Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano ready for historic showdown at Madison Square Garden

Ireland’s Katie Taylor once dreamed she could help launch women’s boxing to a seminal event — like her Saturday night clash with seven-division champion Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden.

Serrano, a Puerto Rican from Brooklyn, spent many years seeing those same hopes dashed no matter how many titles she won or how many foes she mercilessly roughed up.

Their fight, the first-ever women’s main event at the hallowed boxing ground where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier I sparred more than 50 years ago, arrives in a rare moment when boxing is acting like a mainstream sport and setting aside its sideshow antics.

An electrified gathering of 94,000 attended heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s Saturday title defense in England. Unbeaten welterweight champions Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford are as close to striking a deal to fight as they’ve ever been. And the sport has now fully embraced major women’s bouts.

"Boxing is alive right now," U.S. Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson said. "A lot of people have tried to act like boxing is dying. No, it’s evolved. ... This is the best time."

The sport has also set aside it’s routine (and petty) promoter-broadcaster squabbles by striking a deal to have two major fights this weekend air in succession rather than simultaneously. Taylor versus Serrano will commence at 10:15 p.m. ET on DAZN before the men’s super-featherweight WBC/WBO unification bout between Stevenson and Oscar Valdez at 11:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.

"I’m a big fan of Amanda Serrano," Stevenson said. "I knew her as a kid when I’d go to Gleason’s Gym (in Brooklyn) to spar and I’d see her all the time. I’m rocking with her to win, but I support them both.

"And I’m happy the world can watch their fight and then come to watch our fight."

Stevenson, who fought alongside two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-division champion Claressa Shields, said he has long admired the diligence put forth by female fighters despite the prior minimal pay and limited attention.

Bigger than boxing

Matchroom Sports promoter Eddie Hearn and YouTube-star-turned-Serrano-promoter Jake Paul combined to aid in the extra hype for Taylor-Serrano, a bout certain to entertain.

Taylor, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, is soft-spoken but a fierce fighter. She is 20-0 with six knockouts, elevating to undisputed lightweight champion.

Serrano (42-1-1, 12 KOs) is a relentless and precise puncher who stands as a -150 favorite to win at Tipico Sportsbook. Taylor is a minor +110 underdog.

Taylor, drawn to the ring by her boxer father and brothers, is the antithesis of her mouthy countryman, former UFC champion Conor McGregor.

Taylor first urged Hearn to promote her and women’s boxing years ago, and the promoter foresees the quality of this weekend’s bout being a launching point to enhance recognition of female champions. That includes Shields and American world champions, such as Jessica McCaskill, Mikaela Mayer, Seniesa Estrada and Marlen Esparza.

"She’s a true fighter. The people look at her and see she’s so quiet, so soft-spoken, yet she’s one of most fierce fighters I’ve ever worked with," Hearn said. "It’s very hard to become invested in a personality like Katie Taylor because she’s quite closed, shy. ... She’s turned down millions of dollars in sponsorships, media appearances because it’s not for her.

"Yet, at the same time, in a world where fighters are throwing millions of dollars in strip clubs, people find Katie Taylor incredibly refreshing — that she’s a wonderful individual and a true fighter. People fall in love with the way she fights."

Taylor raised eyebrows during an appearance on NBC's Today Show, revealing her idea of championship preparation.

"You have to beat your body into submission every week. That’s what you have to do. (Boxing’s) in my blood," Taylor said. "I walked into a gym and it became my passion."

Serrano played up her case.

"To be in this iconic event, to headline Madison Square Garden, and for it to be almost sold out — and people say there’s no interest in women’s boxing," Serrano said. "I’m of Puerto Rican descent, trying to become the first undisputed champion from Puerto Rico.

"She has something I want."

The Empire State Building announced it will color the building alternately in the colors of Ireland and Puerto Rico Saturday.

"You can almost feel these iconic moments from the past when you are there. There’s going to be a lot of Irish fans in the building," Taylor said. "It’s going to make for an amazing atmosphere.

"Years and years later from this fight, people are still going to be talking about Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano."

Weekend Odds breakdown

At BetMGM, a Taylor victory by KO/TKO pays +800 and Serrano winning by KO/TKO is at +300. If it goes to the scorecards, Serrano is +160 to win on points and Taylor is +175 on points. A draw would pay +1400.

The pick: Taylor to win by split-decision (+175).

As for Stevenson-Valdez, Stevenson is counting his speed and ring smarts to frustrate the tough and unbeaten two-division-champion from Mexico who trains alongside pound-for-pound No. 1 Canelo Alvarez in San Diego.

"I see myself as a top fighter in the sport. I can be a pay-per-view superstar very soon," Stevenson, 24, said. "I’ve got a lot of speed and skill, but he has a lot of willpower. He’s going to try his hardest. I have to prepare, if I have to, to weather the storm."

Stevenson wonders how Valdez dipped from an impressive knockout against former champion Miguel Berchelt 14 months ago to a less-than-stellar showing against Robson Conceicao after testing positive for a banned substance that Valdez said he accidentally ingested from sipping tea.

"Right after, he got caught cheating and he looked like a whole new fighter," Stevenson said. "Maybe he was on something.

At Tipico Sportsbook, Stevenson is a -340 favorite and Valdez is a +220 underdog. The total for rounds is 10.5, with the over posted as a -340 favorite and the under at +225.

At BetMGM, Stevenson is +200 to win by KO/TKO and -150 to achieve victory by decision. Valdez is +1400 to win on points, +700 to win by KO/TKO.

The pick: Stevenson to win by unanimous decision (-150).

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano to make history at Madison Square Garden