Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano: undisputed lightweight championship – live!

The atmosphere in the Garden is positively electric in the moments before the national anthems. Sweet Caroline is in the books and the Puerto Rican and Irish fans are going back and forth trying to best one another on the decibel scale. When Taylor is shown on the Jumbotron, the steady roar of the audience jilts to a high-pitched scream. Same for Serrano, only slightly more deafening. On the whole, it’s a spine-tingling caliber of atmosphere that we’ve only seen the Garden for Felix Trinidad or Miguel Cotto fights in the past.

Three anthems: Republic of Ireland, Puerto Rico and the United States. They’re happening right now. Ringwalks to come.

Liam Smith has just stopped Jessie Vargas in a gruesome battle of attrition before a nearly full Madison Square Garden. Vargas was fortunate to make it to the bell at the end of the ninth round as the Liverpudlian was pouring on the punishment, but referee Steve Willis correctly intervened with 2:19 remaining in the 10th.

The main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano is next. While we wait, here’s our Donald McRae’s interview with Taylor from earlier this week.

Smith and Vargas are into the seventh round of their 12-rounder ahead of tonight’s main event. In the meantime, here’s Tess Crain’s look at Amanda Serrano, whose improbable partnership with YouTuber-turned-boxer-turned-promoter Jake Paul has given one of boxing’s most decorated yet overlooked champions the promotional boost she’s needed to reap the first seven-figure purse of her career.

Although the pairing may seem strange – hyper-focused Serrano doesn’t date, drink, or own a cell phone, while the extremely online Paul puts the “social” and “media” in social media – they have proven a powerful complement. Serrano lends Paul credibility as an athlete and casts him in a new, benevolent light as a champion for women in sport. Meanwhile, he has helped elevate her profile beyond boxing circles and given her unprecedented leverage in securing fights such as this one.

Paul assessed Serrano’s social media presence and gave her targeted ways to amplify her brand: what and when to post, how to engage online with fans, getting professional photographs taken. Her Instagram and Twitter following have swelled. “It’s definitely a big help,” Serrano said. “Now I got Jake Paul behind me and promoting me, shining that light and writing about me on social media and giving me that push.” It has paid off. Along with the history and the glory, this will be the first seven-figure purse of Serrano’s career.

Liverpool’s Liam Smith and Jessie Vargas of the United States are in the ring for tonight’s final preliminary bout. A near-sellout audience of around 18,000 spectators is expected for tonight’s card and many of them are already in their seats.

Both Taylor and Serrano were shown entering the arena on the Jumbotron between rounds during the previous fight. The sight of Taylor prompted rollicking cheers from the stands, but there was an even bigger swell of noise for Serrano, who it seems will enjoy a marginal edge in crowd support.

The atmosphere in and around the building has been crackling all night. And here’s something you don’t normally see: at least three of the Irish pubs on Seventh Avenue were rammed with fight fans watching the DAZN telecast during my walk to the Garden tonight. Normally the television restrictions around fights make it all but impossible for the local bars to show the boxing when it’s so close by, but the normal rules have been lifted for the night and it’s only heightened the sense of occasion.

Preamble

Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s Donald McRae’s preview of tonight’s main event.