Reina Tellez accepted the assignment on short notice and pushed Amanda Serrano through a demanding test, but experience and class ultimately separated the champion from the challenger.
After 10 fast-paced three-minute rounds, Serrano reaffirmed her status as one of the sport’s elite, successfully defending her unified WBA and WBO featherweight titles with a clear unanimous decision. The seven-division world champion showcased superior ring intelligence, accuracy, and strength against a younger, unbeaten opponent.
At 37, Serrano controlled the fight’s tempo with a disciplined jab, varied combinations, and sustained body attacks, dictating where and how the exchanges took place. Tellez, just 22 and stepping in on two weeks’ notice, showed resilience and composure beyond her years, standing her ground and landing occasional clean shots, including sharp overhand lefts.
Serrano faced adversity in the middle rounds when swelling developed beneath her right eye, but it did little to slow her forward pressure. Even with a comfortable lead, she continued pressing for a stoppage that would have matched Christy Martin’s career knockout total, though it ultimately proved elusive.
The victory underscored Serrano’s dominance at featherweight, a division she returned to after falling short in consecutive light welterweight bouts against Katie Taylor. The fight also carried personal significance, marking Serrano’s first appearance in Puerto Rico since 2021.
Originally, Serrano was scheduled to face former champion Erika Cruz in a rematch of their 2023 bout, but Cruz withdrew after an atypical VADA test result opened the door for Tellez’s late call-up.
Serrano vs Tellez fight results:
- Caleb Tirado def. Justin Hill by TKO, bantamweight
- Yandiel Lozano def. Johniel Ramos Cotto by unanimous decision, super featherweight
- Abner Figueroa def. Edwin Rodriguez by unanimous decision, bantamweight
- Elise Soto def. Liliana Martinez by TKO, super featherweight
- Alexis Chapparo def. Augusto Leal by unanimous decision, middleweight
- Chris Echevarria def. Gabriel Bernardi by unanimous decision, super bantamweight
- Henry Lebron def. Juan Tapia by TKO, super featherweight
