mother was smiling. Katie was smiling. Brian Peters was smiling. All sorts of people were smiling.

It was lovely. Barry, I should have started this pod by talking about the atmosphere. As I say, they've got some tangent thing going on with the air conditioning. But you and I stood up for the entire, both. ringwalks and it was emotional, it was moving, it was funny, it was impressive, it was rowdy, it was noisy, it was spectacular inside the garden tonight. I took a video of both of those ringwalks on my Instagram, Barry Jones 1927. Barry Jones, 1927.

The era of born. And it's the year of Cald City when the FAC Cup, that's only time. But they were mega. I mean, I would say that atmosphere was better than the first one. Yes. It was, I mean, it was so... The pre-fired atmosphere was better than the first one.

And also, we kept going, like, when the Puerto Rican, they were all Puerto Rican, and they were so noisy, you thought, there can't be any Irish in here. Yeah. And then, when it was the Irish shit, all the Irish said, you go, where's the Puerto Rican's gone? And like I said,

there must be, they must be velcroed onto chairs. They switch around? Yeah, switching, like, they must you spin upside down, and then, like, turning off the Puerto Rican, turn up the Irish, and turning them all. Excuse me, a minute.

Excuse me, can I, sorry, not you, I'm a friend. Can I have, could I have 15 strawberry milk shakes? Because whatever's working for Barry, I want some of it. Oh, mate, that happens. I mean, listen, we've been the biggest fights around the world in the last, for me, 15 years, you've a lot longer. And I mean, like, you get a buzz from all big fights. Yeah, of course.

But you also get used to it. Yeah. I've been here before. Oh, not another 90,000 at Wembley. But this, I had the same feeling here that I had for the first fight. It was just a mega, and I'm, and I'm, tapping, I'm like a little kid, I forget I'm in my 50s now, I'm tapping my feet, I'm bouncing

up and down. It's a buzz, and when you hear that, and I never had that in my career, but I never had crowds like that. When you hear that, that's when I put a pair of gloves on. That's when I put my shorts on. That's when you want to fire. I mean, even shave my chest again in the ring. I mean, literally, that's when you want to fight again. That moment is for everybody, not just for them.

That moment, that's for everybody. That gets you involved in the fight, and you're an Sticking with that thing, should you and I do this pod topless right now? Should we do it topless right now? Paddy's saying no. I am, I, ah, this. Barry yes, me now. That air conditioning again.

I will do a massive tangent here. I've had some good experiences this year with big events, boxing obviously, but I also saw the opening night at Bruce Springston at the co-op in Manchester, $22,000. And it was the opening night when he made all those statements. And I tell you what, it was unbelievable that night. I'm telling it was unbelievable. And there was a moment tonight, and I was looking down with you. I think it was at the end of Katie's ringwalk, so we're getting close now to,

because she walked second. And I was looking around, and I did that thing at a concert. You do it. I know you've had some brilliant U-2 experiences over the years. And I was looking round, Barry, in any segment, and there were just people hollering, screaming, holding their Puerto Rican flags, holding their Irish flags, cuddling each other, or just literally howling up at the ceiling.

And it's the same when a good gig, take it, good music is taking place. You look around. No, no one's looking in the same direction, all looking different places. And it had that feel to it tonight. It was absolutely electric. We've got to move on. I'll just do quickly. Savannah Marshall lost a very disputed and close decision to Shadasia Green. So that means Savannah Marshall no longer has the IBF super middleweight title. We're going to hear from Ellie Scotany a little bit later on. Do that again, but say who also wanted 250,000? Oh, yeah, yeah.

Performance bonus. And you remember we mentioned yesterday that Jake Paul and Jake Paul and Nikisa Baderion, the co-founders of MVP, they'd introduced a $250,000 bonus. And we were hoping Ellie Scottney, we were here from Ellie in a moment. We were hoping that Ellie would get it. But I think we both knew that Shadacia Green, who got that disputed decision over Savannah Marshall would get it. Because you know what, it was a shock. And she did fight her heart out.

