WBC, IBF and WBO featherweight titleholder Amanda Serrano (44-2-1, 30 KOs) added Erika Cruz’s WBA title (15-2, 3 KOs). ) to her collection with a very exciting ten-round unanimous decision to become the undisputed world featherweight champion on Saturday night at the Hulu Theater inside Madison Square Garden in New York City.
This victory allows Serrano to table a rematch against champion Katie Taylor.
Cruz fought well in an action-packed fight from start to finish. Cruz was cut on the forehead in a third-round headbutt. Serrano rocked Cruz in the sixth round and took the upper hand afterward as Cruz slowed down.
The judges handed cards 98-92, 98-92, 97-93 in favor of the Puerto Rican. It was the fifth straight fight that went to the limit for Serrano.
Promoter Eddie Hearn said Serrano, and Taylor, who joined him in the ring, would meet on May 20 in Ireland. Taylor, the undisputed lightweight champion, edged out Serrano by split decision on April 30 in the first women’s match to headline at Madison Square Garden.
The fight against Taylor was one of the biggest in women’s boxing history and lived up to the hype, winning numerous Fight of the Year awards. Taylor won most of the final rounds to win it.
Baumgardner also becomes undisputed super featherweight champion
In a fight where the WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO and WBA titles were on the line, Alycia Baumgardner (14-1, 7 KOs) became the undisputed super featherweight champion by winning in ten rounds against Elhem Mekhaled (15-2, 3 KO).
The judges handed cards 99-89, 99-89 and 98-90.
After a quiet first round, the two boxers opened the machine by multiplying the powerful blows. In the third round, a solid right from Baumgardner eventually sent Mekhaled to the ground after a series of blows from the American. Elhem Mekhaled was knocked down again afterwards, but she still managed to complete the round.
Mekhaled came back strong in the fourth round, taking advantage of her rival’s fatigue. The two boxers had their moments in the fifth and sixth rounds, while the seventh round was mainly to Baumgardner’s advantage.
Elhem Mekhaled then recovered from the hair of the beast during the last rounds, but it was insufficient to allow him to win the victory.
