In a disappointing turn of events, women's boxing champion Amanda Serrano was unable to compete in her scheduled fight on Saturday night in Puerto Rico. Serrano, who holds the IBF, WBA, and WBO women’s featherweight titles, was set to defend her titles against Germany’s Nina Meinke. The bout was supposed to be the main event of the evening, with YouTube star-turned boxer Jake Paul fighting in the preceding match to allow Serrano the spotlight in front of her home fans.
Despite Paul's victory in his fight by first-round knockout, the excitement was short-lived as it was announced that Serrano had been deemed unfit to fight by the Puerto Rican Boxing Commission. This decision was made due to an eye injury that Serrano had sustained the day before the fight.
Expressing her disappointment, Serrano, visibly upset, stood alongside Paul in the ring as it was revealed that her cornea had been exposed as a result of the injury. Most Valuable Promotions, Serrano's promotional company, issued a statement conveying her devastation at not being able to perform for her hometown fans.
As a result of Serrano's withdrawal from the fight, Meinke will receive her full purse, and fans who had purchased tickets for the event will be eligible for full refunds.
Serrano, with a professional record of 46-2-1 and 30 knockouts, was born in Puerto Rico and currently resides in New York. Notably, she participated in the first women's boxing match to headline at Madison Square Garden, where she narrowly lost to Katie Taylor on April 30, 2022.
Despite this setback, Serrano's fans remain hopeful for her swift recovery and eagerly anticipate her return to the ring for future bouts.
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