(SEPT 14) NEW YORK – Boxing 360
has its first world champion, new International Boxing
Federation (“IBF”) junior lightweight Amanda “The Real Deal”
Serrano, who stopped WIBF Inter-Continental lightweight titlist
Kimberly Connor in last Saturday night’s scheduled 10-round
title fight in Brooklyn’s Aviator Sports Complex.
The undefeated 23-year-old
Serrano (12-0-1, 8 KOs), a native of Puerto Rico who fights out
of Brooklyn, took control early against her game Arkansas
opponent, Connor (9-2-2, 4 KOs).
“It’s amazing,” Serrano spoke about winning her first world
title at home in Brooklyn. “It was the best crowd ever and I had
a lot of mixed-up emotions to deal with. I had so many family
and friends there who’ve watched me grow in this sport. Winning
a world title means the world to me. Kimberly was tough but I
train for every fight like I’m fighting Mike Tyson. What’s next?
I’m a fighter who just fights and trains. I’m ready to fight
anybody between 122 and 130 who my team puts in front of me.”
Serrano’s promoter, Mario Yagobi (Boxing 360), believes Amanda
will soon be ready to take on anybody in the world between the
junior lightweight and junior featherweight divisions. “Amanda
gave Boxing 360 its first world champion and we believe she’ll
soon be adding more title belts to her collection,” Yagobi
added. “She is the most dedicated fighter I’ve ever seen. Amanda
lives boxing 24/7 and she’s worked very hard to get to this
point. What’s really remarkable is that she’s only 23 with more
to learn through ring experience. Right now, I’m not sure what’s
next for her but the fighter we’d like to get in the ring is
Maureen Shea. A fight in New York City between those two would
be great for female boxing but, for whatever reason, Maureen
doesn’t seem interested in fighting Amanda. Hopefully, she’ll
change her mind because it’s a real natural.”
As world champion, Amanda has to relinquish her North American
Boxing Federation Featherweight title belt.
“Once Amanda hurt her opponent, knocking her down (in the second
round), she didn’t let up,” Boxing 360 Director of Boxing Bob
Duffy added. “She just let her hands go until the referee (Benji
Estevez) stopped the fight (1:45). She looked good.”