Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano Joins List of Greatest Boxing Trilogies

Friday night in New York, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano hope to add one more fight to complete a boxing trilogy that will be long remembered.

The sport has delivered some memorable boxing trilogies, but Taylor and Serrano hope to resonate as deeply as some previous trilogies that test the heart, skill, and will of the fighters involved.

We take a look now at some of the greatest in boxing history: Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier, Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward, and Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales. Each trilogy captivated fans in its unique way and left a lasting imprint on the sport.

Greatest Boxing Trilogies of All Time

Boxing Trilogies: Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier

When discussing boxing trilogies, no trilogy looms larger than Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier. Their first meeting in March 1971, dubbed “The Fight of the Century,” saw two undefeated champions collide in a long-awaited battle at Madison Square Garden in New York. Frazier retained the championship in a highly competitive 15-round decision, sealing it by dropping Ali with his patented left hook in the final round. It was the first of five eventual Muhammad Alilosses in his Hall of Fame career.

However, Ali would even the score back at the Garden in January 1974 in a less memorable battle, beating Frazier by decision in a non-title bout and setting the stage for the legendary rubber match—the October 1975 “Thrilla in Manila.”

Fought in the searing heat of the Philippines, the bout was a gruelling war of attrition and is regarded as one of the greatest battles in boxing history. After 14 vicious rounds, a dehydrated Frazier’s eyesight was also basically gone, and his corner stopped the fight. Thus, giving Ali the win that night to retain the heavyweight crown and also, importantly, the upper hand in the trilogy. It remains perhaps the most physically and emotionally draining series in boxing history.

Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward

Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward was less about titles and more about pure, unfiltered heart. Their 2002-2003 trilogy of bouts is revered for its sheer brutality and mutual respect. The first fight in May of 2002 in Connecticut was a thriller won by Ward via majority decision. However, the sheer, unrelenting brawling was an instant classic with Ward knocking Gatti down and nearly stopping him in the 9th round to pull off the upset and earn “Fight of the Year” honours.

Gatti returned the favour with his new rival via a unanimous decision win six months later in Atlantic City. Again, just as they had done earlier in the year, the second instalment had both fighters hurt at different times, but the veteran, former world champ Gatti pulled away in the final half of the bout.

Gatti would seal the trilogy with another hard-fought classic in the final meeting that took place in June of 2003, right back in Atlantic City. It was again a savage yet respectful battle, but Gatti was more durable and outlasted Ward to win again, over 10 rounds.

Their rivalry became a symbol of boxing’s gritty, blue-collar soul, as none of the fights were for a world title. This is an amazing distinction in the category of the greatest boxing trilogies.

Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales

Another Mexican rivalry etched in boxing lore is the battles of Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales. These two fighters genuinely hated each other at the outset of their battles. It shone through, as the fights combined elite skill with fierce pride; the trilogy between these two warriors from 2000 to 2004 defined an era of featherweight excellence and put them both on the road to the Hall of Fame.

Morales won their first showdown in Las Vegas in February 2000 with a close, controversial split-decision to become the unified super bantamweight champ. That night, both fighters staggered the other, but Morales was the better of the two down the stretch. The famed Ring Magazine named it their “Fight of the Year” for the first year of the new century.

Barrera claimed revenge in the June 2002 rematch in Vegas, showcasing superior technique and out-slugging Morales to win the WBC featherweight title and even the series.

Their third and final clash was another “Fight of the Year” in November 2004 and arguably the best of the three, with both fighters scoring huge punches on the other throughout. In the end, it was another razor-thin decision for Barrera by majority decision to retain the WBC super featherweight crown, capping a trilogy defined by technical brilliance, relentless pace, and national pride.

Each of these boxing trilogies offered more than just victories and defeats. They gave fans a dramatic arc of rivalry, respect, and redemption. They stand as timeless reminders of what makes boxing one of the most emotionally compelling sports in the world, and Taylor and Serrano have an opportunity to add their names to the lore this weekend.