Kayla Harrison says Katie Taylor & Amanda Serrano took women’s sport to ‘new level’

MMA star Kayla Harrison has lauded Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for their historic boxing title fight at Madison Square Garden last weekend. 

Taylor defeated Serrano via a split decision in a contest many have labelled as the best women’s fight of all time. 

Harrison, who is a two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo and a two-time Professional Fighters League (PFL) champion, stressed that she was amazed by what the fighters managed to achieve for both women’s boxing and women’s sport in general. 

Speaking to reporters at the 2022 PFL 3 media day, Harrison said: “For me as a female athlete and as a woman in general, and I think just an athlete, it was super inspiring to watch.

“My hat goes off to both of them. They couldn’t have done a better job in the ring, out of the ring – class all the way.

“They raised women athletes to a whole new level that night. And I think that’s the goal besides trying to beat people up for money. The goal is to raise the bar and make it a little easier for the next generation so they don’t have to fight as hard to just get noticed. The goal is to take over.”

Harrison is a former training partner of Ronda Rousey and has been competing in the PFL since 2019. 

So far, the 31-year-old is undefeated in 12 professional fights and won the Women’s Lightweight Tournament against Taylor Guardado in October 2021. 

There were question marks over her future and whether she’d move to other promotions but the American has re-signed with the PFL after a long free agency period.

Harrison returns to the cage this Friday in the main event of the 2022 PFL 3, where she will take on Marina Mokhnatkina in a lightweight bout. 

Meanwhile, a rematch between Taylor appears to be on the cards, with a second fight