Serrano vs Cruz: Results, highlights, play-by-play analysis

Join us live for the big women’s boxing show in New York

Amanda Serrano seeks to unify the women’s 126lb division today, seeking to add the vacant WBA belt to the WBC, WBO and IBF belts she already holds, stepping in against Erika Cruz.

Serrano (43-2-1, 30 KOs) has been around the block, including all the way up to 135lbs against Katie Taylor last year, and wants to cement herself as one of the greats of the women’s game. Cruz (15-1, 3 KOs) is not nearly as experienced, and will be hoping to pull off a shock to put herself on the map.

This card will be available on DAZN. The card starts at 8pm ET, with ringwalks for the main event expected at approximately 9.50pm ET, although stay tuned here for updates on that.

update: okay, main event up next. All the main card fights went the distance.

update: With her winning her fight tonight, they’ve announced the Amanda Serrano vs Katie Taylor rematch, in Ireland, May 20th. Excellent.

---

Round-by-round

Amanda Serrano vs Erika Cruz:

Round 1- They open with a mess clash. Cruz leaning hard to her left as she throws, got to watch out for right hands. Lot of volume from both early. Serrano’s punches clearly cleaner, but Cruz going to the body, trying to bank some work for later. 10-9 Serrano.

Round 2- Cruz’s punching form isn’t pretty, especially on the front foot as she is now, but she’s starting to land some effective shots, bodyshots into overhand rights. Both are throwing down. This is a phone-booth war. Big left from Serrano wobbles Cruz briefly, but she tags Serrano back. 10-9 Cruz, 19-19

Round 3- Slightly more hesitant opening here, in that they spend the first 30 or so seconds mostly jabbing. Serrano backing up, try to draw Cruz onto something. Her shots being straighter and sharper is telling a bit more in this round, but Cruz lands a good couple of lefts. Clash of heads as Cruz comes over her front foot, that happens a lot, and a lot of blood on her face. Serrano finishes by catching her with a few on the counter. 10-9 Serrano, 29-28

Round 4- Overhand rights scoring for Cruz. This is very competitive. Now Cruz getting her jab working. Serrano the one coming forward now, lands a big left. That cut’s re-opened, blood going everywhere. Just constant bursts of three/four punch exchanges, this, back and forth. 10-9 Cruz, 38-38

Round 5- Serrano’s had problems with her gas tank before, so she’s got to be worried with Cruz’s pace here. Lot of bodywork here, Serrano landing a few but probably not enough to really slow Cruz in return. Now she rocks Cruz back. The Mexican getting off-balance now, slowed down a little herself. 10-9 Serrano, but this is super tight. 48-47

Round 6- Cruz opens the round strong again. This is just continuous war. And Cruz hurts Cruz! Piling the pressure on! Cruz shaky, but sill throwing and survives the round. 10-9 Serrano, 58-56

Round 7: Delay at the start as Cruz’s corner left water all over the ring. Serrano starts up trying to finish, but Cruz seems to have recovered, and they’re both throwing. Blood on Serrano’s head, hard to say if it’s her own cut or just covered in Cruz’s blood. Excellent comeback round from Cruz so far. Serrano may have blown her tank pushing for that KO. Quick sharp shots in answer from Serrano, but 10-9 Cruz, 67-66 Serrano

Round 8: Cruz’s main problem is that when she does miss, she’s off-balance, and Serrano can punish her. When she comes behind the jab she’s a bit cleaner, but Serrano’s drawing her onto shots a bit more. Step back, then throw, Cruz is falling onto them. Does get a couple of right hands through, but she’s struggling to close the distance now. 10-9 Serrano, 77-75

Round 9: Cruz more patient in her own right to start this one. Trying to bait those step-back punches before she throws herself. Working to some extent, but still getting caught. Good adjustment though. More even round, but 10-9 Serrano, 87-84

Round 10- Cruz probably does need the knockout here. Her record doesn’t suggest it. Going for it though. Now she falls, rather strange one, she seemed to take herself over. No knockdown. Sharp left from Serrano but Cruz is non-stop in this final round. Clubbing rights from in close coming round Serrano’s guard now. They finish the fight swinging! Cruz gave absolutely everything here, she can barely stand. I’ll give her that round, though, just. 10-9 Cruz, 96-94 Serrano

Final score: 96-94 Serrano

Official scores: 98-92, 98-92 97-93 Amanda Serrano

Those are fair, but don’t let the wide scores fool you – this was a war all the way. Excellent fight.

---

Results

IBF, WBC, WBO and WBA women’s flyweight world title fight: Amanda Serrano UD Erika Cruz Hernandez 98-92, 98-92, 97-93

IBF, WBC, WBO and WBA women’s super featherweight world title fight: Alycia Baumgardner UD Elhem Mekhaled 99-89 99-89 98-90

Super lightweight: Richard Hitchins UD10 John Bauza 100-88 x 3

Flyweight: Yankiel Rivera UD8 Fernando Diaz 79-73, 79-73 78-74

Women’s featherweight: Skye Nicolson UD10 Tania Alvarez 100-90, 97-93, 98-92

Women’s super bantamweight: Ramala Ali UD10 Avril Mathie 99-91 x 3

Women’s super middleweight: Shadasia Green TKO6 Elin Cederroos

Lightweight: Harley Mederos TKO6 Julio Madera

Super lightweight: Aaron Aponte UD8 Joshua David Rivera 80-72 x 3