Eddie Hearn has turned down Jake Paul's $2million (£1.6m) offer to hold a rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
Taylor defeated Serrano earlier this year in a thrilling encounter at Madison Square Garden to retain her undisputed titles. Serrano initially stated she was open to a rematch in Taylor's home country of Ireland, with manager Paul also seemingly on board.
The Puerto Rican was due to take a mandatory defence of her titles this weekend before pursuing a sequel but the fight has now been cancelled. Paul then made an offer for the second meeting and believes the pair should fight at 126lb. "We have $2million for Katie Taylor to come down to 126lb," he said on The DAZN Boxing Show . "Katie Taylor, why don't you come down to 126lb and go against Amanda Serrano in that weight? She came up to fight you. Come down to 126lb, see if you're really the pound-for-pound best."
He later reiterated the offer on social media, tweeting: "Amanda Serrano is the greatest pound-for-pound female fighter of all time. She fought at 140lb once in her career (138lb) and then four months later fought at 115lb. Offer stands, $2M for Katie (2x what Eddie offered Amanda for the rematch). 126 or 130lb."
Hearn has now bluntly responded to Paul's offer, saying on The DAZN Boxing Show : "It just is another example of him knowing nothing about the boxing business or boxing in general. When she debuted she was 133lb we tried to get her to start her career at 130lb but she couldn't get close to it. She has been a career lightweight and she is an undisputed champion.
"To suggest she can fight at 126lb is the most ridiculous and idiotic thing anyone can say. Maybe he doesn't know how people can cut weight. The opportunity for a rematch is there, they feel like they won the fight. So if you won the fight, why wouldn't you do it again for more money?
Who would win the rematch - Katie Taylor or Amanda Serrano? Let us know your predictions in the comments section below
"I'm sure Amanda Serrano will prefer it at 130lb but she will never box at 130lb. They chose to have another run-out and get paid but that didn't happen." Serrano was set for her next fight on the undercard of Jake Paul's meeting with Hasim Rahman Jr at Madison Square Garden this weekend but the event was cancelled with Paul having issues with his opponent's weight.
Taylor has also been out of action since the epic tussle last year, but has made a shortlist for her next fight which includes MMA stars Holly Holm and Cris Cyborg in boxing fights. Paul claimed both Taylor and Serrano received seven-figure purses for the event in The Big Apple, with the fight also watched by a total viewership of around one million.