She was hurting about the fifth round, irrespective of how you and I think it should have gone. So she ended up going back to Patterson, New Jersey, with $250,000 bonus. Yeah, not $250,000, $250,000 bonus. Talking of Nikisa Baderin, I managed to catch up with him as he was leaving the stage to leave the building

after another massive attendance, by the way. There was 19,721. It was officially a sellout. I am with what we call in the trade, a walk and talk with Nikisa. Unbelievable night, top to bottom, amazing fights, amazing atmosphere, amazing outcome other than Amanda being on the wrong and a decision for the third time, but that's just the way it goes. I thought it was a close fight. Obviously, one judge had it a draw and the other two had a different way. Were you surprised how different it was to the previous two fights?

I was impressed by how different it was. There was boxing skill being displayed at a new level by both athletes at this stage of their career, which is pretty phenomenal. And when might we have another big one like this? I know it's early days, but are we talking, you know, six months time, three months time? What's your cut feeling? Jake and I have at least two other big women-centric events planned for 2025,

and we will be launching MVPW, MVP women, and that's what's going to happen. Nicky, so thanks for your time. You've been brilliant all week. Thanks, Big Lad. I really appreciate that. Thank you. The best B2B marketing gets wasted on the wrong people. So when you want to reach the right professionals, use LinkedIn ads.

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It's 2009 and we're in the German mountains. A man straps himself into a car on the world's most dangerous racetrack. He whispers to himself, It's time to put my balls on the dashboard. As he starts the engine. In 15 minutes, he's in an ambulance, unconscious, In 15 years, he's a billionaire. This is Toto Wolf, Formula One's most powerful team boss

and the breakout star of Drive to Survive. This week on Good Bad Billionaire, how Toto Wolf made his billions. Listen wherever you get your BBC podcasts. So I think from listening to Nekisa there, without actually asking him, because it was a bit of a rush. If Amanda walked away, I don't think he or Jake would be bothered.

She's such a part of the business. And as Nekita said, she will be part. of the MVP business. And as he also said, they're going to officially launch MVPW. And by the way, Nikisa and Jake, for all their millions,

all their millions, and all their successes, they were like two children when they got that plaque from that woman from the Guinness book of world records who showed up to give them a plaque for having,

for the first time ever in boxing history, that are the night featured 17 different world championship belts. They were like two children. That was Nikisa. Let's move on a little bit to Ellie Scotany, if we can, Barry. You were absolutely adamant that she was going to do a job on Yamaleev Mikado. I wasn't so sure.

I thought she'd win, but I wasn't so sure. In the end, Ellie was in fine form. Yes, I've got to be honest. I think she can box so much better, but she boxed well. She boxed really good. And if you're going to pick up another world title belt and win every round, That's a great night's work She's now got three versions

Of the World Tiders She's got the IBF, the WBC and the WBO Yeah And I think she can make a clean speak with it all That's the truth of her I mean she boxed so well Yeah I just controlled everything

I mean she got a little bit of right hand happy I mean I'm so critical of her I'm so critical of her I wanted to do so well But I mean I speak to her after that actually She was desperate She was desperate

For you To tell her Two hours after the fight At like 1 o'clock in the morning She was desperate you and her were shaping up and you were showing her how you how you best think she should go backwards

and she should just move a little bit to the way I mean she was taking in she's like a sponge jelly scotny she comes back a little bit tall she bounces out which makes her higher when she should sort of like slide up or swoon on and you have to be an inch and a half high don't need to be higher let's get that way

when you're mine and Ellie's hide yes did I say anything did I make any suggestions but also but she boxed she controlled everything Every time she threw her right hand She couldn't miss No she, the jabber in the early rounds Was good She neglected that then

But landed with dipping in With her left up to the body And over the top And she screwed the girl To be honest And I think and I think And truthfully She should have got that bonus money

I would say that Yeah, you would say that yeah But it's a good nice work Picks up another title Announces itself A good performance I think the best performance Of the night

No, certainly on the main broadcast there of on Netflix So, you know, she, out of all of it, she probably comes away with more credit than anybody else, I would argue. So that's a great night for her, and she gets the opportunity now. And with the backing that they have, to push it on for bigger and better things. So she's got, she had two versions of the world title. She won the third from Yama Le F. Mercado. And the scores were 100 to 90.

