Amanda Serrano managed to pull through a grueling test from challenger Lucrecia Manzur to notch the 50th triumph of her professional boxing career, keeping hold of both her WBA and WBO featherweight crowns by way of a majority decision. The main event of Most Valuable Promotions, streamed live on TikTok, saw two of the three judges score the bout 116-112 in Serrano's favour, while the third judge recorded a 114-114 draw, resulting in a narrow but decisive win for the Puerto Rican veteran. Reaching a half‑century of victories is a milestone that only a handful of women in the sport have ever achieved.
Serrano, whose record now stands at 50‑4‑1, joined an elite club with this performance. However, the night also held a second, tantalising goal that slipped through her fingers. To surpass the all‑time women’s knockout tally she shares with Hall‑of‑Famer Christy Martin, Serrano needed a stoppage.
The fight went the full twelve rounds, leaving her knockout total unchanged at 32. Manzur, fighting outside her native Argentina for the first time, came out aggressively from the opening bell. She forced Serrano back with a flurry of punches and, in the fourth round, inflicted a cut on the champion's forehead that appeared to dazzle the title‑holder. The Argentinean, who entered the ring with a 14‑5 record, seemed to have the early momentum, building a modest lead as the rounds progressed.
According to CompuBox statistics, Manzur landed a higher percentage of her shots—34 percent compared with Serrano's 25 percent—demonstrating greater accuracy in the early stages. Yet Serrano's experience and stamina began to tell as the fight entered its later phases.
The champion unleashed a furious rally in the championship rounds, turning the tide and reclaiming control despite the lingering injury to her hand. Reflecting on the bout, Serrano said, "She is a tough, young fighter. She was hungry, and I sensed that during training." She added, "I love being a woman in this sport and helping women's boxing grow beautifully." Her comments underscored both the respect she holds for her opponent and her broader commitment to the development of female boxing. Manzur, whose five‑fight winning streak was snapped, handled defeat with grace.
Speaking through a translator, she expressed gratitude: "Tonight was a dream come true. Thanks to you, you really helped put female boxing on a pedestal." The mutual admiration between the two athletes highlighted the camaraderie that often exists behind the competitive façade. Regarding the elusive knockout record, Serrano noted, "We still have that 33rd knockout, I have one more fight. If I don't get it, I'm glad that I tied with Christy Martin." Christy Martin, seated ringside, gave Serrano a supportive nod before the opening bell, declaring, "I'm always in her corner, no matter what." Serrano's résumé is historic.
She became the first woman to capture world titles in seven weight divisions and turned professional in 2009. Her rivalry with Katie Taylor, which produced two headline‑making fights at Madison Square Garden, is widely regarded as a watershed moment for women's boxing, drawing unprecedented attention and elevating the sport's profile. In April, Serrano hinted that this could be her final year in the ring.
She has long expressed a desire to finish her career on home soil in Puerto Rico, though a suitable opponent has yet to be secured. Consequently, the bout with Manzur may well represent the closing chapter of her illustrious boxing journey. After the fight, Serrano took to X (formerly Twitter) to describe the contest as "rough" and hinted at an impending decision about her future. She wrote, "The mind tells you one thing but the body does another.
You can fight anyone you want and squeeze out a victory but Father Time isn't allowing too much of that." These remarks suggest a thoughtful weighing of her physical condition against her competitive drive. While the ring may soon be behind her, Serrano's involvement in combat sports is unlikely to end. At 37, she remains open to expanding her legacy beyond boxing, particularly in mixed martial arts (MMA), where she holds an unbeaten record of 2‑0‑1 with two submission victories.
"I love the knockouts, but I think I love submissions a lot more. It's a lot more fun to get a submission than a knockout," she said before her recent fight.
She mused about a possible MMA return, noting, "Who knows? With the right fight, the right timing, the right network, maybe I'll throw some bows again." Serrano emphasized that she has continued to hone her MMA skills, stating, "I've learned a lot throughout the years in MMA. I'm not perfect yet, but I have these hands with four‑ounce gloves." Though she has not competed in MMA for a couple of years, the prospect of stepping back into the octagon against top‑tier opponents remains appealing to her, both as a personal challenge and as a platform to showcase her versatility. In summary, Amanda Serrano's 50th win solidifies her status as one of the most accomplished female boxers in history.
Though she fell short of breaking the knockout record, her performance against a determined Manzur demonstrated the champion's resilience and technical skill. As she contemplates retirement from boxing and possibly a renewed focus on MMA, Serrano's legacy will continue to inspire future generations of women athletes across combat sports.