WBC and WBO featherweight champion Amanda ‘The Real Deal’ Serrano 41-1-1 (30) is targeting undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor 18-0 (6) following her dominant 10-round points win over Yamileth Mercado 18-3 (5) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday night.
Puerto Rican southpaw Serrano, 32, controlled her Mexican opponent for much of the contest to run away with the victory by scores of 98-92, 99-91 and 97-93.
“I had a tough Mexican in front of me tonight,” said Serrano of the WBC super bantamweight champion. “She’s a champion in her own weight class, but I hope I made everyone proud and happy and that Showtime will have me back again.
“I’m hoping that I made some of these people here fans of women’s boxing and that I made the sport proud.”
Ireland’s Taylor, 35, has emerged as one of the superstars in women’s boxing in recent years after unifying the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO world titles at 135-pounds.
“I want that fight with Katie Taylor in the future,” Serrano said.
“First I want to fight the other featherweight champions and become undisputed in my weight class. Then we’ll have two undisputed champions against each other when Katie and I fight.”
Undefeated Danish boxer Sarah Mahfoud 10-0 (3) is the IBF featherweight champion. Mexican southpaw Erika ‘Dinamita’ Cruz 13-1 (3) hold the WBA belt at the weight.
Taylor has a mandatory title defence due against American Jennifer Han in Leeds this Saturday at Headingley Rugby League Stadium in Leeds, England on the undercard of the rematch between featherweights Mauricio ‘Bronco’ Lara 23-2 (16) and Josh ‘The Leeds Warrior’ Warrington 30-1 (7).
Promoter Eddie Hearn said he has discussed a potential Serrano bout with the Puerto Rican’s promoter Lou DiBella but noted that Taylor has some other obligations before that fight can happen.
“She’s got to go through and box off a couple of mandatories – of which Jennifer Han is one,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said.
“The Serrano fight is still THE fight. That’s the fight. We’re talking to Lou DiBella, we’re talking to Madison Square Garden. I think that’s the biggest fight in women’s boxing.
“I know we’ve had our backs and forwards but I’ve spoken to Lou and I think everyone feels, as long as the deal’s right, that fight can happen and I’d love to make that happen.”
“I see March or April time at Madison Square Garden, Taylor versus Serrano.”
Taylor was an outstanding amateur boxer, winning five world championships and gold at the 2012 London Olympics.
She turned pro in 2016 and won her first world title the following year when she claimed the vacant WBA 135-pound belt against Argentinean Anahi Ester Sanchez 20-5 (12) on points.
Taylor also holds victories over top female boxers Jessica McCaskill 10-2 (3), Eva Wahlstrom 23-2-2 (3), Delfine Persoon 45-2 (18) and Christina Linardatou 13-2 (6).
She also bested Serrano’s sister Cindy ‘Checkmate’ Serrano 27-6-3 (10) three years ago.
