Katie Taylor pushed to limit in split-decision win over Amanda Serrano

• Taylor retains WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO lightweight titles
• Sold-out crowd of 19,187 turns out at Madison Square Garden
• Round-by-round coverage: Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano

In a thrilling and tumultuous fight Katie Taylor fought her way out of desperate trouble in the middle rounds, when Amanda Serrano looked on course to force a stoppage, to retain her undisputed world lightweight titles on a historic night for women's boxing at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. Amid a fevered atmosphere, which proved that the best female fighters can grip the attention of a sold-out crowd with riveting impact, Taylor received the verdict from two of the three judges to win a split decision.

Serrano, who fought with fire and ferocity, won the fight 96-94 on the first judge's scorecard. The narrow margin seemed much more accurate than the assessment of the two officials who ruled in favour of Taylor by scores of 96-93 and an unacceptably wide 97-93. A draw seemed the right result to many at ringside because this was a fight that transcended the sustained hype and serious expectation which had defined the build-up. It was an exhilarating but brutal battle which left both women cut and bleeding and forced to call upon incredible reserves of courage and desire.