Amanda Serrano looks to continue her historic run against Erika Cruz

Amanda Serrano will take on Erika Cruz for the undisputed featherweight championship.

This weekend at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (43-2-1, 30 KOs) will face off against Erika “Dinamita” Cruz (15-1, 3 KOs) for the undisputed featherweight crown with all four major titles on the line.

2022 will be remembered as the most significant year in women’s boxing history. The sport saw more women headline major events than ever before, with Amanda Serrano’s bout with Katie Taylor for the undisputed lightweight title standing at the forefront.

The match between Taylor and Serrano took place on April 30, 2022, and was the first women’s boxing match to headline at Madison Square Garden. The fight drew over 19,000 fans and over $1.45 million at the live gate. Not only was the bout a financial success, but also the fight itself was one of the best in 2022 between men or women. The crowd in attendance amplified the fight tenfold, and Ring Magazine awarded the fight with its Event of the Year award for 2022.

Although Serrano didn’t walk out of the Garden with her hand raised in victory against Taylor, there is still much to be accomplished for the Brooklyn-based Puerto Rican.

“I always want to be better than I was yesterday, my last fight,” Serrano said to Matchroom Boxing. “I’m always pushing myself because I’m my biggest critic. I feel like I could have done more. I could have done this. So I think I’m never satisfied with my work. I’ve always wanted to be better.”

Serrano, 34, is a seven-division champion, having won titles from 115 to 140 pounds standing only behind Manny Pacquiao at eight weight classes. Of the seven divisions Serrano has won titles in, featherweight may be her most accomplished weight class. Featherweight is the only division in that Serrano has unified titles and has held championships through three different reigns.

In her previous bout, Serrano won the IBF featherweight title against Sarah Mahfoud in Manchester, England, last September. She now holds the WBO, WBC, and IBF featherweight titles, leaving her with just one more to secure status as the division’s undisputed champion.

Serrano’s opponent Erika Cruz holds the WBA featherweight title and has made two defenses of the title since taking it off the hands of Jelena Mrdjenovich in April 2021. Cruz has not lost since 2016; however, the bout with Serrano will be just her second in the United States, leaving her as a massive underdog.

Amanda Serrano faces Erika Cruz at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden

With a victory, Serrano will become just the seventh woman to become an undisputed champion in boxing history. She will follow Cecilia Braekhus, Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor, Jessica McCaskill, Franchon Crews-Dezurn, and Chantelle Cameron. Just as vital for her will be the distinction of being the only Puerto Rican fighter, male or female, to become an undisputed champion in the four-belt era.

“My goal in boxing has always been to give Puerto Rico what no man or woman has achieved,” stated Serrano. “There is no rest to reach the goals and with what I have already given to my people, I still have more to go. Together with my sister Cindy, we were the first to win world titles in 2016. I could also be the first Latina to win $1 million in a fight, be a star at Madison Square Garden and be the boxer with the most titles won in a division.”

At this point in her career, Serrano has already accomplished enough to garner entry into the boxing Hall-of-Fame. However, she still has goals to establish herself as an all-time great. A seven-division champion, the seventh woman to become an undisputed champion, and the first undisputed Puerto Rican champion are what could be read on Serrano’s resume when she hangs up the gloves.

“I don’t party,” Serrano told Matchroom Boxing. “I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t own a cell phone. I’m just truly dedicated to the sport of boxing. Greatness requires sacrifice and I sacrificed a lot to be where I’m at now. So it definitely changed me as a person.”

How much more will she accomplish as she continues her historic run? Time will tell, but her run thus far has proven to be historic for Puerto Rico and women’s boxing.

Amanda Serrano vs. Erika Cruz will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN on Saturday, Feb. 4th.