Amanda Serrano faces Nina Meinke on Saturday, March 2 at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The pair squares off in the women’s world championship bout scheduled for 12 rounds.
Puerto Rico’s former undisputed featherweight champion, Amanda Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs) brings to the ring her unified WBA, WBO and IBF belts. The 35-year-old southpaw vacated her WBC title after not getting the sanctioning body’s green light for the 12-round fight.
“That definitely wasn’t a very easy decision for me [to give up the belt],” Serrano said at the press conference at Distrito T-Mobile complex in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “You know I worked so hard for all these belts, all these titles. And so to give something up that you really love and work hard for. It hurts. But if you believe in something you have to take a stand. I believe that women need equality. The first step was performing and succeeding and doing the 12-three minute rounds. And I think I just needed to to do what I had to do. All these other organizations are supporting me 100%. So I believe in it and I took the stand and hopefully the WBC will come around one day.”
Serrano’s next opponent – Nina Meinke (18-3, 4 KOs) is an IBF featherweight mandatory contender. Riding a six-fight winning streak, the native of Berlin, Germany makes her second attempt to become champion. The 30-year-old southpaw fought Sarah Mahfoud for the IBF belt in April 2022, but dropped a unanimous decision.
“I’m expecting [from Nina Meinke] what every female fighter comes to do – that’s to fight,” Serrano said. “[Nina Meinke] has an opportunity to win all my belts, to show the world that she’s capable of beating Amanda ‘The Real Deal’ Serrano. I know she’s a tough, durable fighter and a very talented and skilled fighter, but I believe it’s going to be a great fight between both of us. Both of us really want this and we’re gonna prove to the world that there is no backing down.”
Amanda Serrano: I’m gonna be a nervous wreck in the locker room
The Puerto Rico native Amanda Serrano goes through the ropes in front of her home crowd for the first time since March 2021, when he stopped Daniela Romina Bermudez in the ninth round. In addition, the seven-weight world champion battles it out in the headliner of the show.
In the co-main event, Jake Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) is looking for his third win in a row. In his previous outing last December, Cleveland’s 27-year-old eliminated Andre August in the opening round. His next opponent is expected to be named shortly.
“Pinch me,” Serrano said. “It’s so surreal looking around and to be back at home as the main event. I am super honored. Thank you so much to MVP for putting on an amazing show and for putting me as the main event with Jake Paul as co-main event. He’s such a gentleman that he said, ‘This is your Island’, so he’s given me the opportunity and I’m super excited to be here, to have an amazing opponent, to come out and showcase women’s boxing once again. I can’t wait for Saturday, March 2nd. It’s going to be a beautiful night here in Puerto Rico.”
Among Serrano vs Meinke undercard bouts, Puerto Rican WBO light flyweight champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez (27-3-1, 14 KOs) of The Bronx, New York makes the third defense of his title against Rene Santiago (12-3, 9 KOs) of Humacao, Puerto Rico. As well, Krystal Rosado-Ortiz (2-0, 1 KOs) makes her hometown ring appearance against Gloria Munguilla (5-0) of Los Angeles in a four-round bout at super flyweight. Plus, Javon “Wanna” Walton (1-0, 1 KOs) of Atlanta, Georgia takes on a to be announced opponent in a four-round bout at featherweight.
“I’m used to performing, going out and sitting and watching Jake perform. Now it’s the opposite, Serrano said. “I don’t mind being co-main event, and he said there’s no way in the world that he was going to be the main event. This is my Island. So I’m truly thankful for for this opportunity. But it’s going to be kind of weird because it’s not only Jake that’s fighting, I have Krystal, ‘Bomba’, and ‘Wanna’ and I have to watch all those fights before my fight. So, I’m gonna be a nervous wreck in the locker room, but I’m gonna be ready to go out there and perform.”
The full lineup is expected to be announced shortly.