Amanda Serrano Wins WBO World Female Featherweight Title in 110 Seconds
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent- Ringside
New York, NY (February 18th, 2016)– When Amanda Serrano, regarded by this reporter as the best pound for pound female pro boxer in the world, stepped into the ring for a vacant world title bout in yet another division, only one question loomed: how long would the bout last?
Consensus among reports ringside at BB King Blues Club & Grill on Wednesday evening, February 17, 2016, was the main event of the five bout card would not last long. The hunch proved correct. Serrano, now 27-1-1 with 20 knockouts, Brooklyn, New York, wasted no time in coming forward with tremendous pressure on opponent Olivia Gerula, 17-16-1, three knockouts, Winnipeg, Canada.
With the ring cut off, Gerula was placed in a position of having to go toe-to-toe with Serrano in front of her. Quickly, Gerula got hit with some head shots and staggered off the ropes, counted as a knockdown by referee Ricky Gonzalez. The action appeared to last around a minute after that, with Serrano, the hunter, pursuing Gerula, the hunted. Gerula tried to fight her way out, but Serrano is man hitting style a power hitter, and Gerula is not. Unable to match Serrano’s aggressive punch output, Gerula staggered backwards on the ropes, taking a beating until the merciful end of the brief bout occurred at 1:50 of the first round.
Gerula deserves credit for even showing up. Many Serrano opponents get cold feet and don’t show. The hope at ringside-and with Amanda Serrano-is that Amanda can unify all of the belts in the 126 pound division and bring excitement back to women’s boxing.
The WBO official at ringside, Porfirio Betegon, also expressed an interest in bringing the 122 pound world title female belt for a future Shelly Vincent and Heather Hardy bout, but its status must be researched. Sabrina Perez of Buenos Aires, Argentina won the interim 122 pound WBO female world title belt earlier this month, but that is not the full title.
Result: Amanda Serrano TKO 1 Olivia Gerula, Featherweights (1:51)
Serrano wins vacant World Boxing Organization World Featherweight title
World Title Bout Referee: Ricky Gonzalez. WBO Championship Official: Porfirio Betegon.
BB King Blues Club & Grill Undercard
Referees: David Fields and Mike Ortega
Jonathan Alonzo Win 6 Ricardo Maldonado, Super Lightweights
Shemuel Pagan TKO 2 Oscar Santana, Super Lightweights (1:53)
Dauren Yeleussinov TKO 1 Bernard Thomas, Super Middleweights (1:50)
Pavlo Ischenko Win 6 Rafael Vazquez, Super Featherweights
Former World Heavyweight champion Michael Bentt and HBO commentator Harold Lederman were in the house. New York State Middleweight champion Chris Galeano and promoter Lou DiBella talked about an upcoming Galeano title defense on the next card in center ring. Ring announcer David Diamante led the memorial ten count toll for the late boxing producer Rob Beimer.
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