(MAY 30) Proving her greatness once again, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano defended her WBO and WBA featherweight championships with a second-round stoppage of Germany’s Cheyenne Hanson in the co-main event at the El Paso County Coliseum.

In doing so, she tied the all-time women’s knockout record. She and Christy Martin are the only female combatants with 32 wins inside the distance.

“Christy Martin’s  been an inspiration, so for me to tie it, I will be happy and honored,” she said in a pre-fight interview, “But the goal is to break it.”

Serrano will likely surpass Martin in her next outing, and at the same time will fulfill her goal of 50 wins. Her record currently stands at 49-4-1 (32).

Hanson, 17-3 (13), was hoping to derail Serrano’s late career milestones but it was not to be. She made the mistake of being defiant throughout fight week and further agitated Serrano when she blew a bubble in her face at the weigh-in one day prior to their championship bout.

Hanson came out for the opening round throwing more punches while Serrano assessed the situation.

“I was trying to figure her out,” she said in the post-fight interview. “And when I went to my corner, I told Jordan [my trainer]. ‘I got her. I got her now.’ “

The three minute round format also allowed Serrano to be a little more patient.

“With the three minutes we get to set up our shots,” she said. “It gives us more time to have fun in there. That’s what I was doing. I was having fun.”

Serrano got a little busier in the second half of the first round but didn’t start to turn up the heat until midway through the second frame. Not long before that, Hanson smiled when Serrano connected with a jab, perhaps in awe she was about to get into some warfare with a true boxing legend. Except she wouldn’t be smiling for long. With little more than 1:30 remaining, Hanson, perhaps foolishly, switched to a southpaw stance against Serrano, a natural southpaw. This spelled the beginning of the end. Serrano rushed forward and landed a straight left to Hanson’s nose and followed up with a nice right hook.

Hanson responded with a two-punch burst that included an impressive right hand but Serrano quickly returned fire to remind the 28-year-old challenger who was in charge. Serrano maneuvered Hanson to the blue corner and connected with a right hook to the body that kicked off an onslaught of punches, most of them targeting the head.

Hanson managed to escape the corner and was trying to land a shot or two as leather kept coming her way. However, she soon found herself trapped in a neutral corner taking a number of rights and lefts to the head. Serrano then focused on the body a bit before continuing an upstairs attack. Hanson managed to fire off a couple of right hands just before referee Robert Hoyle stepped in to end matters, but she landed nothing of consequence. The official time was 2:25.

Hanson was gracious in defeat. When Serrano’s hand was raised and she was announced the winner, Hanson clapped for her. Asked how it felt to be fighting a co-main event on ESPN, Serrano said, “I am super honored and super proud of how far women’s boxing has come.”

She added, “I am so for empowering women. We are amazing. We are great. We can fight and that’s my number one goal. Thank you to MVP (her promotional company) for believing in us, giving us these opportunities.”

Her promoter Jake Paul, who got some boos when given a turn at the microphone, was promptly defended by Serrano.

“He’s why all these women are here, because of Jake Paul (and MVP co-founder Nikisa Badarian) believing in us. Jake and Nikisa, thank you for believing in women. We’re getting our biggest paydays because they believe in us.”

Paul had complimentary words for Serrano, who was the first of dozens of female boxers his company has signed.

“She’s without a doubt the greatest Puerto Rican fighter of all time, male or female.”

“I’m going to be here til the wheels fall off,” said Serrano.
Questions/Comments: kirklang@yahoo.com

WBAN / IWBHF
WBAN Instagram
WBAN Facebook

WBAN / IWBHF WEBSITES
www.womensboxing.org
www.wbanmember.com
www.floridaboxing.com
www.iwbhf.com
WBAN's Group Facebook