Amanda Serrano vs. Yamila Reynoso for Sixth Division Title
By David A. Avila
Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano stands poised and eager to challenge for a sixth division world title.
It’s rarified air.
Puerto Rico’s Serrano (34-1-1, 26 KOs) moves up to super lightweight to face Argentina’s legitimate 140-pounder Yamila Reynoso (11-4-3) on Saturday Sept. 8, for the vacant WBO world title at Barclays Center. The match will be streamed on Showtime’s page on YouTube and Facebook.
“My upcoming fight is against a fighter who is the Argentinean champion at 147 and has fought as heavy as 154 pounds,” said Serrano. “She has never been stopped and fought the number one 140-pounder Erica Farias. I want to stop her to prove I can own the division too.”
In the history of boxing in the modern era – that spans from the late 1890s to the present – only two other prizefighters have ever possessed six division world titles. And those two male prizefighters Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao are the only fighters in history to accomplish that feat.
Move over guys.
It’s not an easy task. If it were easy everybody would be doing it. But in women’s boxing only three have won world titles in five divisions and they are Layla McCarter, Japan’s Naoko Fujioka and Serrano.
If Serrano beats Reynoso she will be alone in the women’s world.
Jordan’s idea
The journey to win world titles in different divisions began when Serrano’s trainer/manager Jordan Maldonado realized his sister-in-law Amanda (sister of Cindy Serrano) had two division world titles and could match other Puerto Ricans with three world titles and more.
“It was actually my manager Jordan’s idea. He was always fascinated by all our three-division world champions from Puerto Rico: Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfredo Vasquez, Wilfredo Benitez, Tito Trinidad and Hector Camacho,” said Serrano, 29, who lives in Brooklyn. “Once we tied them we said let’s tie Miguel Cotto. Did that and said let’s tie Floyd Mayweather and did that. Now we’re after De La Hoya.”
Just a year ago Serrano dropped down to 118 pounds to meet former world champion Dahiana Santana for the WBO bantamweight title. She stopped her in eight rounds. Now the brunette southpaw with heavy hands is moving up 22 pounds to fight an opponent who might be walking into the boxing ring at 155 pounds. That’s a full fledge middleweight.
“I’ve made weight pretty easy at all of my fights,” said Serrano who is promoted by DiBella Entertainment. “My most fun was at 135 pounds (lightweight) because I traveled to Argentina and beat the defending champion.”
When Serrano met Maria Elena Maderna in August 2014 for the lightweight world title, the Argentine from Las Flores, Buenos Aires had defended her title four times and had won by knockout twice in succession.
“She was bigger and making her fourth defense. They thought I would be easy because I was tiny next to her,” said Serrano. “I beat her by KO.”
Traveling is an obsession for left-handed Serrano.
“I’ll fight anywhere,” says Serrano. “I’ve fought in Sweden, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Florida, and California. Wherever they pay me, I have guns-will-travel.”
But on Saturday the Puerto Rican will be traveling a mere few miles to challenge for a sixth division world title. The ever-confident Serrano is considered by this publication to be the second best female fighter pound-for-pound. She wants a crack at the fighter some consider the best.
“I would consider going up to 147 for a shot at Cecilia Braekhus,” said Serrano who would also like to fight Katie Taylor. Instead it will be her sister Cindy facing the Irish fighter next month.
First, she must face someone in Reynoso whose career has been based at 140-pounds and who fights out of a boxing country known for having tough female prizefighters. And after 140, who knows? Maybe even dropping down to 115 super flyweight.
It’s Amanda’s world.
“It makes it crazy like me,” she said.
(Photo by Amanda Westcott/Showtime)