Amanda Serrano didn’t hesitate to journey overseas so as to add one other title to her assortment.
The record-setting seven-division champion now will get to take pleasure in a well-deserved homecoming for the ultimate part of her quest to turn into the first-ever Puerto Rican undisputed champion.
Brooklyn’s Serrano is within the coronary heart of coaching camp for her four-belt featherweight championship conflict versus WBA titlist Erika Cruz (15-1, 3KOs). Their bout headlines a February 4 DAZN present from Madison Sq. Backyard’s Hulu Theater in New York Metropolis, a venue that has already produced fond recollections for the 34-year-old Boricua southpaw—and with hopes of at the least yet one more in retailer.
“It’s a dream come true. We’re combating on the Hulu Theater the place the dream started,” Serrano informed BoxingScene.com. “It’s the place I beat Heather Hardy to get my child (the WBO featherweight title) again for the primary piece of the puzzle. It’s the identical place the place I made historical past changing into a seven-division world champion.
“Now we’re about to make historical past as soon as once more.”
Serrano (43-2-1, 30KOs) already owned the all-time mark for all girls and any boxer from Puerto Rico when she entered the ring for her September 2018 vacant WBO junior welterweight title win over Yamila Esther Reynoso in her residence Brooklyn borough.
She was formally 24 ¼ kilos lighter for her WBO junior bantamweight title struggle with Eva Voraberger simply 4 months later of their January 2019 conflict at MSG’s Theater (now Hulu Theater). Serrano wanted simply 35 seconds to turn into a seven-division champ earlier than returning to featherweight, the place she is at her optimum prime.
The primary struggle again at her most popular weight additionally passed off at Hulu Theater, the place Serrano—born in Carolina, P.R. however raised within the Bushwick part of Brooklyn—outpointed fellow Brooklyn native Heather Hardy in September 2019 to enter her third WBO featherweight title reign whereas additionally claiming the interim WBC title.
She was upgraded to full titlist in 2021 when Jelena Mrdjenovich was unavailable to defend her crown in an ordered title struggle. Wins over Daniela Bermudez and Yamileth Mercado adopted earlier than two consecutive journeys to light-weight.
The latter got here final April 30, when Serrano got here oh so near dethroning undisputed 135-pound queen Katie Taylor (22-0, 6KOs) of their immediate traditional at Madison Sq. Backyard. The primary-ever girls’s struggle to headline the principle room got here in entrance a sold-out crowd and drew common reward however left Serrano simply in need of claiming the primary undisputed championship for her beloved island as Eire’s Taylor was credited with a break up resolution win.
Serrano flew to England in her renewed quest to gather all of the featherweight belts. She did so in soundly outpointing beforehand unbeaten IBF champ Sarah Mahfoud final September 24 at AO Enviornment in Manchester, along with her sights then set on the WBA crown.
In an unprecedented transfer, the WBA ordered the undisputed championship in launching its ‘One Boxing’ initiative. A deal was finally reached between Most Helpful Promotions—based by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian who signed Serrano in 2021—and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
:At first, I couldn’t consider it. I used to be like, ‘Pinch me, is that this actual’ as a result of we’ve had lots of let downs from this sport,” admitted Serrano. “However now, we lastly get this chance to struggle for undisputed within the featherweight division, my division. I’m tremendous glad the WBA mandated Erika so we are able to have the chance.
“The ultimate half was Eddie Hearn and getting every part collectively. Now now we have the struggle February 4. I’m tremendous happy and excited.”
Jake Donovan is a senior author for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox