Amanda Serrano Hits Southern California and More News and Notes
By David A. Avila
Amanda Serrano finally appears in California and brings along several members of Most Valuable Promotions roster to engage in a first-time ever Tik Tok Live stream event on Friday Aug. 21 from Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.
Puerto Rico’s Serrano (49-4-2, 32 Kos) a seven-division world champion meets Argentina’s Lucrecia Manzur (14-4, 7 Kos) for the WBO featherweight title. Serrano also is in pursuit of 50 wins and hopes to snap the record for knockout wins she shares with the legendary Christy Martin.
Ever since Serrano signed with Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian to form MVP, the women’s fight game has seen tremendous advancements in not only more opportunities, and bigger purses, but exposure on a massive scale never thought to be achievable by women’s boxing.
After MVP and Matchroom Boxing staged the first super event for women’s boxing when Katie Taylor and Serrano met at Madison Square Garden back on April 30, 2022, female boxing has appeared on DAZN, Netflix, Sky Sports, ESPN and now on Friday evening Tik Tok Live.
“I’ve dedicated my career to creating opportunities for women’s boxing and bringing our sport to the biggest stages possible, so to headline the first-ever championship boxing event on Tik Tok is incredibly meaningful,” said Serrano, 37. “Women’s boxing deserves to be seen by as many people around the world as possible,
On Friday evening, Serrano brings her brand of fighting to the wine country of Temecula where she can demonstrate the fighting talent that enabled her to capture world titles in seven weight divisions. Only Manny Pacquiao has more weight division world titles with eight.
Serrano last fought on May 30 when she blasted out Germany’s Cheyenne Hanson in less than two rounds at El Paso, Texas. The southpaw boxer-puncher is eagerly in pursuit of a 33rd knockout win.
Other major bouts include Mexico’s Mayeli Flores (13-2-1) meeting Denmark’s Melissa Mortensen (9-0) for the vacant WBA super bantamweight title. Flores was last seen engaging in one of the candidates for Fight of the Year with Ellie Scotney earlier this year in England.
In the men’s portion, Avious Griffin (19-1, 18 Kos) continues his journey to reach the elite level in the welterweight division and fights Jackson Marinez (23-4) in a 10-round fight.
Lupe Medina (12-0), a top prospect recently signed by MVP will fight dangerous Brook Sibrian (9-3) in an eight-round minimumweight bout. Also, Roxy Verduzco (7-0) meets Miguelina Hernandez (4-0) in a battle between undefeated featherweights.
A dozen fights are scheduled on Friday by MVP. The first fight begins at 3 p.m. PT. Tickets for Serrano vs. Manzur are on sale now at Ticketmaster.
“From day one, MVP has challenged the traditional boxing model by creating the biggest moments and opportunities for fighters while finding new ways to bring the sport to fans around the world,” said Paul.
Last Week’s Reflections in Atlanta
Claressa Shields proved that she could drop down 20 pounds and still deliver a convincing win to regain a couple of middleweight world titles with her knockout win over Kaye Scott. She also proved she could sell out an arena outside of Michigan. That was even more incredible.
On the same card Caroline Veyre lost the WBC super featherweight world title by continuing to grapple, tackle and hold her opponent Beatric Ferreira. The referee warned her repeatedly but she continued as if she dared him to stop the fight. He stopped it.
Veyre had committed the same infractions when she won the title against Delfine Persoon. In that match the referee allowed her to hold repeatedly and should have disqualified her in that fight. When I wrote about that, her promoter or whoever reads and responds called me a hater for simply pointing out that holding is illegal in boxing.
The Canadian fighter is one of those long-time amateurs who was never taught how to fight in close. She was taught to hold and grab. It’s common to see among boxers who were never taught the pro style of boxing.
On the same card, Ashleyann Lozada showed great fighting ability but like Veyre she also resorts to holding once she gets too close to her opponent. Although Lozada did not hold as much as Veyre, that will be a problem in the future. The Puerto Rican fighter needs a pro trainer to teach her not to hold, but to fight.
Holding is illegal in boxing just like hitting below the belt, rabbit punches, kidney punches and kneeing or kicking an opponent. These are all infractions in boxing. Don’t blame me, those are the rules.
Next Week Big Saturday on Aug. 29
Next week will be a blockbuster weekend of boxing in Mexico, England and the USA. Two former pound for pound champions collide as Melinda Cooper returns from retirement to challenge Kenia Enriquez in Tijuana on Saturday Aug. 29.
Enriquez has not engaged in a boxing event in nearly three years but has been busy in MMA. After seeking to find an opponent unsuccessfully, she discovered Cooper was also in search of an opponent and here we are.
Both were considered among the best female fighters pound for pound when they participated. Now they will test each other in a flyweight battle. Expect a torrid fight.
Meanwhile, in England, Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron collide in a battle between current pound for pound fighters. That should be another possible Fight of the Year candidate.
More Fight News
Argentina
On Saturday Aug. 22, super feathers Daniela Escasena (4-0) and Natalia Alderete (5-20-2) meet eight rounds at San Miguel de Tucaman.
Australia
Shanell Dargan (12-2-2) knocked out Pattarawee Nareeruk (4-4) in the first round on Saturday Aug. 15. The bantamweight fight took place in Marrickville. Also, welter Sophia Asfour (3-0) beat Noppaket Srisawas (11-7) in six.
Jasmine Parr (9-2) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Jemma Peart (9-2) on Wednesday Aug. 12. The super flyweight fight took place in Gold Coast. Also, Lekaysha Woodbridge (5-0) beat Sothita Sitthichai (13-6) after five.
