Taylor’s Third Pro Fight: Breaks Down Monica Gentili Fast
Setting the Stage: A Night in Manchester
December 10, 2016. Katie Taylor walked into Manchester Arena for her third professional bout with the confidence of someone who was settling into her new world fast. The nerves of the debut were gone. The Olympic sheen still lingered, sure, but there was something different about her demeanor that night—more businesslike, less about proving she belonged, more about proving she was better.
Across the ring was Italy’s Monica Gentili, a tough and vastly more experienced opponent. This was no handpicked pushover. Gentili had been in with solid names, could take a punch, and—at least on paper—was supposed to offer a new kind of test. One that might stretch Taylor past her comfort zone.
Before the first bell, I remember thinking: “If Taylor’s got the gas and the gears for this pace, she’ll eat Gentili alive.”
Sharp, Fast, and Ruthless: Taylor in Control
From the opening seconds, Taylor made it crystal clear she wasn’t interested in warming up slowly. Her jab popped, her feet darted, and her combinations came in fast, layered flurries. Left-right-hook, angle out, repeat. It was that signature high-tempo Irish style—but with more bite now.
Gentili tried to hold the center, to push Katie back. She had the physical size, but not the timing. Taylor was too quick, too sharp. There was a kind of cruelty to the accuracy—every shot had a purpose, and Taylor wasn’t wasting any. It wasn’t brawling. It was breaking down a fighter methodically.
One ringside reporter said afterward: “Taylor’s pace isn’t just high. It’s surgical. She doesn’t just throw punches—she delivers them with intent.”
Round after round, Katie’s confidence grew. You could see it in her body language. She was stepping in with shots now, pressing without overcommitting. She knew Gentili couldn’t match her hand speed—and she exploited it every chance she got.
Gentili’s Toughness Can’t Match Taylor’s Precision
Give Gentili credit: she didn’t fold easily. She took punishment and kept trying. But there comes a point in a fight where being tough just means taking more damage. That was the story of this one. Gentili’s face started to wear the marks of a long night by the third round. By the fifth, it was obvious she had nothing left to change the tide.
The ref stepped in midway through round five, and frankly, it was the right call. Gentili wasn’t down, but she was done. Taylor had dominated every moment, and continuing the punishment would’ve been pointless.
I’ve seen plenty of fighters get stopped and still complain—it’s a pride thing. Gentili didn’t argue. She knew. Everyone in that building knew.
What This Fight Really Showed
This wasn’t just about another win on the record. This fight showed a turning point in Taylor’s pro identity. She wasn’t just carrying over amateur skills anymore—she was adjusting to the pro tempo, sitting down on punches, managing rounds with maturity.
And she did it all while staying entertaining as hell. The crowd didn’t just applaud—they reacted. They cheered every combo, every pivot out of danger, every short right hand that landed with that unmistakable thump.
“If you weren’t sold on Taylor as a pro before this fight,” one British analyst said post-fight, “you are now.”
For me, it was the patience that stood out. The Taylor of old would’ve tried to force a finish. The Taylor that night in Manchester let it come naturally, controlling the pace, setting traps, and walking her opponent into clean shots. That’s not just talent—it’s development.
Looking Back at Fight No. 3
Years later, this fight tends to get overlooked in the highlight reels. It’s not as dramatic as Persoon I, not as historic as Serrano, but it’s important. It’s the night Taylor started looking like a professional world champion—not just an amateur world-beater testing the waters.
I rewatched it recently, prepping for a piece on her early fights. And you know what struck me? How clearly you can see the foundation of what came next. The ring control, the rhythm, the poise—it was all there in round five, with Monica Gentili backed into a corner, taking one clean shot too many.
If you want to understand the Katie Taylor who beat champions and filled arenas, you’ve got to understand the Katie Taylor who dismantled Gentili with a smile and a sniper’s aim.