On Tuesday, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced that unified featherweight world champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-4-1, 31 KOs) will make her long-awaited return in front of her home Puerto Rican fans in a unified WBA and WBO world title defense against WBO contender Erika “Dinamita” Cruz (18-2-1, 4 KOs) on Saturday, January 3 at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico(DAZN).
The 10-round highly anticipated rematch will be contested under equal rules to men with three-minute rounds, as Serrano makes her latest statement for equality in women’s boxing alongside Cruz.
In the pair’s first meeting, Serrano defeated Cruz by decision in February 2023 to become Puerto Rico’s first-ever undisputed boxing champion, male or female, in history. The blood-soaked war was named the WBO’s Female Fight Of The Year in 2023.
Now, Cruz has the opportunity for redemption against Serrano, who will make her second unified world title defense contested with three-minute rounds.
In her last fight at Madison Square Garden, the 37-year-old Serrano fought and lost to Katie Taylor.
“Every time I step into the ring, I fight for all women, for equality and for Puerto Rico,” said Serrano. “Getting to fight three-minute rounds in a unified world title defense in front of my people will be one of the proudest moments of my career. When I got injured last March, I promised I’d come back to fight in Puerto Rico, and now the moment is finally here. I want to thank Erika Cruz for her choice to face me over 10×3:00 and for joining me in making this statement for equality in women’s boxing. Together, we are showing all the young girls out there that they can do anything they put their mind to, and that women’s boxers deserve the same opportunities as men. Anyone who saw our first fight knows that this will be an all-out war, and we are ready to make history again on Saturday, January 3, live on DAZN globally.”
Cruz, 35, is a proud southpaw fighter from Mexico City, Mexico. In 2021, she made history by capturing the WBA featherweight world title, defeating long-reigning champion Jelena Mrdjenovich. She went on to successfully defend her title twice, proving her dominance in the division. Continuing her rise, in 2023, Cruz once again showcased her power and determination by moving down in weight and defeating Mayerlin Rivas to claim the WBA super bantamweight world championship.
