Amanda Serrano, the WBO/WBC/IBF women’s featherweight champion, added the WBA belt to her collection with a hard-fought 10-round unanimous points decision over Erika Cruz on Saturday night at the Hulu Theater inside Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Amanda Serrano [@Serranosisters] pins Erika Cruz against the ropes and tries to finish her at the end of RD6 ?? #SerranoCruz pic.twitter.com/mX6hPO3bcy
— RINGOFHIGHLIGHTS (@ringofhighlight) February 5, 2023
It was toe-to-toe action from the opening bell, with Cruz, who suffered a cut to the forehead in the third round, holding her own.
Serrano hurt Cruz in the sixth round and was in control through to the last round.
The scores were 98-92 twice and 97-93.
The 34-year-old Serrano improved her record 44-2-1; 30 and Cruz’s record dropped to 15-2; 3.
Amanda Serrano defeats a resilient Erika Cruz by 10RD unanimous decision; Serrano becomes the undisputed featherweight champion ???? #SerranoCruz + Matchroom Boxing announces #TaylorSerrano2 in Dublin, Ireland on 5/20 ???? vs. ????pic.twitter.com/1WylX0KW0o
— RINGOFHIGHLIGHTS (@ringofhighlight) February 5, 2023
BAUMGARDNER ADDS WBC BELT
On the same card, WBC/IBF/WBO women’s junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner (14-1; 7) added the vacant WBA belt to her collection with a 10-round unanimous points decision over Elhem Mekhaled (15-2; 3).
The scores were 99-89 twice and 98-90.
One more ?? pic.twitter.com/W4KUSEdawB
— Alycia Baumgardner (@alyciambaum) February 4, 2023
WBA NO 1 OUTSCORES WBC NO 16
Seigo Yuri Akui (18-2-1; 11), the No 1-rated WBA flyweight, won on a 10-round unanimous points decision over WBC No 16 light flyweight Jason Vayson (10-1-1-1NC; 5) on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.
Akui was in control throughout to win with scores of 100-90 on all three judges’ scorecards.
JIMINEZ STOPS 65-BOUT VETERAN
Lightweight Bryan Jimenez (10-1; 6) won on a sixth-round technical knockout over 65-bout veteran Eusebio Osejo on Saturday night at the Nuevo Gimnasio Nicarao in Managua, Nicaragua. The time was 2:50.
HITCHINS WINS TWO TITLES
Richardson Hitchins (16-0; 7), who is rated at No 13 by the IBF, scored a one-sided 10-round unanimous points decision against John Bauza (17-1; 7) to win the IBF North American and USWBC junior welterweight titles on Saturday night at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York.
The scores were 100-88 on all three judges’ scorecards.
UNDERCARD
Flyweight Yankiel Rivera (3-0; 2) won on points over eight rounds over Fernando Diaz (11-3-1; 3). The scores were 79-73 twice and 78-74.
In a female featherweight bout, Skye Nicolson (6-0; 0) won on points over 10 rounds for the WBC silver title against Tania Alvarez (7-1; 1). The scores were 100-90, 98-92, 97-93.
In a female junior featherweight contest, Ramla Ali (8-0; 2) won on points over 10 rounds against Avril Mathie (8-1-1; 3) to win the IBF Intercontinental title.
The scores were 99-91 on all three judges’ scorecards.
In a WBC/WBA female super middleweight eliminator, Shadasia “Sweet Terminator” Green (12-0; 11) won on a sixth-round stoppage against former world champion Elin Cederroos (8-2; 4).
Green retained the WBC silver belt and added the WBA Continental Americas title.
Lightweight fighter Harley Mederos (5-0; 4) stopped Julio Madera (4-3; 2) in the sixth round. The time was 25 seconds.
In a junior welterweight bout, Aaron Aponte (7-0-1; 2) outscored Joshua David Rivera (8-2; 3) over eight rounds. The scores were 80-72 on all three judges’ scorecards.