In a conversation with MMAFightingonSBN, Amando Serrano reflected on her upcoming title defense against her old foe, Heather Hardy, who she had previously bested in 2019. “Heather Hardy…gave me the opportunity, so I wanted to become a new spiritual champion,” Serrano stated.
“She had one of the belts, maybe the WBO super champion. Knowing Heather is a tough warrior, we asked Heather… and she said yes. This is not a mandatory defense. So I wanted to be on the Jake Paul Nate Diaz card, because who doesn’t?”
She then expanded on how women’s boxing has evolved to the point where she and Hardy will be co-featured on a card, saying:
“Women’s boxing has come so far… it’s nice to see how far we’ve come that we would be a co-feature on a card like this.”
Fighting With Respect
Serrano also spoke about the importance of not underestimating opponents. Although some have touted Serrano as the clear favorite to win against Hardy, Serrano argues that it’s crucial to respect every opponent and to never underestimate their capabilities.
“That’s how upsets happen when you’re not concentrating on your opponent…I always respect my opponents no matter who they are and I just go out there and I train my heart. I train as if everything’s on the line.”
Looking to the future, Serrano expressed interest in facing Alicia Baumgardner. Many pundits believe that this could be one of the most significant fights in women’s boxing history. When asked about this potential match-up, Serrano said:
“I’m the fighter; I train and fight whatever my trainer, Jordan Maldonado, decides. It will be a great fight if we get paid what we deserve.”
The Call of Puerto Rico
An important part of Serrano’s future plans is fighting in her home country, Puerto Rico. Seeing the reaction of the crowd during a recent WWE event there, Serrano dreamed of having Bad Bunny walk her out to a fight.
“That’s what we’re working on. That’s my dream and wish, my homecoming, being the first Puerto Rican undisputed champion fighting in the biggest arena in Puerto Rico.”
The most exciting part of the interview, however, was the announcement that Serrano had signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Serrano spoke fondly of her previous run in mixed martial arts (MMA) and expressed excitement for her return to the sport.
“I love the challenge of MMA. I love that I get to do different things, challenge myself. Winning fights by submission was actually cool to me. I remember seeing [PFL] and how they have opportunities for women to win a million dollars. That really intrigued me.”
With this signing, Serrano aims to bridge the gap between boxing and MMA, making her an even more significant figure in combat sports. It is uncertain when she will make her debut for the PFL, but the announcement alone has sparked significant excitement among fans of both sports.
Amanda Serrano’s journey is not just about winning titles; it’s about breaking barriers and inspiring others. From boxing to MMA, she has shown the importance of determination, respect for one’s opponents, and the will to rise to any challenge.
As Serrano concluded in the interview:
“I want to be known as a combat legend, a combat all-around athlete… I want to be the best at or try to accomplish a goal. I definitely would love to win a title in MMA.”