That means she won all 10 rounds. And the other two judges had it, 98, 92, which means she won eight of the 10 rounds. So, so it was, it was a consummate performance. Anyway, here's Ellie. having a chat with us after the fight. Ellie, you know I'd say this, but you boxed like a dream tonight in front of 20,000 people at Madison Square Garden

to have another world title. Shall I pinch you or you want to pinch yourself? I've been pinched enough this week. I feel like it'll sink in fully when I get back to the hotel and yeah, that's when I was soak it all in. What was it like walking out into that arena? What was it like?

Before the actual first bunch, what was it like? This is going to sound weird, right? I didn't realize so I was just watching the main event. I'm in Madison Square Garden. I was like, wow, I've just boxed here. It was just another fight. Yeah, like generally I felt like I was just walking in York Hall. I know that sounds mad because of magnitude,

but it was like how I stripped it back in my head. And I just felt like I was floating, but in a good way. Against them, I mean, she's, you know, she's bringing the title to the ring. She's got that, you know, she's got the form. She's unorthodox, yeah, yeah. But you just seemed, it seemed as just dominated, really. Just seemed to control it. Do you know what by the story?

I don't want to say the word easy, but times you made her look easy. My face don't look like it. It never does. Going back to normal, but it was a sense that she was a bit unorthodox, but in there, yeah, I enjoyed myself tonight. I enjoyed myself. It looked like it as well, yeah. Could you sense that she was losing a bit of desire?

Do you know what? The less success she had. Within 20 seconds, I felt her to meet the change, and it was like... What up the first belt? Yeah, because she had the little sort of arrogance to her in the build-up, and I think they thought it was a given. They was in the lift saying that. Good luck and it was just little side in comments

and I just thought, do you know what? Friday night I show I'm the number one in division. I felt like I did that. I didn't see where you were sitting. Did you get the watch, Katie? Yeah, yeah. I just watched it. It was surreal because like I tell you,

I pleading, I beg to get on the first, pleading and beg to get on the second and historic to go on the Netflix headline and how it was it. It was mad. The atmosphere, the atmosphere. You're not going to sleep tonight, are you? I never sleep, I never sleep.

Definitely not going to sleep. You're a couple of days are just flying all over the place. Yeah, literally. Flying back to London. That's the first hand. And then I've got to make my church service at 1pm. On Sunday? Yeah, yeah, yeah, Sunday.

Oh, that would be special, wasn't it? Yeah, so me and my mum will go in and they'll probably give me a few dirty looks because of the state of me. And lots of people have been asking me to ask you, did your mum sort of Wi-Fi out? I know she's got Wi-Fi in Catford. I know she wasn't sure we'd work in New York. Give us the inside track.

Do you know what? She hasn't managed to sort it, but she's enjoyed it. She's left early. She left her. She's probably in bed and her. I'll get a breakdown of a performance tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it. And listen, don't worry about it.

And just quickly, Nikisa Baderian and Jake Portia at the end, they seem to speak to you a little. What do they say to you? Can you tell me? They were just buzzing, and I'm just thankful for them to give me the opportunity, give me the platform to show what I'm about. And I felt like I did that tonight. And yeah, it's just the start, I believe.

The Queen, I took a picture, you know, as you were in the ring, on that giant screen looking at it. I know, the Queen of Catford, fancy silk clothing with MVP all over there. That's why I've got it. I've got you a Scotty T-shirt, though, Bums. I only want $20 for it. Take out of that $250.

Ellie, congratulations. I appreciate you always. I mean it, Bubby. So Ellie Scottney there, clearly, she enjoyed herself. She really enjoyed herself in her. In fact, when we finished talking to, I let you know her secret, she just carried on talking. It occurred to me after about 10 minutes that she was still talking to us,

and you and her were chatting. In fact, then you had to, you told her to go and sit down with her friends and family. Yeah, I just think, you know, she's buzzing, but she does... Flying. So you don't even know what you're doing or where you are, do you know what I mean? And we're enjoying being wrong with them because, you know, we love boxing and, you know... We love boxers and it brings me back to when I box and it brings you back to a time when you, when things were going good for you, whenever that was. I joke, sorry, me.

No, that. Excuse me, can you turn the air conditioning down? Can you change the tangent win, please? Ninety-79 Junior Box of the year for Fitzroy Lodge. Let me stand up attention, sir. Thank you, sir. But I sort of say, listen, I think I just stopped talking now and say, listen, go and spend time with your friends with your people

because, you know, they're the ones you want to be around. They're the ones who are with you and enjoy them with them, you know, to stay away from us. We're just nicking your precious time. We are knocking your precious time. What does she say about her mom? Because I said, is your mum okay? She said, I don't know.

