Amanda Serrano vs Erika Cruz – Results & Post-Fight Report

Amanda Serrano made history, and became Puerto Rico’s first undisputed world champion, as she outpointed Erika Cruz in a slugfest at Madison Square Garden to take all the gold at featherweight.

Serrano came into this one holding all belts bar the IBF title, which was held by Mexico’s Cruz, and she added the title and sealed a mouth-watering rematch in Ireland in May against Katie Taylor as a result of victory here.

Cruz (15-2, KO3) came out swinging, and set a ferocious pace for the first three rounds, but she suffered a nasty cut on her forehead at the end of the third. Serrano (44-2-1, KO30) was forced to keep Cruz at bay, who was relentless in her approach, and it was only in the second half of the fight that Serrano began to stamp her authority on the contest, despite being cut herself in the sixth. The two traded blows in rounds seven and eight, that Serrano looked like she shaded, and she finally got to grips with distance and timing to finish strongly, with Cruz’s cut worsening. The two exchanged until the final bell, where the fight went to the cards.

Serrano came through by two scores of 98-92, and a third at 97-93. The scores were wider than the action reflected, but Serrano now goes on to take on Taylor on May 20.

Another undisputed champion was crowned at super featherweight, where Alycia Baumgardner (14-1, KO7) decked Elhem Mekhaled (15-2, KO3) twice on the way to a wide points win. Baumgardner dropped Mekhaled in the third with big hooks, and she was down again shortly after from an accumulation of punches. The Frenchwoman made it to the final bell, where Baumgardner was declared the winner by two scores of 99-89, and a third score of 98-90. The American is now likely to head into a rematch with Mikaela Meyer.

Richardson Hitchens (16-0, KO7) impressed, scoring two knockdowns on the way to widely outscoring John Bauza (17-1, KO7). Hitchens took victory by three scores of 100-88.

Shadasia Green (12-0, KO11) continued her reputation as a knockout artist, as she won the WBC Silver super middleweight title with a sixth-round stoppage win against former world champion Elin Cederroos (8-2, KO4).

Skye Nicholson (6-0, KO0) picked up the vacant WBC Silver featherweight title, but was largely flat in a points win against Tania Alvarez (7-1, KO1). The Aussie came through on the cards by scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93.

Ramla Ali (8-0, KO2) won her first pro title, as she picked up the vacant IBF Intercontinental super bantamweight strap by widely winning on the cards against Avril Mathie (8-1-1, KO3). Three scores of 99-91 confirmed the win.

At flyweight, Yankiel Rivera Figueroa (3-0, KO2) went all right rounds in a points win against Fernando Diaz (11-3-1, KO3), and at super lightweight, Aaron Aponte (7-0-1, KO2) also won on points against Joshua David Rivera (8-2, KO3).

Lightweight prospect Harley Maderos (5-0, KO4) scored a sixth and final round stoppage against Julio Madera (4-3, KO3).