China
On Sunday Aug. 23, super flyweights Ellie Boutell (7-1-1) and Yi-Ru Li (4-0) meet eight rounds at Qingdao. Also, Xue Jiang (0-0) and Jie Liu (0-0) meet four.
Congo
On Monday Aug. 24, lightweights Celine Konyi (0-1) and Lydia Kakwavu (0-0) meet four rounds at Pointe Noire.
Democratic Republic of Congo
On Saturday Aug. 22, featherweights Ruth Yanfu (1-2) and Niati Misama (4-2) meet six rounds at Kinshasa.
On Sunday Aug. 23, middleweights Fila Eyenga (0-3) and Grace Tshibalabala (2-0) meet four rounds at Kinshasa. Also, lightweights Divine Kumu (0-0) and Patricia Botamba (0-0) meet four.
Costa Rica
Gipsy Diaz (13-0) defeated Maria Martinez (4-16-2) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday Aug. 15. The minimumweight fight took place in Puntarenas. Also, Aurora Gutierrez (1-0) knocked out Maria del Carmen (0-4) in the first round.
Germany
On Saturday Aug. 22, lightweights Marleen Muench (1-1) and Chloe Smith (0-3-1) meet six rounds at Erkner.
On Saturday Aug. 22, lightweights Tania Nelo (0-0) and Tina Bluhm (0-1) meet four rounds at Oberhausen.
India
On Saturday Aug. 22, minimumweights Ramandeep Kaur (19-4) and Amruta Kale (7-1) meet six rounds at Bengaluru. Also, flyweights Lalbiaknii (0-0) and Bongu Aarsitha (0-1) meet four.
Indonesia
On Saturday Aug. 22, lightweights Ocha Septianeke (0-0) and Utari Ramadhani (0-0) meet four rounds at Surabaya.
Japan
On Saturday Aug. 22, atomweights Ena Sakai (3-5) and Kaho Munetoshi (4-3) meet six rounds at Kobe. Also, super flies Rene Chiku (1-0-1) and Nano Hata (0-1-1) meet four.
On Saturday Aug. 22, minimumweights Riyuna Yoshikawa (8-2-2) and Eruka Hiromoto (6-1) meet six rounds for the Japanese title at Kobe.
Pakistan
On Saturday Aug. 22, minimumweights Fajar Fatima (4-0) and Sania Imtiaz (0-3) meet four rounds at Peshawar. Also, atomweights Abida Batool (4-2-1) and Rid Fatima (0-1) meet four.
South Africa
Tarisai Mutsau (4-2) defeated Sazisiwe Simon (7-4) by split decision after eight rounds on Thursday Aug. 13. The bantamweight fight took place in Johannesburg.
Thailand
Muthita Iamsaard (11-6) knocked out Kanithsorn Sae-itea (0-1) in the fifth round on Sunday Aug. 16. The minimumweight fight took place in Pathum Thani.
On Saturday Aug. 22, light flies Wiyada Rapunya (0-0) and Farida Nootsawat (0-0) meet four rounds at Bangkok. Also, minimumweights Atisan Leevongcharoen (0-0) and Chanakan Rungjamnian (0-0) meet four.
United Kingdom
Emma Dolan (9-1) defeated Antonella Molina (4-32-2) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Aug. 15. The super bantamweight fight took place in Nottingham.
On Saturday Aug. 22, featherweights Tiah Mai Ayton (6-0) and Ellie Hellewell (8-1-1) meet 10 rounds for regional title at London.
USA
Claressa Shields (19-0) knocked out Kaye Scott (5-2-1) in the sixth round on Saturday Aug. 15. The WBC and WBA middleweight title fight took place in Atlanta, Ga. Also, super featherweight Bernice Ferreira (11-0) defeated Caroline Veyra by disqualification in the eighth round. Veyre was repeatedly warned for holding and twice deducted points. Ashleyann Lozada (5-0) beat Paulette Cuesta (19-6-1) after 10. Featherweight Shannel Butler (9-0) beat Marianela Ramirez (14-12-2) after eight;
Lizette Ramos-Mujica (1-0) knocked out Naomi Pulliam (0-1) in the first round on Saturday Aug. 15. The minimumweight fight took place in San Antonio, Texas.
On Friday Aug. 21, featherweights Amanda Serrano (49-4-1) Lucrecia Manzur (14-4) meet 10 rounds for the WBO world title at Pechanga Casino in Temecula, Calif. Also, super bantams Mayeli Flores (13-2-1) and Melissa Mortensen (9-0) meet 10; minimumweights Lupe Medina (12-0) and Brook Sibrian (9-3) meet eight; feathers Iyana Verduzco (7-0) and Miguelina Hernandez (4-0) meet eight; super lightweights Albina Moldazhanova (4-0) and Sheila Liesegang (6-0) meet six; minimumweights Jocelyn Camarillo (6-0) and Ashley Felix (7-4) meet six; and super lights Jully de Oliveria (1-0) and Cinderella Linnear (1-0) meet four. TikTok Live will stream the Most Valuable Promotions card.
On Saturday Aug. 22, super flies Ilene Herrera (0-0) and Fayeda An (0-4-1) meet four rounds at Santa Monica, Calif.
Venezuela
Roxana Colmenarez (13-8-1) knocked out Angie Colmenarez (0-19) in the third round on Tuesday Aug. 11. The minimumweight fight took place in Ciudad Caribia.
