Amanda Serrano retained her WBA and WBO featherweight titles in Temecula, California, after securing a majority-decision victory over Lucrecia Manzur to reach 50 professional wins.
Two judges scored the bout 116-112 in favor of the Puerto Rican champion, while the third judge turned in a 114-114 card. The main-event fight was staged as part of a Most Valuable Promotions card and broadcast live on TikTok.
Victory brought the 38-year-old Serrano her 50th career win, moving her overall professional record to 50 victories, four losses, and one draw. However, the knockout milestone she targeted remained out of reach. Needing a stoppage to break the all-time women's knockout record of 32 that she shares with Christy Martin, Serrano was pushed through all 12 rounds and stays level on 32 knockouts.
Cut forehead and furious late rally
Serrano was forced to endure a difficult night against the 27-year-old Manzur, who was competing outside her native Argentina for the first time in her career. Manzur pressed forward from the opening bell, aggressive tactics that created immediate problems for the titleholder.
In the fourth round, Manzur opened a cut on Serrano's forehead and appeared to stun the champion on multiple occasions while establishing an early advantage on the scorecards.
Statistical data from CompuBox showed that Manzur was the more accurate puncher across the contest, landing 34 per cent of her total strikes compared to 25 per cent for Serrano.
Despite the early damage, Serrano responded with a furious rally during the closing rounds to turn the fight back in her favor. She also sustained a hand injury during the course of the bout.
Post-fight comments and tribute to Martin
Speaking after the contest, Serrano praised the challenger's effort and hunger in the ring. "A tough, young fighter. She was hungry. And I knew that coming into training," Serrano said.
The champion added: "I just love being a woman in this sport and helping women's boxing grow beautifully."
Manzur, whose five-fight winning streak came to an end as her record fell to 14 wins and five losses, expressed gratitude despite the defeat. Speaking through a translator, she said: "Tonight was a dream come true. Thanks to you, you really helped put female boxing on a pedestal."
Reflecting on the knockout record that eluded her in Temecula, Serrano noted that she still has time left in her career. "We still got that 33rd knockout, I've got one more fight. If I don't get it, I'm glad that I tied with Christy Martin," Serrano said.
Martin was present at ringside for the fight and had given Serrano her blessing before the opening bell. "I'm always in her corner," Martin said. "No matter what, I'm always in her corner."
Seven-division champion weighs career decisions
Serrano entered the ring as a pioneer of women's boxing, having become the first woman to win world championships across seven weight divisions. She turned professional in 2009, and her high-profile trilogy against Katie Taylor twice filled Madison Square Garden in New York, setting landmark moments for the sport.
In April, Serrano indicated that 2026 would likely be her final year in professional boxing. She has expressed a long-standing desire to host a farewell fight in Puerto Rico, though no opponent has been finalised for such an event, leaving open the possibility that the victory over Manzur was her final boxing appearance.
Following the bout, Serrano took to social media platform X to admit that the fight had been "rough" and noted that she must sit down with her team to determine how her career should conclude.
"The mind tells you one thing but the body does another," Serrano wrote on X. "You can fight anyone you want and squeeze out a victory but Father Time isn't allowing too much of that."
Uncertain future and mixed martial arts option
While her boxing career may be drawing to a close, the 37-year-old fighter indicated prior to Friday night's bout that she remains open to continuing her combat sports career in mixed martial arts.
Serrano holds an undefeated MMA record of two wins, no losses, and one draw, with both of her victories coming via submission. "Well, I am undefeated in MMA," Serrano said before the fight. "I'm 2-0-1, with two submissions."
Discussing her preference for grappling techniques over striking finishes, Serrano said: "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 added: "Who knows? With the right fight, the right timing, the right network, maybe I'll throw some bows again."
Acknowledging that she has not competed in MMA for a couple of years, Serrano expressed respect for potential opponents in that discipline. "There's a couple of good girls, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. I haven't done MMA in a couple of years, but it would be an honour to go in there with the best, just to showcase my skills," she said.
She concluded: "I've learned a lot throughout the years in MMA. I'm not perfect yet, but I have these hands with four-ounce gloves."
