Amanda Serrano made history on Saturday by becoming the first Puerto Rican fighter to unify all the featherweight division belts, with a unanimous points win over Erika Cruz in New York. The three judges scored the fight 98-92 98-92 97-93 in Serrano's favor. In a remarkable moment, Ireland's Katie Taylor, who beat Serrano in a points victory last April, joined her in the ring to confirm their rematch, which will take place on 20 May in Dublin. Taylor is the undisputed champion in the lightweight division, while 34-year-old seven-weight champion Serrano has now added featherweight to her list of accomplishments.
Also on the card at Madison Square Garden, American Alycia Baumgardner became the undisputed champion in the super-featherweight division, with a victory over France's Elhem Mekhaled. This marks the first time two new undisputed champions have been crowned in a single night in the four-belt era.
Serrano went into the fight with Cruz as a strong favorite, but Cruz's aggressive style made things difficult for her in the early rounds. Despite a cut to her head in the third round, Cruz continued to fight hard, but Serrano was ultimately too strong for her. The Puerto Rican fighter credited her corner for helping her get back to basics and focus on throwing 1-2 combinations, which ultimately led to her victory.
In conclusion, Amanda Serrano's victory over Erika Cruz marked a historic moment for Puerto Rican boxing, and the anticipation for her rematch with Katie Taylor on 20 May in Dublin is already building. With two new undisputed champions crowned in a single night, the future of women's boxing looks brighter than ever.
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