She left early. She's back at the hotel. She's, I'm dreading tomorrow. She'll see me tomorrow. She'll give me a rollicking. You've got to love Ellie Scotty. Now, a little bit earlier, after a really, really tricky week.

Chantel Cameron thought, now Chantel Cameron spent three days and nights at Heathrow waiting for her passport to be returned from the American embassy with a work visa in it. And so she was very late flying out. She got on a plane on Wednesday. So she really struggled to get there. But it worked out well in the end.

She beat Jessica Kamara over 10 rounds, one comfortably. And, you know, would have been nice to have stopped Kamara in two or three rounds and maybe a different Chantel would have. The bottom line is she got 10 rounds. She came over some personal demons with that. I spoke to Stephen Smith afterwards, and he was saying how tough is her trainer.

He was saying how tough she was with. I called up with Chantel. I called up with Chantelle actually not after her fight, but actually near ringside. So it's particularly noisy, particularly crowded. Have a little listen. Chantel, you got the win. Tricky week.

I think you'd agree. It was a bit, but yeah, up and down week for me. Tuesday, I was spending the whole day crying on the phone. It's emotional one, yeah. So just glad to go over here, get 10 rounds in the bank, and get some rounds in the... And a good 10 rounds. I'd say you needed that 10 rounds.

I would have liked to have got up out there, and I felt like... I could have got up out there, but that's why I want to do 3-minute rounds. But in all fairness, the 10 rounds will do you the best in the next six months a year or whatever. Yeah, and it's my first Camber's 50 as well, so we need to be in a meeting to them bounce together, so

everything happens to a region, so it paid off to me. And overall, though, just a relief to get it done and dust it. Yeah, I want the winner next, so I want them 10 pounds and got the win and I don't want to be avoided. I want to face the winning, or if they're not going to fight me, then vacate and I'll fight for my belts together. And what was it like, final question,

what was it like walking out here in Madison Square Garden? Things like that, when I'm in the fight mode, I don't really. Well, you can enjoy it now. Yeah, yeah, no. So Chantelle there, still very much in the mix. I spoke to Michaela Mayer a bit earlier on. She's not with MVP, but she did show up for the fight,

as did Natasha Jones, so I saw, and as did Cloresha Shields. No one thought Cloressa would. But I spoke to Michaela Mayer, and she was hoping Chantel would win because if she can't get a fight with Lauren Price, more on that at some later point, I think she fancies a fight with Chantelle Cameron

at some club. kind of, I don't know, 143 pounds, something along nose lines. So, Barry, 19,721, a sellout at Madison Square Garden. You and I have been ringside for two of the three fights in the trilogy between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrana. We've also been ringside over there for some great nights. We've also been ringside worldwide. We've already established that it was a very special crowd tonight.

But give me another takeaway from the night. with good matchmaking you get a good night I mean boxing nothing guaranteed in boxing so no fight was great tonight

that's the truth of it some good performances but the atmosphere but the fact that the matching was good so on paper it could have been a great night which we all thought

was going to be if you match right the crowds will turn up that's the truth of it and also and Katie Taylor and a man Serrano are superstars

because whatever good the undercard is everyone comes at the top of the bill and it just showed that two superstars

with the right backing Puerto Rico and Irish in New York is a guaranteed sellout I mean it's the best atmosphere I mean it's a unique atmosphere we said this the last time

because it's not a Joshua night it's not a Fury night it's not a Canelo night or the house a night, like a car's like it, go on and on. It's a mixture, and you're never

quite sure who's going to have the bigger crowd, and it's swayed back and forth all night, but when the fight happens, it's just a massive, like, just cacophony of noise, and it's brilliant, and it takes your breath away. So all I can say is, it's the mecca of boxing,

and it's the mecca of boxing for the reason, because when it gets him right, even though the fight wasn't great, when the atmosphere is right, there's no other place in the world. You want to just punch the sky. No other place in the world you want to beat the watch a fight.

