Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano will finally square off this year in what's being billed as the "biggest fight in women's boxing".
The pair have been rivals for years, and almost got a fight made in 2020, but have now signed to main event at Madison Square Garden on April 30.
Taylor is the undisputed lightweight champion and one of the most famous sportspeople to ever come out of Ireland, while hometown fighter Serrano is a seven-weight world champion.
Promoting the bout in a joint effort will be Eddie Hearn, who takes care of Taylor, and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who signed Serrano last year to his Most Valuable Promotions banner.
The bout will be broadcast on DAZN in the UK and around the world, with a pay-per-view availability for American viewers.
“This is a fight I've wanted for a long, long time and I'm just excited for it to finally take place," Taylor said in a statement after the fight was finally announced.
"Because these are the kind of fights I'm in the sport for, people have been talking about this fight for years.
"There have been times I wondered if it was ever going to happen so I'm very grateful to Eddie Hearn, everyone at Matchroom, DAZN and Madison Square Garden for getting it over the line."
Serrano, who will finally earn a seven-figure payday after 44 professional fights, echoed those sentiments, adding: “It is a dream come true to have the opportunity to headline Madison Square Garden.
"And [I get to] do so against one of the greatest boxers of all time in Katie Taylor.
“Since I was a young girl, my only boyfriend has been boxing. I have dedicated my life to him, and this event makes that commitment worth every minute.
"On April 30 I am going to make history for me, for my team, for my family, for Puerto Rico, for every Latina and Latino and for all women worldwide.”
Hearn and Paul have worked together before on the YouTuber's professional debut against AnEsonGib in January 2020, and are reuniting to stage the fight in New York.
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But they have exchanged fighting words, with Paul and his manager Nakisa Bidarian promising that Serrano will inflict the first loss of Taylor's professional career.
“We expect a battle for the ages and have the utmost respect and admiration for Katie Taylor," Paul and Bidarian said in a joint statement.
"But make no mistake, we are standing next to Amanda Serrano and know she will prove to the world that she is the pound-for-pound greatest female boxer to ever enter the ring.
"This is more than a fight, this is for forever.”
Hearn added: “Taylor vs. Serrano is a fight for the history books.
"Yes, it’s the by far the biggest female fight of all time but it’s also one of the biggest fights of all time, the undisputed World and Olympic champion against the seven division World champion."
