Serrano vs Cruz II: Title Rematch in Puerto Rico with Male Rules

Amanda Serrano vs. Erika Cruz: Rematch in Puerto Rico with historic rules

The world boxing champion, Amanda Serrano, is preparing for an eagerly awaited return to the ring. The Puerto Rican boxer will defend her WBO and WBA featherweight world titles against Erika Cruz. The fight will take place at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 3, 2026. This showdown will mark the rematch of their thrilling and bloody 2023 battle, where Serrano emerged victorious by unanimous decision, solidifying herself as the first undisputed champion from Puerto Rico in the four-belt era. The fight will have a significant modification in the rules. Serrano and Cruz will face each other under the same rules as men, with three-minute rounds.

Every time I step into the ring, I fight for all women, for equality, and for Puerto Rico. Fighting with three-minute rounds in a unified world title defense in front of my people will be one of the proudest moments of my career. When I got injured last March, I promised I would fight again in Puerto Rico, and now the moment has finally arrived.

Amanda Serrano

Serrano (47-4-1, 31 KOs) returns to the ring after her defeat in July against Katie Taylor. The rivalry between both boxers has been fundamental to the current rise of women’s boxing. Serrano, 37 years old, is eager to compete in front of her home crowd, after being forced to cancel her December 2023 fight against Nina Meinke in Puerto Rico due to an eye injury.

I want to thank Erika Cruz for choosing to face me in 10 x 3:00 minute rounds and for joining me in making this statement for equality in women’s boxing. Together, we are showing all young women that they can achieve what they set out to do, and that female boxers deserve the same opportunities as men.

Amanda Serrano

Cruz (18-2-1, 4 KOs), with a record of 3-0-1 since his defeat to Serrano, will seek to avenge his loss and revive the historic boxing rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico.

I am very happy and excited for this great opportunity to face the great Puerto Rican champion, Amanda Serrano, again. I thank my promoter, Universal Promotions, and MVP for making this rematch a reality. This is the most exciting rivalry in world boxing. Mexico against Puerto Rico means a guaranteed war. If our first fight was a colossal battle, you can’t miss what will happen on January 3rd. Long live Mexico!

Erika Cruz

Recently, Serrano signed a lifetime deal with Most Valuable Promotions, where she will conclude her boxing career before assuming the role of president of MVP’s women’s boxing initiatives. She will lead efforts to identify, sign, develop, and market the promotion’s growing roster of female athletes. Although there was speculation about the end of Serrano’s boxing career, “The Real Deal” still has at least one more fight ahead. Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions, expressed their support for Serrano, highlighting her return to her natural weight of 126 pounds and her role as a symbol of equality in the sport. They added that this event will celebrate the pride and legacy of Puerto Rican and female boxing.