(JUNE 30) On Saturday night at
the Event Center in the Empire Resort Casino in Queens, NY, next
door to Aqueduct Racetrack, Amanda Serrano overwhelmed a tough,
game, but thoroughly overmatched Domniga Olivio in the third
round of a scheduled six round bout that was the main event of a
eight bout card, promoted by New Legend Boxing in association
with Old World Boxing and WON Promotions, in front of an
enthusiastic, overflow crowd of New York boxing fans.
Serrano, at 130 pounds, gave up two pounds to the veteran Olivo,
who was making a return to the ring after a 26 month hiatus in a
seven year career that saw her in the ring with virtually every
top featherweight in Women's boxing. But it was the younger
fighter (Serrano is 24, Olivo is 41) who controlled the action
from the opening bell, increasing her domination of the bout as
it proceeded.
In the opening round, Serrano landed the heavier punches and was
the aggressor, while Olivo backtracked across the ring, looking
for counter punch opportunities. And, in fact in that opening
two minutes, the older boxer did have several moments when she
landed effective punches on the oncoming Serrano. The round,
however, was Serrano's.
The second stanza saw Serrano's edge in both power punches and
punch count accelerate significantly as she continued to stalk
Olivo around the ring, trapping the older fighter on the ropes
several times during the round and ending the two minutes of
action by coming close to sending Olivo through the ropes as the
bell sounded to end an outsized winning round for Serrano. A
number of ringside observers and officials seemed to question
whether the bout should have been stopped during Serrano's late
round flurry on the ropes. It continued to round three.
Serrano began the third round patiently walking down a clearly
tiring Olivo and at the thirty second mark, Serrano again
trapped Olivo on the ropes, unloading, with little response from
Olivo and what punches Olivo did throw seemed instinctive,
rather than strategic. The exchange became so one sided that two
ringside officials climbed to the ring apron shouting for the
bout to be stopped. And at 1:18 of the round referee Sammy
Viruet stepped between the two fighters ending the bout.
It was a good win for Serrano, not only by the manner in which
she dominated, but also notable since it was against a tough,
seasoned fighter who has competed at the highest level in the
featherweight ranks. With the win, Serrano establishes herself
as a contending factor in a division, 125-135 pounds, that is as
deep in talent as any in Women's boxing. Serrano increased her
gaudy record to 18-1-1 (13KO) while Olivo drops to 8-8-1.
WBAN
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