Amanda Serrano and Heather Hardy Meet Again, This Time in Texas plus More News

 

By David A. Avila

Aside from two Brooklyn women fighting in Texas, the duo Amanda Serrano and Heather Hardy also symbolically represent the ice pick that broke apart the barrier against women’s boxing.

Each had their historic contributions.

On Saturday, Brooklyn’s “Real Deal” Serrano (44-2-1, 30 KOs) honors a promise to rematch “The Heat” Hardy (24-2, 4 KOs) for the featherweight world championship at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. DAZN pay-per-view will stream the MVP Promotions event.

The last time they met was four years ago at Madison Square Garden. Their match had Brooklyn and all the other boroughs in a frenzy. In that match Serrano nearly stopped Hardy early in the fight but she managed to survive until the final round.

At the time no one dared test Serrano and her vaunted power. The Puerto Rican southpaw had already won world titles in seven divisions. Becoming undisputed featherweight champion was now the goal. Hardy obliged.

That prior match allowed Serrano to gather all the featherweight titles and make a mega fight encounter with Ireland’s Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden. Their tumultuous encounter remains the high standard for women’s prizefighting. It gets no bigger than that fight on April 30, 2022. Both women made more than $1 million and set pay-per-view records. They also sold out the Garden.

Hardy also had her moments. She broke the glass barrier that kept women’s boxing from being televised.

For seven years women’s boxing was not televised on any major American network. Showtime had telecast Melissa Hernandez and Jeri Sitzes in May 2009. And no other female fight was seen on a major television network.

Then, on August 21, 2016, the match between Hardy and Shelly Vincent was shown on FOX and the two women lit up the night on Coney Island. Earlier that same day, Claressa Shields captured Olympic gold in Brazil and it was shown on television. It was a magical moment for women’s boxing.

As one of the best fighters pound for pound, Serrano has multiple options but opted to face Hardy who allowed her to become the first undisputed world champion from Puerto Rico. Now they are meeting again.

“They said women couldn’t fight and we proved that’s a lie,” said Serrano. They said women couldn’t sell tickets and we proved that is also a lie.”

Serrano and Hardy are co-featured on the fight card that also matches Jake Paul versus MMA fighter Nate Diaz in a boxing match set at cruiserweight.

 

Seniesa and Yokasta

Immediately after Seniesa Estrada defeated Leonela Yudica to retain the WBA and WBC minimumweight titles, there was IBF minimumweight titlist Yokasta Valle standing in the boxing ring.

After four years of chasing each other, it looks like they finally will meet later this year.

Both won titles in higher weight classes but opted to unify the minimumweight titles first. Costa Rica’s Valle is slightly taller and has speed galore with her legs and hand-speed.

East L.A.’s Estrada has defensive skills and speed too, but chooses to use her power to end fights quickly in dramatic fashion. It also allowed her to be named as one of the top female fighters pound for pound.

 

Atomweights unification

WBA Montserrat Alarcon (18-4-2) and WBO Yuko Kuroki (21-7-2) seek to unify the atomweight division on Saturday in Kobe, Japan. This is the Mexico City fighter’s third trip to Japan where she defeated Ayaka Miyao and Nana Nogami in previous battles.

Kuroki, 32, is a southpaw and former minimumweight world champion and won the WBO atomweight title last September against Nanae Suzuki. She beat Suzuki in the rematch this past March.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Yamila Belen (17-6-1) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Marisa Portillo (19-17-3) on Saturday July 29. The super lightweight Argentine title match was held at Buenos Aires.

On Saturday Aug. 5, atomweights Jennifer Meza (7-3) and Yoselin Fernandez (12-3) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Buenos Aires.

 

Australia

Ella Boot (4-0) won by unanimous decision over Annie Thatcher (0-1) in an eight round match on Wednesday July 26. The super lightweight Australian title match was held at Moore Park; also super welterweight Millicent Agboegbulen (3-1) beat Tayla Harris (8-1-1) by majority decision for Australian title; welterweight Jessica Messina (4-0) beat Zoe Putorak (0-2-2); super featherweight Tywarna Campbell (4-2-1) beat Natasha Kurene (1-1); and Angel Rushton (4-1) defeated Jaala Tomat (2-3-1).

 

Colombia

Olga Julio (38-18-3) defeated Estefania Matute (5-21) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday July 29. The super flyweight match took place in Barranquilla. Also, bantamweight Veronica Zuluaga (6-1-1) knocked out Carol Tobon (0-1-1) in the first round.

 

Costa Rica

Naomy Valle (8-0) knocked out Milagro Zeledon (0-1) in the sixth round on Tuesday July 25. The light flyweight contest took place in San Jose. Also, super bantamweight Sorayda Garcia (2-0) beat Cristel Ruiz (0-3) in four.

 

Germany

Sarah Scheurich (2-0) won by knockout of Nana Chakvashvili (7-23) in the sixth round on Saturday July 29. The super middleweight bout took place in Nordrheim-Wesfalen.

 

Italy

Giacoma Cordio (3-0-1) knocked out Louise Bart (0-1) in the second round on Thursday July 27. The bantamweight fight was held at Sicily. Also, featherweight Evelin Camporeale (3-7-1) beat Grace Pace (0-2) by decision after four.

