Amanda Serrano, Yokasta Valle and Chantelle Cameron, Back in Action on Saturday

 

By David A. Avila

Three of the top female fighters in the world jump in the prize ring this weekend including the face of women’s boxing Amanda Serrano, the undisputed featherweight world champion.

Serrano (46-2-1, 30 Kos), a seven-division world champion, fights Stevie Morgan (14-1, 13 Kos) on Saturday July 20 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida in a super lightweight match. DAZN pay-per-view will stream the Most Valuable Promotions card.

It’s a dangerous match.

Although Serrano formerly captured a super lightweight title back in 2018 against Yamila Reynoso, it was a one-time occurrence for the Puerto Rican star who won a world title as low as 115-pound super flyweight. Now she faces a bigger, stronger fighter with true knockout power.

It could be a rough outing.

“My opponent is big and a power puncher,” said Serrano, 35, on social media. “Let’s go. I’m ready.”

Serrano has long been one of the most skilled fighters on the planet. With her ability to track down and bludgeon foes with a two-fisted attack, she can also fight inside and power through foes who attempt to overrun her defense.

Morgan, 35, is bigger and taller and will be fighting in front of a hometown audience when she steps in the boxing ring. Only one opponent, Calista Silgado, was able to withstand her powerful blows and that was a year ago in her only loss.

This fight was put together after the original fight date was postponed when Mike Tyson was forced to pull out of his match with Jake Paul due to injury. Serrano’s original foe Katie Taylor pulled out too. Serrano did not want to lose an opportunity to fight in the boxing ring and chose super lightweight contender Morgan to fill in.

If Serrano wins, next up will be Taylor in November. It also looks unlikely Serrano will fight at featherweight again.

Anything can happen in boxing. For 15 years Serrano has proven to be one of the surest bets for both men and women. Now, she is the highest paid female fighter in the world and the face of boxing.

Another female fight on the card features Shadasia Green (13-1, 11 KOs) who meets Natasha Spence (8-4-2) in a super middleweight fight set for eight rounds. Green seeks to return to the top of the rankings after losing to champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn last December.

 

Yokasta

On the same day, in Costa Rica, former minimumweight champion Yokasta Valle (30-3) returns to action with a fight against India’s Ramandeep Kaur (15-3) at 10 rounds in the stadium in San Jose. ESPN Knockout and Golden Boy Youtube.com channel will stream the fight card.

Valle sought a rematch with undisputed minimumweight world champion Seniesa Estrada, but none could be made for this summer. Their match last March in Arizona was one of the more thrilling displays of speed and tactics this year.

“I’m so happy to get back in the ring. The last fight left me with blood in my eyes,” said Valle via phone. “I know this fight will give me what I want the most in my life…a rematch with Seniesa Estrada. Why not in Costa Rica.”

The petite minimumweight fighter also has won titles in the atomweight and light flyweight divisions. In the past two years she’s amassed a large following of fans in the U.S. and in Central America.

Also, American fighter Adelaida “Cobra” Ruiz (15-0-1, 8 Kos) returns to the boxing ring. The super flyweight fighter based in Los Angeles meets Brazil’s Catherine Tacone (4-2-1) in an eight-round match.

 

Chantelle

Former undisputed super lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron (18-1, 8 Kos) meets France’s Elhem Mekhaled (17-2, 3 Kos) in a battle for the interim WBC super lightweight belt on Saturday in Birmingham, England.

Cameron recently fought Katie Taylor in back-to-back wars in Ireland. She won the first fight and handed Taylor her only loss but was defeated in the rematch. She is one of the top fighters pound-for-pound and looking for a third match with Taylor if possible. She’s also mentioned as a possible foe for Serrano.

Mekhaled is moving up two weight divisions for this match against Cameron. The French fighter has a toughness that enabled her to engage against Alycia Baumgardner and Delfine Persoon. It could be an action-packed fight.

 

Next week

Claressa Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) seeks to add the heavyweight world title when she meets Canada’s Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-1, 2 Kos) on Saturday July 27, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. DAZN will stream the card.

Shields, 29, has already won super welterweight, middleweight and super middleweight world titles and now gunning for the heavyweight title. Its never been done before in women’s boxing.

Lepage-Joanisse, 28, is making the first defense of the world title she won this past March by split decision against Argentina’s Abril Vidal. She is two inches shorter than Shields and will have to deal with the incredible speed of the two-time Olympic gold medalist.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

Ludmila Corbalan (1-0) beat Daiana Belen (0-3) in four on Saturday July 13. The bantamweight fight took place in San Fernando.

