Amanda Serrano returned to the ring with a commanding performance, securing a decision victory against Reina Tellez on Saturday, September 30, 2023, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The seven-division world champion defended her WBO and WBA featherweight titles, improving her record to 48 wins, four losses, and one draw, with 31 victories coming by knockout. This match followed Serrano’s challenging trilogy fight against Katie Taylor in July, where she narrowly lost.
Despite facing Tellez on just 15 days’ notice, Serrano showcased her skill and determination. While she sought a knockout to further her ambition of breaking Christy Martin‘s record for most knockouts in women’s boxing history, which currently stands at 32, Tellez displayed resilience and grit, managing to go the distance in her first title fight.
Looking ahead, Serrano’s focus remains firmly on the featherweight division, where she is undefeated. In her post-fight interview, she expressed enthusiasm for the emerging talent in the category. “There are a lot of new girls, new champions at featherweight, so that’s a nice thing to see,” Serrano remarked. “Maybe one day we can all get together and just fight each other. I am the unified featherweight champion, and there are other champions out there.”
Although no opponent matches the profile of Taylor, Serrano has several potential fights on the horizon. She has previously vacated the WBC title in protest of the organization’s refusal to sanction women’s fights under the same rules as men’s, which complicates a potential unification bout with WBC titleholder Tiara Brown. Serrano aims to advocate for equal treatment in women’s boxing, emphasizing the importance of contesting under consistent rules.
One possible matchup for Serrano is a unification fight with Nina Meinke, the IBF champion, who holds a record of 19 wins and three losses. Serrano was originally scheduled to meet Meinke in December 2023, but the bout was canceled when the Puerto Rican Boxing Commission deemed Serrano “medically unfit” due to an eye injury.
Additionally, Serrano could be mandated to face interim WBA titleholder Jennifer Miranda, who recently experienced her first career loss against Alycia Baumgardner. Another option is Erika Cruz, who was initially set to challenge Serrano on the same night but was pulled from the bout due to an adverse finding in a drug test. Cruz, who previously fought Serrano in a thrilling match that ended in a unanimous decision in Serrano’s favor, publicly called out the champion shortly after the Tellez fight. “Me and my team knew she didn’t want to fight me and tonight I confirmed that Amanda didn’t want to fight someone like me,” Cruz stated in a post translated from Spanish.
At 37 years old, Serrano continues to prove her status as one of the most compelling figures in women’s boxing. With just two knockouts needed to break Martin’s record and two additional wins to reach 50, she remains driven as she navigates the final stages of her illustrious career. As she looks toward the future, Serrano is poised to face a variety of opponents who are eager to challenge her in the ring.
