(MAY 3) WBAN has added a new "Top Tips" for boxers who are looking to take fights out of the country. In our original TOP TEN Tips, boxing Manager, Brian Cohen, gave some great tips for boxers. [Link to Brian Cohen's tips [Link to Brian Cohen's ATop Ten Boxing Tips]

WBAN is now going to add more "Top Tips" that we feel will be beneficial to fighters looking to fight outside their country. There are many "Do's and Don't" and we welcome the public who have additional tips to email us with them, with their own firsthand experiences. [link to WBAN's email]

Our latest contributor, world champion Amanda "The Real Deal" Serrano tells us some of the pitfalls that she and her team encountered, in order to give the boxers more useful "tools" in deciding if they would like to take the chance in fighting out of the country.

Amanda Serrano's Top Tips:

Tip:- Glove Size: It is important to ask for glove size. Do not assume that the gloves are the standard size that you normally wear. Once you get to the venue, you may find yourself having to fight about which gloves you wear. Standard for weights under 147 are 8 oz., and 10 oz. for anything over that weight. They don't put it in the contract so please beware.

[WBAN suggests that it may be something that should be included in the contract if possible. Even if a supposed federation may have their rules on such matters....it may be another issue that they many not even follow their own rules and regulations.]

Tip- Cut Man: Do not assume that you will be able to have a "cut man" in a foreign country. Most times they do not fly in your cutman for budgetary reasons. A bit of advice: Ask for someone with knowledge to be available there at your fight. If not.....it can mean you might get TKO'd ----if you get cut. In my firsthand experience with this in Sweden when I fought Frida Wallberg, they refused to get us one and to our dismay, the commission did nothing about it.

Tip - Interpreter: Make sure that you have an Interpreter. Otherwise, you will be at a total loss as to what is being said, and totally clueless as to what is being said to you.

Tip - Press Time: Request enough time to rest before you land and have to start a promotional tour. Your opponent who is more than likely local are allotted with time, and with no distractions. In our own recent experience, we walked in after an 18 hour trip, to do an open workout and photos. It was absolutely crazy. We were told that they had to get it in for the promotion, and they had little time left.

Serrano gives some Top Tips about fighting out of the country

Serrano told WBAN, "It's so crazy what they do and how they mess you up. I would like to tell boxers to make sure they pay attention to every detail from the start. We experienced some really odd things. The person on the scale was the promoter, her manager and trainer! Talk about jack of all traits.

"Also, to boxers...once you are their on their turf....and you have gone through all you have to get there. You are going to be almost force to fight or leave with NO pay at all. Most will make the terrible choice of going through with it. We did!....So please, please, please....ask ALL of these questions BEFORE you even agree to take the fight. If these questions are not met...Stay Home!" added Serrano.

In conclusion, Serrano told WBAN about her fight in Sweden, "There are so many other things that went wrong. Sue it's crazy. Judges, no inspectors in the locker rooms supervising while being hand-wrapped. They didn't even give us bottle water or a bucket. We practically begged for one from one of the other fighters. It's too much to bring your on the plane cause of baggage allowance on the plane."