Barry Jones is absolutely now. So Barry, I'd like to say to you, shall we meet up tomorrow and have a sauna after a light jog and have a little relax. But of course, we're not relaxing tomorrow because we're going a few miles away across one of the many rivers. I think it's the East River into past Queens, into flushing meadows to the Louis Armstrong Stadium, 14,000 people for another night of World Championship boxing here in New York. Hampshire Sheares in the so-called joint top of the bill against local boy Edgar. Belanga, and I'm going to use a cliche, must-win fight, but it is a what? I think it's a must-win fight for the pair of them,

both coming off of losses. Sorry, let me get that right. Belanga coming off a loss. Shiraz coming off of a draw. Disputed, Joe. Very disputed draw. I mean, even he disputes it. That's how disputed it was.

I mean, it's a really good card, Steve. It really is. I mean, but this fight, and you're right, I think it's a must-win fight for both. I think Belanga comes off a loss, but probably comes into a more confident. because his loss was against Canello. And even though he was never in the races,

he didn't do bad. He had little moments and he had a really good go. Where Shiraz coming off his draw against the damage for the world title looked like he didn't know where he was at times. I mean, he looked like he froze. He looked a bit lost.

He looked like he froze in the occasion. He had a bad hand, but, I know. I would say when he took his glove off and I was ringside there, the hand was massive. Did the hand just pop up? Like, literally like it was blown up. Yeah, it was like a balloon in the box. It might be Joe Karzagi after most of his fights.

And a massive balloon it was, and I'd say, oh, maybe that's why. But I think he froze before that. Yeah, I do too. That doesn't mean he haven't got bottle, or got a bottle. It just means on that occasion it got to him. So this is a fight that he has to win. Now, my old train, I had to say, better to win ugly than to lose pretty.

Yeah. And that's what it is for Shiraz and Balanga. Tomorrow. Just win. Which is why it might be special. You just got to win. And I can see, Belangas is not the fastest of feet,

not the fastest of his hands, doesn't throw in combinations, but he's powerful and direct. And Shiraz, I think, is quite vulnerable as well. He's good, he's fast, when he punches long, when he turns into the shot, he looks fantastic.

But I do think that the way he stands upright and a big right hand over the top, which is Belangas' favorite, added with the left of the body, just screams danger for me. And so I think she has got to be perfect. I think Andy Leon is kind of health because he has you shooting from the hip.

As I've said this you the other day. And that means you turn into the shot with acceleration, so you commit to the shot. So you can touch with the left hand then long as you shoot from the hip. And I don't mean you're throwing from the hip. You're throwing from high up, but you're shooting that hip forward with your shoulder

at 100 miles an hour, which gets you that full extension on the right hand with everything you've got. And Andy will teach that because that's what he does. from the South War stands back to front. And that'll be a weapon for Shivas if you can get that right. But the poem with the jab always makes me tentative with a guy who likes to slide in and throw a big right hand over the top.

So it's very much who can dictate the pace first and make the other guy make mistakes. And just briefly, I consider it the top of the bill in many ways. Shakur Stevenson against Williams-Apida. I like it a lot. I like it a lot. I tell you what, before... Might not gel, but I like it a lot.

I mean, I think it will gel, stylistically, because if Peter comes at you and throws lots of punches, and she calls Stevenson, is a technical genius who likes to think his way through fights. So he can be, and he's been criticized to be a little bit of safety first, because people who have great boxing brains can easily be overthinkers.

I mean, great, but when they become great fighters when they switch their brain off at the right times, like Leonard used to do, even people like Lennox Lewis later on his career, they went to switch his brain off and make an educated risk. But, I think, and before it's a pay the box Tev and Farmer twice,

I would have said, this is a really hard fight for Stevenson, because just the volume alone and the pressure and the strength, even though he wins it, it's going to be really hard. But those two Teven Farmer fight. The way that slick Southport controlled the pace, even though he didn't win, where he could control the other times. Well, you can just say that Stevenson is a massive upgrade from Teven Farmer,

like three or four times, in my opinion. So I think it's a really competitive fight. That's 12-0 to Stevenson, which I think will make it a really good watch. Let's hope it does make a good watch because we're going out there and it's a long way away and that would be a... I think it's going to be a good night. In fact, I know it's going to be a good night. I'm really looking for it this year as a Belanga.