On Friday Aug. 4, super lightweights Erica Montalbini (0-0) and Immacolata Mancusi (0-3-1) meet six rounds at Cititanova Marche.

 

Japan

Riho Yoshida (3-0-1) beat Xiuli Liang (2-5) by decision after four rounds on Sunday July 30. The light flyweight bout took place at Kariya.

Miyuki Katsuya (3-3-2) won by majority decision after four rounds versus Kagishippo Sachi (2-2) on Friday July 28. The light flyweight match took place at Tokyo.

On Saturday Aug. 5, atomweights Montserrat Alarcon (18-4-2) and Yuko Kuroki (21-7-2) meet 10 rounds for the WBA and WBO world titles at Kobe.

 

Mexico

Camila Zamorano (3-0) beat Keren Mendez-Ochoa (0-5) by decision after four rounds on Saturday July 29. The super flyweight match was held in Hermosillo.

 

New Zealand

On Friday Aug. 4, middleweights Nailini Helu (3-4-1) and Desley Robinson (4-1) meet eight rounds at Auckland.

 

South Africa

On Saturday August 5, super middleweights Wendy Gcado (2-0) and Emily Kabwalo (2-7) meet four rounds at Durban.

 

Tanzania

On Friday Aug. 4, super flyweights Jesca Mfinanga (3-1-1) and Amina Ngendo (0-3) meet six rounds at Dar es Salaam; super flyweights Husna Zamba (0-5) and Veronica Thomas (3-2) meet four rounds; and lightweights Hawa Newton (1-1) and Tatiana Ezekieli 0-0-1) meet four.

 

Thailand

Noppaket Srisawas (3-1) defeated Suphansa Phooong (1-4) by decision after four rounds on Sunday July 30. The lightweight match was held in Pathum Thani.

Prakayrat Wongsuta (2-0) beat Inthira Pengkrajom (3-2) by decision after six rounds on Thursday July 27. The bantamweight contest was held at Bangkok. Also, light flyweight Hin Ting Chan (2-0) knocked out Monthawee Srisongkhram (2-3) in the fifth; Sukanya Wangarsa (1-2) beat Natchalika Uijaroen (0-4); minimumweight Siritorn Ponpai (2-2-1) knocked out Supansa Aimdee (2-10) in four rounds; Chutinan Khonghoi (2-3) beat Sirintip Wuychaiphoom (0-6); Wichet Sengprakhorn (15-12-1) knocked out Wachira Malai (1-3) in the second; atomweight Watcharaporn Namphon (6-1) knocked out Sutthinee Bamrungpao (4-11-1) in the fourth.

Chuyu Liu (2-0) knocked out Surachada Namrak (3-3) in the third round on Tuesday July 25. The flyweight bout took place at Lam Luk Ka. Also, Rungnapha Kaewkrachang (15-18-1) knocked out Irada Suparsakon (2-4) in one; light flyweight Nattarat Prempida (2-3-1) beat Kulatida Thongpradub (0-4); Paksa Upatam (1-4) knocked out Thitima Thitthapuan (0-1) in the fifth.

 

United Kingdom

Paige Goodyear (4-0) knocked out Marija Zivkovic (1-16-1) in the fourth round on Sunday July 30. The welterweight fight took place in Birmingham, England. Also, super featherweight Tori-Ellis Willetts (2-0) defeated Wendellin Cruz (6-10-1).

 

USA

Shurretta Metcalf (12-4-1) beat Melissa Odessa Parker (6-1) by majority decision after six rounds on Saturday July 29. The bantamweight contest took place in Frisco, Texas.

Seniesa Estrada (25-0) defeated Argentina’s Leonela Yudica (19-2-3) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday July 28. Each round was very competitive in the WBA and WBC minimumweight world title match in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Colleen Davis (3-0-1) defeated Taynna Cardoso (5-4) by decision after six rounds on Thursday July 26. The regional super featherweight title match was held at Norcross, Georgia.

Kiria Tapia (2-0) won by split decision over Carisse Brown (9-6) after six rounds on Wednesday July 26. The lightweight match was held in Kissimmee, Florida.

On Friday Aug. 4, super welterweights Oshae Jones (3-0) and Miranda Barber (3-4) meet eight rounds at Atlanta, Georgia.

On Saturday Aug. 5, super bantamweights Mia Ellis (6-1) and Jessica Emerick (1-1-1) meet six rounds at Baltimore.

On Saturday Aug. 5, featherweights Amanda Serrano (44-2-1) and Heather Hardy (24-2) meet 10 rounds for the undisputed featherweight world championship at Dallas, Texas. Also, super middleweights Shadasia Green (12-0) and Olivia Curry (7-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title.

On Saturday Aug. 5, flyweights Erica Davis (0-0) and Kelsi Williamson (0-0) meet four rounds at Danville, Virginia.

 

Vietnam

Thuy Linh Hoang (1-1) beat Thanh Nha Ngo (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday July 29. The lightweight bout took place in Ho Chi Minh City.