No going back – MMA move permanent for Amanda Serrano

Amanda Serrano [35(26)-1(0)-1] is paying no heed to the criticism coming from Team Katie Taylor and is adamant she has made the right choice by retiring from boxing to focus solely on a career in MMA.

The only female puncher to win world titles in six weight classes had been touted as one of the fighters with a history and profile high enough to give Taylor [10(5)-0] one of the ‘super fights’ she so desires.

Indeed, the Irish sporting legend’s defence of her IBF and WBA world lightweight titles against Serrano’s older sister Cindy in Boston this Saturday was seen as an ideal way to build a fight with the New York-based Puerto Rican.

However, in the lead up to a Matchroom show that also plays host to a James Tennyson world title fight and offers Nial Kennedy and Sean McComb the chance to impress, the 30-year-old southpaw revealed she was swapping the ring for octagon for good – in turn reducing the list of potential known names the Bray fighter could trade leather with.

Serrano makes the move claiming MMA guarantees her a chance to earn more money and, with TV a certainty, also helps her raise her profile.

The move prompted Taylor to be unusually vocal and the unified champion pointed out that a bout between the pair would ensure Serrano a career-high purse.

Indeed, the Bray 32-year-old went as far as to label Serrano “mentally fragile”.

The manager of the woman who put female amateur boxing on the map, Brian Peters, also questioned the move.

The Meath fight boss claimed Serrano was offered five times her career-best purse to fight the biggest name in female fighting and stressed a belief that the fight Taylor wants the most will happen.

However, speaking to Irish-Boxing.com. Serrano, who had previously been vocal about wanting to ‘stop’ Taylor, questioned why it was her sister and not her was who was offered the clash this weekend – and shot down suggestions she would return to boxing for a potential payday.

“They can say what they want I’m happy with my move to MMA,” Serrano told Irish-Boxing.com before breaking down the reasons for a move which now looks to be permanent.

“My career in boxing wasn’t a lucrative one.”

“One payday isn’t going to get me back,” she noted before explaining the benefits of fighting in the Combat Americas promotion.

“In MMA I get TV and more money. I get more money and guaranteed national TV.”

“She doesn’t even have TV guaranteed,” added the Caribbean fighter, a claim which is technically true as Taylor boxes on the DAZN streaming platform.

Perhaps most interesting, however, was Serrano’s apparent displeasure with Taylor facing Cindy first.

Initially it had appeared to be a logical narrative and one seemingly endorsed by Serrano herself but ‘The Real Deal’ states that Taylor has missed her chance.

“My could have offered me the fight but they chose my sister instead,” added the fighter who won her second professional MMA bout at the weekend.

Serrano submitted Eréndina Ordóñez via rear naked chokehold in the opening round of their clash.

Having drawn her MMA debut earlier this year, Serrano redoubled her efforts, winning a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in August. This win came during her camp for her record WBO light welterweight title win over Yamila Esther Reynoso and afterwards announced her intention to focus on the octagon.

At the time the prospect of a big-money Taylor fight had many assuming that the ‘retirement’ from boxing was not a permanent one, but Serrano suggests otherwise.