Amanda Serrano vs. Heather Hardy rematch confirmed for August 5th in Dallas

Amanda Serrano vs. Heather Hardy rematch confirmed for August 5th in Dallas

Undisputed featherweight world champion Amanda “Real Deal” Serrano will defend her belts for the first time in a rematch against former WBO featherweight titleholder Heather “The Heat” Hardy. Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Real Fight Inc. (Real Fight) announced the deal on Thursday, with the fight set to take place as the co-main event alongside Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on August 5th.

Serrano defeated Hardy in 2019 to win the WBO belt, starting her current title reign at featherweight. Hardy will attempt to avenge her loss and become an undisputed champion. This is a significant opportunity for both fighters, as the event will be distributed globally on pay-per-view by DAZN, in addition to all major cable, satellite, and local PPV providers.

Hardy expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, "In 2021, I came back to boxing with a renewed passion for the sport. My late trainer told me, the day before he died, that 2023 would be my year. Now, I have the opportunity to prove him right and become an undisputed champion. Thank you to Amanda and team for keeping their word on giving me the rematch, but come fight night, I only have winning on my mind and stealing the show from Jake Paul and Nate Diaz.”

Serrano, the first Puerto Rican undisputed world champion, comes into the fight after winning a blood-soaked war against WBA featherweight champion Erika Cruz in February. The victory made her the undisputed featherweight champion but also left her with a hand injury, resulting in the cancelation of her much anticipated rematch with Katie Taylor.

Serrano’s win against Cruz followed her previous victory over Sarah Mahfoud in Manchester, England, adding the Dane’s IBF title to her WBO, WBC, and IBO featherweight belts.

Serrano spoke about the upcoming rematch, saying, "I am the undisputed featherweight champion today because Heather Hardy agreed to fight me in 2019 for her WBO title. That was the first step in my current run at featherweight. It’s only right that I give her the opportunity to earn it back. I’m excited to once again share the card with Jake and put on an exciting war. This will be the first time I get to fight in Texas, and I promise the fans that they will not be disappointed."

Fans of both fighters are eagerly anticipating this rematch, which promises to be a thrilling display of skill and determination from two of boxing’s finest female athletes.