October 29 has produced some memorable moments in women’s boxing, from a championship defense by Ireland’s Katie Taylor to an American challenger’s knockout victory in Mexico and a title defense featuring two prominent Mexican fighters.
Taylor Outpoints Carabajal to Retain Undisputed Championship
On October 29, 2022, Ireland’s Katie Taylor returned to the ring at Wembley Arena in London to defend her undisputed lightweight championship against Argentina’s Karen Elizabeth Carabajal.
Taylor entered the contest undefeated at 21-0, fresh from her historic victory over Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden in April. That fight had elevated women’s boxing to a new level of international attention, and Taylor’s return was an opportunity to reinforce her standing among the sport’s elite.
Carabajal arrived with an undefeated record of her own (19-0) and an opportunity to prove herself against one of boxing’s most accomplished fighters.
Taylor controlled much of the 10-round contest with her speed, accuracy and combination punching. Carabajal remained competitive and continued pressing forward.
The Irish champion earned a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 100-91, 99-91 and 98-92. She improved to 22-0 and retained her WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight titles.
The victory also kept alive the prospect of a rematch with Serrano, whose April encounter with Taylor had become a defining fight in women’s boxing history.
Taylor would eventually face Serrano again in November 2024 and July 2025, winning both contests.
Her October 2022 defense demonstrated the consistency that Taylor is known for and that helped make her one of the defining champions of her generation.
Ava Knight Knocks Out Arely Muciño for IBF Title
Eleven years earlier, on October 29, 2011, American boxer Ava Knight traveled to Colima, Mexico, to challenge reigning IBF flyweight champion Arely Muciño.
Knight, from Chico, California, had already experienced disappointment in two previous world title challenges. A victory over Muciño would provide another opportunity to establish herself among the leading fighters in the sport.
Muciño entered the bout undefeated, with a record of 14-0-1, and had established herself as a formidable champion.
Knight had other plans. The American stopped Muciño in the second round of their scheduled 10-round contest, capturing the IBF flyweight world championship with a decisive knockout.
Knight first knocked Muciño down with a right hand to the chin. After the referee ruled that knockdown a slip, Knight followed with a right hook to the body and a left hook to the head that put the champion down for good.
It was an emphatic finish on the champion’s home soil.
Knight improved her record to 7-1-3 and claimed her first world championship. The win was particularly significant after her earlier unsuccessful title attempts against Ana María Torres and Kaliesha West.
The victory also established Knight as a fighter to watch in the flyweight division. She would go on to face some of the sport’s leading competitors, including Mexican champion Mariana Juárez.
Mercado Defeats Veteran Champion Mariana Juárez
October 29, 2022, also brought a significant championship matchup in Mexico, where Yamileth Mercado defended her WBC super bantamweight title against veteran Mariana Juárez.
Mercado had established herself as a leading fighter in the division, while Juárez brought years of championship experience into the contest.
Juárez had been a prominent figure in Mexican women’s boxing for decades, winning world championships in multiple weight classes and facing many of the sport’s leading fighters. By 2022, she was an experienced veteran confronting a younger champion, determined to maintain her place at the top.
Mercado won their 10-round contest by unanimous decision, retaining her WBC super bantamweight championship. The victory added another successful title defense to her résumé and reinforced her position in the division.
The Pursuit of Success
Taylor’s victory over Carabajal demonstrated the staying power of an established champion at the height of her career. Knight’s knockout of Muciño marked the breakthrough of a determined challenger who had finally secured a world title. Mercado’s victory over Juárez reflected the continuing evolution of women’s boxing in Mexico, where a new generation of champions was building on the accomplishments of its predecessors.
The history of women’s boxing is celebrated in events such as these; the title defenses, breakthrough performances and generational matchups that help shape its future.
