Heather Hardy Put Up One Hell of A fight Against Amanda Serrano
Editorial By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
Women’s boxing does not get the sort of attention and publicity it should in comparison with men’s boxing. When Heather Hardy got matched with Amanda Serrano, the two lady ticket sellers in the United States were a good match. Claressa Shields rise is relative, while Serrano and Hardy have been around for years.
Serrano, age 30, 37-1-1 with 27 knockouts, Brooklyn, New York, the best pound for pound female fighter in the world, has been a world champion in many weight classes. Hardy, age 37, 22-1 with four knockouts, Brooklyn, New York, held the WBC Female Super Bantamweight and Featherweight titles, before winning the WBO Female World title.
On September 13, 2019, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Serrano won a 10 round unanimous decision over Hardy for the interim WBC and WBO female World Featherweight titles. While hardy only won a round or two on the judges’ scorecards, hardy was at least game and in the house.
Perhaps one factor had to do with age. Hardy was 37 years old by the time she and Serrano finally tangled. It was an ideal local match up, and great for television, but the confrontation probably should have taken place years earlier, like by the time Manny Pacquiao finally fought Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Hardy has good movement and countering skills. Serrano frequently pinned Hardy, on the ropes, unloaded power shots to the head and body. Hardy survived because of her ability to keep moving and counter well. In the end, Serrano’s superior ring generalship and consistent attacks kept Hardy on the defensive most times, and was too much to overcome.
Serrano has bounced around all of the female weight classes wiping the floor with the talentless, so perhaps Hardy will have an opportunity to regain a share of the female world featherweight title in the near future. Most certainly Hardy put up one hell of a fight against Serrano, Serrano’s best challenge in years. Serrano seems headed towards a dangerous high stakes confrontation with durable 14-0 world champion Katie Taylor into a world title bout at female lightweight or higher. Hardy would be best served to remain at featherweight where she may have a few more world-class bouts left in the tank.
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