We will be putting out another pod after that. But before I let you go, just to earn your milkshake, earlier on, well, it was yesterday, I suppose, there was a press conference to announce a bill in November in Saudi just quickly. David Benadides against Anthony Yard. It's great. I mean, it's got something about it,

hasn't it? We'll do with it in depth. Maybe we got out of Anthony Yard tomorrow, but I like this fight a lot. It's a really good fight because Benavides loves us here, and the yard has shown, though in defeat,

how tough and good he can be at the highest level. Benevides was a monster of super middleweight. He's been good at Light Hever, but not the same destructive guy that he was, because obviously they're big

and stronger. But they'll meet in the middle. They will. I mean, Yard won't shy from that. I mean, he comes in, and the doggen rightly so. Yard doesn't shy from anything, does he? Let's get it right about Anthony Yard. I told the story to the Americans

on the broadcast today for the zone. It's Suja Mora and Todd Grisham. I love the way you just called the Americans. Yeah, I told the Americans. I said, let me take a story about Antony Yard. I said, when he boxed Sergey Kovalev in his own town, he was offered, step aside. You know this story, but I'll tell the others.

He was offered. aside money, the same amount of the money he was getting paid the box Formula, which is a lot of money, by the way, to step aside, allow Covalhoved to box Canello, which he did anywhere in the end, and then you were guaranteed the shot of the winner, which would have been Canello, Canello was a vacated and got back down the supermarket. So the yard would a fault for the vacantile, and this would be his eighth defence.

Yeah. And probably with a lesser opponent that would become a world champion. Absolutely. And he said no, and I love him for this, he said no, because he was ready for the Covade, he was in Russia, and he wanted to get his credit for going over there and beating Kovalev. And it never happened for him.

But boy, it nearly did a one round, and he went down fine. But regardless of that, he made a city move financially to dream to be great. And didn't that was sports all about, the magic of sports, dreaming to be great,

forgetting about, for a minute, you're stupid you are, but for a minute, forget about the financial rewards. I'm just saying yes. I mean, just say yes. I mean, I'd say that fight this all the time. Just say yes. Barry, Barry Jones, I had the phone call,

Ernie Fossi, John Box Football Tile. Yes. Yes. I didn't know when, where, why or who. I didn't have a clue. Luckily, the guy wasn't very good and I won it. But I mean, what I'm trying to say is, just say yes. Better B'ev. No one to fight better Biev.

Aya said yes. He doesn't win, but he gains credit. No one's to fight Benavides. He just says yes. And he might regret it because Benevita's a monster, but he might just win. And what he will get, though,

is a lot of money and the respect of everyone in the sport because of that. You know what, Barry, I've got to tell you, mate, daring to dream, taking a risk. Absolutely perfect. Sums it up absolutely brilliantly. Barry Jones, thank you so much for being with me, what seems like a very long night and joining me here in the TikTok. Get yourself another milkshake or get yourself some, I don't know, some pancakes or something.

So the trilogy ended with, well, close to a master class from Katie Taylor. Amanda Serrano, we're not sure where she's going to go from here. It was a special night. It may not have been as good as the fight might not have been as good as the first two fights, but forget that. It was still a magic event. If you listen to the joy in Barry's voice and my voice, when we're describing that 15 minutes when we waited,

we watched them coming to the ring, it was absolutely brilliant. Barry, it's been a pleasure and a delight. The week's not over yet. It's flushing meadows tomorrow. I've been Steve Bunce, and this is a continuation of an extraordinary every week in New York. It's also Five Live Boxing. Thanks for listening.

From my very first game, I knew that I wanted to be a goalkeeper. The buzz and the adrenaline that I got from it. The dream was to always represent my country. Mary Earbs, desperate to impress. I remember saying, I know I've got what it takes. You have to be obsessed. Mary Ours with a Super Save. You just look at some of the saves that she makes.

Not everyone can do that. I really had no idea really how far I would go. Anglings. I felt like my world was. That was the moment that was in pieces on the kitchen floor. You have to hit rock bottom to understand what you really want. Mary would put herself in front of anything and feel like she could stop it. I've done something that I'd always dreamed of doing that I never knew if I'd get the opportunity to do.

Mary Earbs, Queen of Stopps. Watch on BBC Eye Player.