SERIAL belt collector Amanda Serrano is back to win more titles this Saturday (February 4) when she meets Erika Cruz Hernandez of Mexico at Madison Square Garden, New York.
After returning to featherweight last year, where she holds the WBC, IBF and WBO belts, Serrano will be in New York looking to complete the set by taking fellow nampaw Hernandez’s WBA belt; a Hernandez belt would not be willing to surrender lightly.
Indeed, while Serrano has been a champion for a long time and in many weight classes, Hernandez’s reign as title holder has been relatively short, only winning the WBA belt in 2021 when she stopped Jelena Mrdjenovich in the seventh round due to cuts from an accidental headbutt. Since then, Hernandez has been able to develop as a champion and legitimize his position with subsequent wins, including a split decisive victory over Melissa Esquivel later that year as well as second win over Mrdjenovich, this time beating her by unanimous decision in September 2022.
Now, after establishing herself as the belt holder and clearing all the uncertainty with Mrdjenovich, Hernandez is ready to step up and take on one of the best female boxers of all time. In the process, she’ll be boxing outside her native Mexico for a second time as a pro (her first fight against Jelena Mrdjenovich also took place in the state) and of course , she will be a significant bet loser for the first time. seven-year career.
After all, Serrano usually outperforms most competitors, especially in featherweight. That’s where she has never lost as a professional and it was there last September that she beat Sarah Mahfoud in 10 rounds in Manchester. Prior to that, Serrano competed at lightweight against Irish superstar Katie Taylor, a match she would narrowly lose after 10 rounds of verbal combat. In featherweight, however, Serrano, 43-2-1 (30), is clearly her best.
At 34, it’s the right part for her and the part where she can see her future. In this future too, Serrano will certainly see a second fight with Katie Taylor at some point, though it’s a shame the two of them will never be able to meet in a real weight class. bringing out the best in both. Instead, and for the time being, Serrano must try once again to assert her status as the best featherweight in the world, something that, based on both experience and form, she will face. It’s going to be a little tough going up against Hernandez this weekend.
While Hernandez, 15-1 (3), is currently riding the crest of a wave and hasn’t lost a match since dropping the four-round decider against debutant Alondra Gonzalez Flores in 2016, she’s one of many Girls would have grown up admiring the likes of Amanda Serrano from afar.
As a late bloomer, Hernandez is sure to be herself at 32, but it’s hard to imagine any scenario where she teaches Serrano anything on a Saturday night that Puerto Ricans don’t already know. That’s why Serrano is expected to finish the belt at featherweight, most likely doing so through decision.
Another women’s world title bout of various belts taking place at Madison Square Garden on Saturday saw the super featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner put it all on the line against Elhem Mekhaled of France.
Baumgardner, known as “The Bomb”, has enjoyed a flourishing career in recent years, particularly in the UK, where she has scored two of her biggest wins: the first against Terri Harper in 2021 (tKO in the fourth round), and the second last year against fellow American Mikaela Mayer (a split decision).
In particular, Mayer’s win really pushed Baumgardner to the superstar status she clearly coveted. No doubt that helped the rivalry she put up with Mayer, a near-real rivalry, but she also helped herself, by performing well under pressure during the night and , while the fight was nearing the end, boxed with poise and composure she didn’t necessarily know.
Here, against Mekhaled, Baumgardner, 13-1 (7), will be up against a 31-year-old who, in her last match, has overestimated herself having lost more than 10 rounds to Delfine Person in Abu Dhabi. That match was last May and although she lost, Mekhaled managed to push Persoon close, realizing she was on the wrong track with tight scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 97- 94 after 10 rounds.
Before that loss, her first time playing professionally, Mekhaled had won 15 consecutive games, three in extra time, and looked set to one day challenge the full version of a world title. . She won the European super featherweight belt in 2018, stopping Marina Sakharov in nine rounds, and she also overcame the undefeated Danila Ramos the following year in Spain to claim the interim belt. WBC’s super feather; arguably her best achievement to date.
However, never before has the Parisian beat anyone with Baumgardner’s pedigree and athleticism, as well as strength. That’s why on Saturday the 28-year-old American should be backed to tame Mekhaled and keep all three of her belts (plus winning an empty WBA belt), most likely. score.
Also appearing on the MSG card is a beautiful fight in the ultralightweight division between the undefeated fighters Richardson Hitchins15-0 (7) and John Bauza, 17-0(7). Two Americans, one (Hitchins) from New York and the other (Bauza) from New Jersey, met for more than 10 rounds and knew, having worked so well so far, that their unbeaten record had never been. vulnerable now than before. this weekend.
