Long-serving featherweight world champion, Amanda Serrano defends her WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO baubles this Saturday at Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as she continues to trail blaze in a twelve round contest against Nina Meinke.
DAZN televise Serrano vs Meinke live worldwide.
The WBC continue to refuse to sanction twelve round bouts in the female side of the sport, so Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) was forced to vacate that belt, with Australia’s Skye Nicolson set to fight for the vacant title later this year.
The Puerto Rico native is one of the most decorated champions in the sport, having picked up world titles from super flyweight to super lightweight, but she has been a dominant champion at featherweight.
Her last loss came in a jump up to lightweight, where she was edged out via split decision for the undisputed title by Katie Taylor in April 2022, and the 35-year-old continues to court a rematch with the Irishwoman.
Serrano bounced back by becoming undisputed champion at 126 pounds, with a points wins against Erika Hernandez followed by a successful defence last time out against Heather Hardy.
‘The Real Deal’ then made history, taking a decision win against Danila Ramos, where she didn’t drop a round in the first unified women’s championship competed over 12 three-minute rounds.
She now faces Meinke (18-3, 4 KOs), a former European champion that has struggled to operate when at world level.
The Germany native was stopped by Katie Taylor in seven in 2017, and her only challenge for world honours came in April 2022, where she lost on the cards to then-IBF champion, Sarah Mahfoud.
The 30-year-old, known as ’The Brave’ is unbeaten in six since, the last a points win against Laura Ledezma in October 2023, where Meinke picked up the IBF Intercontinental strap.
Prediction: Serrano is a dominant champion, and Meinke hasn’t made that step-up as yet. I can’t see anything other than a Serrano points win in this one.
Jake Paul returns
Jake Paul continues to navigate his career away from the influencer and MMA route with a eight round cruiserweight clash against Ryan Bourland, a man with just one fight in the last five years.
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Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) has defeated Nate Diaz and Andre August since losing a split decision in Saudi Arabia to Tommy Fury last February, and he should have too much for Bourland (17-2, 6 KOs) here.
Prediction: Paul can take this one before the final bell.
Gonzalez defends world title against Santiago
WBO light flyweight champion, Jonathan Gonzalez will be looking to set up unification clashes with the likes of IBF king, Sivenathi Nontshinga, but must first negotiate the challenge of interim champion Rene Santiago.
Gonzalez (27-3-1, 14 KOs) has made two defences of his belt since claiming it from Elwin Soto in October 2021, while Santiago (12-3, 9 KOs) became interim champion with a final round knockout of Kevin Vivas in October.
Prediction: Gonzalez should win on points here.
Remaining Undercard
At super featherweight, Christopher Diaz (27-4, 17 KOs), who has only lost in good company, including to Shakur Stevenson, should take an inside schedule win in his ten round meeting with Headley Scott (18-1, 12 KOs).
Pedro Marquez Medina (15-1, 10 KOs) also sees action, and he should take a points win over eight at featherweight against Brandon Valdes (15-4, 7 KOs).
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The sole six rounder is at welterweight, where Elijah Flores (7-0, 2 KOs) can halt Alejandro Munera (8-8-4, 7 KOs).
In four rounders, Krystal Rosado-Ortiz (2-0, 1 KO) can take her super flyweight affair with Gloria Munguilla (5-0) on points, and Javon Walton (1-0, 1 KO) can do the same against Joshua Torres (0-1-1).
