Amanda Serrano Dominates Reina Tellez, Reasserts Featherweight Championship
A dominant unanimous decision victory over Reina Tellez on Saturday night in San Juan, Puerto Rico, allowed Amanda Serrano to successfully defend her WBA and WBO featherweight titles and regain momentum after recent setbacks. The judges’ scorecards read 97-93, 97-93, and 98-92 in favor of Serrano.
Serrano (30-2-1, 24 KOs) showcased her championship pedigree, returning to her natural 126-pound weight class after consecutive losses to Katie Taylor at junior welterweight.”It feels amazing [to fight in Puerto Rico], but it feels even better to be back at 126 pounds,” Serrano stated after the fight. “It’s been two years since I fought at this weight. So the next fights are going to be much, much better. I feel finally I gave the fans a show.”
The bout came together on short notice for Tellez (13-1-1), who stepped in after Erika Cruz was removed from the card due to a failed drug test. Despite the late call, the 22-year-old challenger demonstrated considerable resilience against the seven-division world champion.”I’ve never been in 10 rounds,let alone three minutes,and I just did that with one of the best in the world,” Tellez remarked. “Against somebody I have idolized my whole life, I stood in there and fought to the end. So whatever anybody had to say about me, go to bed. I stayed focused, and I showed them tonight what’s up.”
Serrano’s Skill and Tellez’s Tenacity
From the opening bell, the difference in experience was apparent, with Serrano aggressively pursuing combinations. However, Tellez proved a durable opponent, even managing to cause swelling under Serrano’s right eye following an accidental clash of heads. Serrano adjusted her approach in the middle rounds, exercising caution due to the swelling, but her corner successfully prevented the injury from worsening, allowing her to resume her high-volume attack.
The champion began targeting Tellez’s body in the fifth round, but the challenger absorbed the punishment and continued to fight back. despite holding a notable lead on the scorecards entering the final round, Serrano relentlessly pursued a knockout, landing several powerful body shots and combinations. Tellez ultimately weathered the storm, completing all ten rounds and earning respect for her unwavering determination.
Looking Ahead for the Featherweight Champion
At 37, Serrano reaffirmed her commitment to continuing her boxing career at featherweight.While she did not call out a specific opponent, she acknowledged the competitive landscape of the division. “There are a lot of new girls and new champions at featherweight,” Serrano explained, referencing WBC champion Tiara Brown and IBF titleholder Nina Meinke. “Maybe one day we can all get together and just fight each other. I am the unified featherweight champion, and there’s other champions out there.”
Han Retains Lightweight Title in Co-Main Event
In the co-main event, Stephanie Han (12-0, 3 KOs) secured a technical unanimous decision victory over Holly Holm (34-3-3, 9 kos) to retain her WBA lightweight title. The fight was halted in the seventh round after an accidental headbutt caused a severe cut over Han’s right eye, prompting the ringside doctor to advise stopping the contest. The judges’ scorecards read 69-65, 69-64, and 68-65, all in favor of Han.
Han controlled the fight from the second round onward, utilizing her speed and counter-punching ability to outland Holm 87-29. Holm,a former UFC bantamweight champion who transitioned back to boxing last year,struggled to generate consistent offense against han’s skillful defense. Despite signing with Most Valuable Promotions last year and securing a win over Yolanda Vega in June,the 44-year-old Holm was unable to effectively neutralize Han’s attack.
The victory solidifies Han’s position as a rising force in the lightweight division, while serrano’s dominant performance signals a renewed focus and determination as she continues her pursuit of boxing excellence.
