Amanda Serrano celebrated her return to Puerto Rico with a commanding points victory over Reina Tellez, successfully defending her WBA, WBO, and Ring Magazine featherweight titles. Fighting in her home country for the first time since 2021, the 37-year-old showcased her skill and experience at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan.
Serrano Controls the Action Despite Early Scare
Serrano started strongly, using sharp combinations and precise body shots from her southpaw stance to establish dominance early. Tellez, who accepted the fight on just 15 days’ notice, landed an overhand left in the fifth round that caused swelling under Serrano’s right eye. Despite the brief scare, Serrano’s ring intelligence and experience allowed her to regain control, dictating the pace and maintaining pressure through the later rounds. She secured a unanimous points win with scores of 98-92, 97-93, and 97-93.
“I’m super thankful and grateful to Reina for coming on short notice and coming to fight,” Serrano said afterward. “She’s a warrior.” The 10-round bout, contested under men’s boxing rules, extends Serrano’s professional record to 48 wins, four losses, and one draw.
Spirited Challenge from Tellez
The American challenger proved to be a tough opponent, forcing Serrano to adapt mid-fight. Originally scheduled to face Erika Cruz, Serrano’s opponent changed after Cruz withdrew due to an unusual finding in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test. Tellez missed the featherweight limit, meaning she was ineligible to win the titles, but she grew in confidence through the middle rounds, keeping the fight competitive. Despite the damage to her eye, Serrano remained the aggressor, cutting off the ring and reasserting control in the final rounds with relentless combinations, though a stoppage eluded her.
Undercard Highlights and Event Tribute
On the undercard, Holly Holm fell short in her bid to become a four-division boxing champion, losing to WBA lightweight title-holder Stephanie Han. The fight was stopped in the seventh round due to a cut caused by an accidental clash of heads, with Han retaining her title by unanimous decision. Holm, 44, returned to professional boxing after a 12-year hiatus spent competing in the UFC.
The event, promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, also paid tribute to Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, whose names were displayed on the ring canvas. Serrano reflected on her performance, saying, “It’s been two years since I fought at this weight. I feel the next fights are going to be much better and I’m glad I could give the fans a show.”
