SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Even Amanda Serrano understood the irony.
In her first fight on Puerto Rican soil in five years, the women’s unified featherweight champion admits that she doesn’t like the spotlight. Serrano, whose career shot to a new stratosphere after appearing in the co-main event of her promoter Jake Paul’s fight against Mike Tyson last year, admits she prefers plying her craft in the shadows of a bigger event.
“I love big events but it's funny. I don't like to be the center of attention. I'd rather be co-main event, or, in the beginning, the prelims,” said Serrano, 48-4-1 (31 KOs), said after defeating Reina Tellez Saturday at Coliseo Roberto Clemente.
Of course, as holder of the WBO and WBA titles at 126lbs, and one of the biggest stars in women’s boxing, the attention remains on Serrano. The division still runs through the 37-year-old from Carolina, Puerto Rico, with everyone seemingly lined up trying to fight the seven-division champion.
One fighter who was in attendance, WBC featherweight champion Tiara Brown, was an interested observer. Brown, 20-0 (11 KOs), is a friend of Serrano’s, but says a showdown with Serrano is one she has pondered.
“I think it would be a great fight, two great warriors, me and her. We’ll see what the future holds,” said Brown.
Serrano, responding to that BoxingScene interview on social media, added more context.
“That’s my girl. I love [Tiara Brown]," said Serrano. "She needs to get rich; if we get a juicy purse...we can go spend it together after.”
The other titleholder in the division, IBF champion Nina Meinke, had been scheduled to fight Serrano in March of 2024, but the fight was cancelled on fight day when Serrano was deemed unfit by the commission due to an eye issue.
Another notable possible opponent near her division includes undisputed junior featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner, who is also signed to Most Valuable Promotions.
Serrano, who outboxed Tellez to a unanimous decision, said that, while she fought most of the fight with a serious swelling under her right eye, she didn’t feel Tellez was overly troubling to fight. The bruises and swelling are just occupational hazards of the job.
“She wasn't really giving me any issues; she was just a tough fighter. She was able to hold the punches as well. I thought I outboxed her well,” said Serrano.
“This is boxing. I'm not invincible. I don’t mind getting hit. I don't mind getting my clothes dirty. This is what they pay me for, blood, sweat and tears that will come in that ring. So I'm ready for whatever they bring.”
Serrano revealed that Tellez, now 13-1-1 (5 KOs), will be welcomed back to fight on Most Valuable Promotions cards due to her showing. Tellez, who appeared dejected as she left the arena to return to her dressing room, had taken the fight on two weeks’ notice, stepping in for Erika Cruz, who was removed from the fight due to an adverse finding for clenbuterol on a pre-fight VADA test.
“When there's young fighters and undefeated fighters, I believe they stay in the gym because they never know when that phone call is gonna come,” said Serrano.
“It came, and she showed the world who Reina Tellez is, and now she's gonna have other opportunities to fight on MVP, because that's what I do. I love to showcase women fighting.”
After all of her accomplishments and milestones, and a spot in the International Boxing Hall of Fame a lock, Serrano says that she does have one goal remaining: getting to 50 wins. It’s a milestone that few female champions have accomplished through consistency and longevity, like Regina Halmich, Mariana Juarez and Delfine Persoon.
"I'm just going to try to go for that record. I'm gonna try my all," said Serrano.
For now, she says she isn’t thinking about anyone specifically in the 126lbs division, but instead, making up for having trained through Christmas and the New Year.
“I just want to go on going back home to New York to see my parents and my niece and to go and spend some time with them,” said Serrano. “I didn’t get to spend the holidays with them, so I need to go back and celebrate with them for a little while.”