Augustina Romero (1-0) won by decision after four rounds versus Ivana Buontempo (0-1) on Friday July 12. The minimumweight fight was held at Buenos Aires.

 

Australia

Amber Amelia (5-3) defeated Connie Brown (2-1-1) by decision after six rounds on Wednesday July 10. The bantamweight fight took place in Wollongong. Also, super bantamweight Shanell Dargan (5-1-2) beat Pannaporn Kaewpawong (4-2) in five.

On Saturday July 20, light heavyweights Che Kenneally (4-0) and Angie Rocha (14-4-3) meet 10 rounds for the WBA world title at Southport.

 

Colombia

Kailia Attry (10-1) knocked out Angie Murcia (4-2) in the second round on Saturday July 13. The super featherweight fight was held in San Luis.

 

Costa Rica

On Saturday July 20, minimumweights Yokasta Valle (30-3) and Ramandeep Kaur (15-3) meet 10 rounds at San Juan de Tibas.

 

Italy

Roberta Bonatti (2-0) knocked out Gemma Petzing (0-2) in the second round on Saturday July 13. The light flyweight fight was held in Emilia Romagna.

On Friday July 19, welterweights Silvia Bortot (11-4-1) and Ksenija Medic (3-32-2) meet six rounds in Venice.

On Saturday July 20, super bantamweights Cristina Garganese (2-1) and Giulia Lamagna (2-0) meet eight rounds at Puglia.

On Sunday July 21, super lightweights Nadia Flalhi (6-4) and Mahjouba Oubtil (5-3-2) meet 10 rounds at Marche, Also, Erica Montalbini (2-1) and Immacolata Mancusi (0-8-1).

 

Japan

Yumemi Ikemoto (9-2) knocked out Niratchaporn Tanomsaksree (5-2) in the fourth round on Sunday July 14. The regional light flyweight title match was held in Nakagami. Also, minimumweight Erika Hanado (1-0) beat Aki Muraoka (0-1) in four.

 

New Zealand

On Thurs. July 18, super flyweights Maribel Ramirez (14-10-4) and Michelle Preston (13-10-1) meet 10 rounds at Auckland.

 

Nicaragua

Brook Sibrian (4-0) won by decision after four rounds against Hilary Romero (1-5-1) on Friday July 12. The light flyweight fight was held in Managua.

 

Thailand

Desley Robinson (7-3) knocked out Suchada Panich (3-2) in the fifth round on Saturday July 13. The middleweight fight took place in Pathum Thani.

Phannaluk Kongsang (16-13-1) defeated Wichuda Chaotrakan (3-1) in six round decision on Saturday July 13. The flyweight fight took place in Pattaya. Also, atomweight Watcharaporn Namphron (11-1) defeated Monthawee Srisongkhram (2-8) in six; and featherweight Syrine Lajili (1-0) knocked out Thomthong Mekjaidee (0-1) in four.

 

United Kingdom

Laura Pain (6-0) won by decision after six rounds against Sara Orszagi (1-1) on Saturday July 13. The super flyweight match took place in Leeds. Also, lightweight Vaida Masiokaite (10-24-5) defeated Jodie Wilkinson (0-1) in four.

Katie Healy (8-1) beat Kira Carter (0-8-1) in six rounds on Saturday July 13. The super bantamweight fight was held in Sheffield.

 

On Saturday July 20, super lightweights Chantelle Cameron (18-1) and Elhem Mekhaled (17-2) meet 10 rounds for interim WBC title at Birmingham, England.

 

USA

Skye Nicolson (11-0) defeated Dyana Vargas (19-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday July 13. The WBC featherweight title fight took place in Philadelphia.

Oshae Jones (7-0) knocked out Simone Aparecida (17-34) in the fifth round on Friday July 12. The super welterweight fight took place in Atlanta, Georgia.

On Saturday July 20, super lightweights Amanda Serrano (46-2-1) and Stevie Morgan (14-1) meet 10 rounds at Tampa, Florida. Also, super middleweights Shadasia Green (13-1) and Natasha Spence (8-4-2) meet eight rounds.

 

Venezuela

Leiryn Flores (23-5-1) knocked out Angie Colmenarez (0-9) in the second round on Wednesday July 10. The light flyweight fight was held in Caracas.