Amanda Serrano’s Dominant Victory
Amanda Serrano retained her WBA and WBO featherweight titles with a commanding unanimous decision over Reina Tellez on Saturday night at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The judges scored the bout 97-93 twice and 98-92.
After suffering two consecutive losses to Katie Taylor at junior welterweight, Serrano (48-4-1, 30 KOs) made a triumphant return to her natural weight class, showcasing her skill in a ten-round fight adhering to men’s boxing regulations.
Serrano’s Return to Form
“Fighting in Puerto Rico feels incredible, but it’s even better to be back at 126 pounds,” said Serrano. “It’s been two years since my last fight at this weight, and I believe my upcoming fights will be even better. I feel like I finally entertained the fans.”
Tellez (13-1-1) stepped in on short notice, accepting the fight after Serrano’s original opponent, Erika Cruz, was unavailable due to a drug test issue. Despite being outmatched, Tellez performed admirably against the seven-division world champion, demonstrating her resilience.
Tellez’s Brave Effort
“I’ve never gone ten rounds, let alone in three-minute intervals, and I just did that against one of the best,” Tellez remarked. “I’ve idolized her my whole life, and I fought to the very end. So whatever critics might say about me, I stood focused and showed up tonight.”
The disparity in skill was evident right from the start, as Serrano aggressively pursued Tellez. Despite suffering some swelling from an accidental headbutt, Serrano maintained her high-volume attack throughout the fight. By Round 5, she focused on Tellez’s body, pursuing a knockout but ultimately settling for the decision as Tellez survived until the final bell.
Future Prospects for Serrano
At age 37, Serrano expressed her intention to continue her career in the featherweight division. While she did not call out specific opponents, she noted the presence of new champions in the weight class, saying, “Maybe one day we can all come together to fight each other.”
Co-Main Event Overview
In the co-main event, Stephanie Han (12-0, 3 KOs) successfully defended her WBA lightweight title against Holly Holm (34-3-3, 9 KOs) via technical unanimous decision after a headbutt caused a cut on Han in Round 7. The judges scored the fight 69-65, 69-64, and 68-65.
Han controlled the fight largely from the second round onwards, overwhelming Holm with her volume and speed. Holm, who had recently signed with Most Valuable Promotions, struggled offensively, landing only a few notable punches against the masterful performance from Han.
