Eddie Hearn-Jake Paul Make Million Dollar Wager

During Thursday’s final pre-fight news conference for the women’s super fight between undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor and seven-division titlist Amanda Serrano, their promoters raised the stakes of the fight on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, DAZN and PPV.com) at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Jake Paul, Serrano’s promoter, proposed a $500,000 bet on the fight to Taylor promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing.

Hearn’s response: “Maybe we can talk about a million.”

FACE OFF 👀@KatieTaylor vs @Serranosisters 🔥

Undisputed 👑 #ForHistory#TaylorSerrano pic.twitter.com/LJsSwKCTVy

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 28, 2022

After some back and forth they shook on it with Paul saying that because Serrano is the favorite, he would bet the million, plus give odds to Hearn.

“We’ll get that papered up, because I don’t know about you,” Hearn said.

Paul later reminded Hearn not to forget about the wager.

“Don’t forget about the bet,” Paul told him near the end of the news conference. “When Amanda wins, I’m giving your million dollars to her. So, I just want to put that out there.”

Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs), 33, a southpaw, who is a reigning featherweight titleholder, is already due to earn her first seven-figure purse.

Hear us discussing the Taylor-Serrano matchup and make picks on the latest “Big Fight Weekend Podcast” by clicking below:

This title bout was originally set for the Summer of 2020, but ended up being delayed by the Covid 19 pandemic and then a contract dispute over money for Serrano. Serrano has a deal with the internet Paul’s promotion, and that has raised her profile more quickly. And, it has obviously helped her leverage for more money for the same fight.

This, as she just fought for the second time on Paul’s PPV card last December in Tampa, FL, winning the co-feature bout in a decision over veteran Miriam Gutierrez.  With the seven different world titles in the four weight classes, she is widely regarded as the most accomplished female championship boxer ever.

Meanwhile, for Ireland’s Taylor (20-0, 6 KOs), 35, she will be making her 13th title defense, including her sixth of the undisputed crown, and also making her first seven-figure purse. And, the bout becomes the first ever to headline a major fight card/broadcast at the main arena of Madison Square Garden.