The stage is set in Dallas, Texas, as two worlds collide when boxing’s Jake Paul steps into the ring against MMA’s Nate Diaz. However. The co-main event is equally enticing, with fans treated to a rematch of the grueling slugfest between Amanda Serrano and Heather Hardy.

A Night for the Favourites

The hype surrounding the main event has been incredible but the co-main could steal the show. The 44-2-1 Amanda Serrano  recently cemented her status as undisputed featherweight champion after a unanimous decision victory over Erika Cruz Hernandez, and the Puerto Rican will look to tick another one off the list when she takes on Heather Hardy.

The 24-2 Hardy is in the twilight years of her career at the tender age of 41 but will be dreaming of one last run at the summit of the sport. She has steadied the ship after back-to-back defeats against Serrano and Jessica Camara, picking up successive decision wins over 20-15-3 Calista Silgado and rising prospect Taynna Cardoso.

Although Hardy showed real resilience in that encounter, there aren’t many giving the Brooklyn-born boxer a chance. Her recent majority decision victory over Cardoso in February was far from convincing, and Hardy will head into the fight as an 8/1 underdog as a result.

Hardy has flitted between MMA and boxing over the years, fighting in a Bellator event as recently as 2019. That TKO loss was three months prior to her first bout with Serrano, so fans will be hoping her sole focus has been on boxing as she looks for a major scalp of the champion.

Amanda Serrano on the Hunt for Katie Taylor

A dominant victory this weekend no doubt rockets Serrano into contention for a rematch with Katie Taylor. The two fought last year, with Taylor coming out on top in a split-decision win. The lightweight champion tasted defeat for the first time in her career last time out, losing a close-fought majority decision against undefeated light welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron.

With Taylor coming off the back of a defeat, an eye-catching performance for Serrano could set up a huge two-division unification bout. There were fireworks when these two locked horns at Madison Square Garden, with Taylor prevailing on the judges' scorecards: 96-93, 97-93, and 94-96.

A rematch would prove one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing history. But first, Amanda Serrano needs to navigate a tricky contest against the dangerous Heather Hardy.