Serrano and the new reality of women’s combat
In 1996, now Hall of Famer Christy Martin became the first woman on a pay-per-view bill when she defeated Deirdre Gogarty by unanimous decision in an event starring Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno in Las Vegas.
“Martin’s fight put women’s boxing on the map that day,” described Tyson himself in the documentary Untold: Deal With the Devil, a piece chronicling the life of the former American boxer.
Twenty-six years later, champions Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, building on the trail blazed by Martin and other female boxers, will star in the main event on April 30 at none other than boxing’s mecca, Madison Square Garden. Something unimaginable when the American fighter stepped into that ring in 1996 under the tutelage of Don King.
“It will be a dream to fight in the Garden as a main eventer,” Serrano told ESPN Digital. “I never thought this could happen to a woman. Now it’s going to happen, and with a Boricua (in the lead). I’m going all out,” she added.
Serrano (42-1-1 and 30 KO’s), who was named last week’s Christy Martin Award winner, will become just the first Latina fighter in the history of pay-per-view boxing to secure a $1 million purse.
“I never imagined winning a million dollars. (Before) they didn’t believe in us,” said the Puerto Rican. “(I personally) didn’t believe we could make this kind of money. It’s amazing to finally be respected and recognized for what you work for. To be the first Latina to do so is an honor,” she added.
Serrano, a champion in seven different divisions, will be looking to unify the lightweight belts against Taylor (20-0, 6 KO’s), who will also have all her titles on display. It will be her second fight with Jake Paul as her promoter.
“A win would mean everything,” continued Serrano, who was born in the town of Carolina, P.R., about 11 miles from the capital San Juan, before moving to the United States. “I want to be the first undisputed champion for Puerto Rico? The number one. We have had champions in all divisions and I want to do that for my island,” she said.
Serrano, furthermore, indicated that she has nothing personal against Taylor, despite the fact that the Irishwoman defeated her sister Cindy Serrano (27-6-3, 10 KO’s) in October 2020. “My sister and I are different boxers. My sister is supporting me. When I win, we will win together,” she replied.
She advocates for more minutes in women’s fights.
On the other hand, one of the moments that marked the first press conference between both fighters was when Serrano challenged Taylor to 12 rounds of three minutes, as it is traditionally done in the men’s division. The Irishwoman declined.
“We can do the same as the men. We train the same as them. For the last fight, I ‘gloved’ 18 rounds. I can and she (Taylor) can. I think in the future it can happen. I think for this fight it was an opportunity – and a big platform for that – but she (Taylor) didn’t want it.”
Serrano, 33, also talked about what it means to be compared to other Puerto Rican boxing luminaries, as well as her upcoming plans as a professional once she hangs up her gloves.
“Sometimes, it’s surreal to me to be on that list with (Wilfredo) Benitez, Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto. Those names are incredible, they did so much for my island. I am proud to belong there. I believe my name is there. It is an honor. They were the best. When I retire, I want to continue working and bring new faces to women’s boxing.”
In fact, Serrano is already the official manager of Nicole ‘The Untouchable’ Ocasio. “I’ve definitely been through a lot and I want to show them the right way.”
“(I see myself fighting) another year and a half, at the most. I’ve been active for 15 years as a professional. It’s very, very hard,” he qualified. “In MMA, I’ll at least fight one more time. I want a big fight in MMA, but right now my mind is on boxing. This fight (Taylor) is very important. When I’m done with that, the sky’s the limit,” he sentenced.
Serrano is the vindication of what Martin and other figures fought for, so that today the women’s sport is in its rightful place.
