Madison Square Garden Results: Amanda Serrano Decisions Bloody Erika Cruz, Alycia Baumgardner Wins and Calls Serrano Out
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
New York, NY (February 5th, 2023)– On Saturday night, February 4, 2023, a nine bout DAZN boxing card was held at Hulu Theatre Madison Square Garden in New York City. Women’s boxing was the big winner. Amanda Serrano and Alycia Baumgardner, in retaining female world titles, have assisted the cause of bringing more attention, public interest, and bigger purses to women’s boxing.
An accidental clash of heads between Amanda Serrano and Erika ‘Dinamita’ Cruz Hernandez in round three turned their 10 round female world featherweight title into a bloodbath for the next seven rounds. The hairline cut on the head of Hernandez, now 15-2 with three knockouts, Mexico City, Mexico, did not affect either contestant, save the blood getting on both combatants. Referee Ricky Claudio kept the bout clean except for the Hernandez cut. The Hernandez corner had its hands full.
Serrano dominated and appeared to win seven of the 10 rounds. Cruz did best in rounds three, four and seven to keep the bout close. Serrano won the last three rounds with pinpoint counterpunching. Erika Cruz Hernandez did come forward and aggressively punch, and Serrano would immediately instantaneously counterpunch. Real Combat Media scored the bout 97-93 for Serrano. The strongest words of praise are for Serrano, who has done much for the cause of women’s boxing in bringing it media attention, and packing them in to see her in New York City.
Immediately after Amanda Serrano’s back-and-forth entertaining win over Erika Cruz on Saturday night, Katie Taylor stepped in the ring, and they made their rematch official. It will once again be Undisputed champ vs Undisputed champ, with Taylor holding all the belts at lightweight, and Serrano holding all the featherweight titles.
The bout will happen on May 20, and this time it will happen in Taylor’s backyard in Dublin, Ireland.
Result: Amanda Serrano Win 10 Erika Cruz Hernandez, Featherweights
Scoring: 98-92, 98-92, 97-93 Serrano. Two minute rounds. Referee: Ricky Gonzalez
Accidental clash of heads in round three opened hairline cut on head of Hernandez
Serrano retains WBC, WBO, IBF and IBO World Female Featherweight titles
Serrano wins WBA Female World Featherweight title
Supervisors: Melvina Lathan, Jill Diamond
Preliminary Bout to Main Event
Alycia Baumgardner Win 10 Elhem Mekhaled, Super Featherweights
Scoring: 99-89, 99-89, 98-90 Baumgardner. Mekhaled down twice in third round.
Baumgardner retains WBC, WBO, IBF and IBO Female World Super Featherweight titles
Baumgardner wins vacant Female WBA World Featherweight title
Referee: Eric Dali. Supervisors: Melvina Lathan and Jill Diamond.
After the bout, Baumgardner called out Amanda Serrano. It was not stated whether Baumgardner wanted Serrano to fight her for Baumgardner’s world titles at the higher weight, or Baumgardner would come down in weight to challenge for Serrano’s world titles.
Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater Undercard Results
Harley Mederos TKO 6 Julio Madera, Lightweights (0:25) opening bout on the card
Aaron Aponte Win 8 Joshua David Rivera, Super Lightweights
Yankiel Rivera Figueroa Win 8 Fernando Diaz, Flyweights
Ramla Ali Win 10 Avril Mathie, Female Super Featherweights (two minute rounds)
Ali wins vacant IBF Inter-Continental Female Super Featherweight title
Shadasia Green Win 10 Elin Cederroos, Female Super Middleweights (Two Minute Rounds)
Green retains WBC Silver Female Super Featherweight title. Cederroos down round three.
Skye Nicolson Win 10 Tania Alvarez, Female Featherweights
Undefeated Australian southpaw Nicolson wins vacant female WBC Silver Featherweight title, and a possible shot at WBC female featherweight world title holder Amanda Serrano.
Richardson Hitchins Win 10 John Bauza, Super Lightweights
Hitchins retains IBF North American, Wins vacant WBC USA Super Lightweight title
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