¡HOLA! EXCLUSIVE

Amanda Serrano: The queen of the ring ahead of the biggest fight in women’s boxing history

With titles in seven weight divisions, Serrano’s legacy is etched in boxing history as she steps into Madison Square Garden in New York City to face Katie Taylor

Senior Writer

JULY 10, 2025 2:23 PM EDTJUL 10, 2025, 2:23 PM EDT

If boxing had a Mount Rushmore, Amanda Serrano’s face would already be carved into it. Serrano is a Puerto Rican powerhouse who’s shattered records, defied limits, and turned every doubter into a believer. With nine world titles across seven weight divisions, Serrano is the personification of a boxing history book.

Now, in an exclusive ¡HOLA! sit-down ahead of what’s already being dubbed the most anticipated women’s fight of the year, Amanda Serrano opens up about legacy, grit, and the epic trilogy that’s about to light up Madison Square Garden on July 11.

Amanda Serrano: The queen of the ring returns to MSG for the biggest fight in women’s boxing history — ¡HOLA! meet Serrano in Brooklyn while she was training for the historic flight

Serrano vs. Taylor III marks the final chapter in one of the most intense and compelling rivalries that modern boxing has ever witnessed. Over the years, these two fighters have faced off in a series of electrifying bouts, each clash filled with drama and tension that captivated fans worldwide.

"It is possible. Anything is possible. And I just want to show young girls, young Latinas, no matter how you look, no matter where you come from, you can do anything you put your mind to."

Amanda Serrano

The anticipation for this concluding showdown has reached a fever pitch, as both competitors bring their unique styles and histories to the ring, eager to settle the score once and for all.

From Brooklyn’s Concrete Jungle to Boxing Royalty

Serrano’s story starts in Carolina, Puerto Rico, but her roots took hold in Brooklyn, New York, where she moved as a child. Raised in a tight-knit Nuyorican household steeped in salsa music, home-cooked meals, and community pride, gloves or rings didn’t shape Amanda’s early years; family and the hustle of city life shaped them.

Amanda Serrano: The relentless queen of the ring shares details of her historic trilogy showdown at MSG — Amanda Serrano at the Open Workout at The Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center ahead of Netflix's Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3 fight on July 11th.

She was a hyperactive kid who loved swimming and rarely sat still. Boxing wasn’t even on her radar until her sister Cindy Serrano, herself a professional fighter, began training to get in shape. Amanda tagged along, mostly for fun, but something clicked.

At 12, she stepped into a Queens gym and unknowingly into her future. By 17, after graduating from Bushwick High School, she decided to train seriously. She wasn’t chasing fame; it was a paycheck, a bond with her sister, and the chance to prove she could hold her own in a male-dominated space.

Humble Beginnings, Heavy Hands

Serrano’s amateur career was brief but powerful. A 9–1 record that included a Staten Island amateur championship win and a standout performance at the New York Daily News Golden Gloves.

By 2009, she was turning pro under the guidance of Jordan Maldonado, her sister’s husband and longtime trainer.

Amanda Serrano with her trainer Jordan Maldonado - Sarah Stier / Getty Images — Amanda Serrano with her trainer Jordan Maldonado

While other boxers took the slow route, Amanda went full throttle. In her early pro days, she fought hungry. She fought often. She fought anyone. What followed was a jaw-dropping climb through the weight classes, capturing major world titles in super flyweight, bantamweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight.

No other woman in boxing has done that. No Puerto Rican has either — male or female.

How to watch her fight

The accolades came fast, including a WBO Female Boxer of the Year in 2016 and 2018 and a Guinness World Record for most world titles in different divisions by a female boxer. By 2021, The Ring and BoxRec ranked her the best female featherweight in the world.

But despite her dominance, Serrano stayed grounded, still training in the same gym, still walking the same Brooklyn streets, still talking that Spanglish blend of pride and streetwise charm that her fans adore.

"It's hard. Every day is hard, training two to three times a day, six days a week...It’s just mentally preparing yourself."

Amanda Serrano

The Rivalry that Changed Women’s Boxing

Her blockbuster 2022 fight against Katie Taylor, the first women’s bout to headline Madison Square Garden, wasn’t just a clash of champions. It was a culture shift. Serrano and Taylor sold out the iconic arena, delivered a Fight of the Year performance, and proved to the world that women’s boxing belonged on center stage.

The two have since fought twice, with Taylor winning both by narrow decisions. But the rivalry is still electric, and the final act is still unwritten. On July 11, that changes.

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano previously faced each other during LIVE on Netflix: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, in Arlington, Texas, on November 15, 2024

Serrano vs. Taylor III headlines Netflix’s first-ever all-women’s boxing card, live from The Garden. It’s a trilogy of fights with a legacy written all over it, not just for Amanda but also for women’s boxing itself.

Amanda is gunning for redemption this time and the undisputed super lightweight title. With her new lifetime deal with Most Valuable Promotions and her new role as chairwoman overseeing women’s boxing, she’s not just stepping into the ring for herself. She’s stepping in for every woman who dreams of gloves, glory, and greatness.

A Milestone Beyond Boxing

Amanda Serrano isn’t just fighting for a title; she’s redrawing the map of what’s possible in women’s sports. Her third showdown with Katie Taylor is the most anticipated women’s fight of the year, marking a financial turning point. Reports indicate both fighters could potentially earn up to $9 million, thanks to Netflix and major sponsorships. The event signals a bold new chapter in pay equity and global visibility for female athletes. The numbers speak for themselves.

According to Fox Business, a $1 million VIP ticket package, secured by TORKLAW and Most Valuable Promotions, includes front-row seats, luxury transportation, access to the Knicks locker room, gourmet dining, exclusive merchandise, and more. It’s not just a fight; it’s proof that women’s boxing can headline and compete at the highest level, not just athletically, but economically.

Jake Paul Bet on Amanda Serrano

Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer and co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, saw something bigger in Amanda Serrano. Paul told her, “You’re going to be on billboards. You’re going to make $5 million for a fight.” He promised she’d be a millionaire within a year, and he delivered. “Working with Jake changed my life totally,” Serrano said.

“Losing is never fun, but you only lose if you feel like you lost. And I didn't feel like I lost. My team told me I didn't lose. They're proud of me, so I'm okay. Like Jake Paul says: ‘You turn that L into a W.”

Amanda Serrano at the final press conference ahead of the flight

As Serrano’s promoter, Paul helped bring global attention and serious backing to the trilogy’s final chapter at Madison Square Garden. He’s been vocal about MVP’s mission, saying, “Every decision we make is to elevate women’s boxing to the forefront of the sport.” He added, “First and foremost, I hope it just puts women’s boxers on a different pedestal of respect and gets them paid better.” At the press conference, he called Serrano “the heart and soul of MVP” and “the greatest Puerto Rican champion of all time.”

In our exclusive ¡HOLA! interview, Amanda Serrano, the highest-paid female boxer in the United States, shares what this fight means to her, how her roots still shape her grind, and why she believes this isn’t just her moment.

How does your upcoming fight rewrite the playbook for women's boxing?

"I am super proud to be a Boricua. That alone gives me more energy and more force to go out there and fight with everything I have. It's hard being a woman. But I want to show women in the world, in this sport, that we can do anything we put our minds to. It is possible. Anything is possible. And I just want to show young girls, young Latinas, no matter how you look, no matter where you come from, you can do anything you put your mind to, and it's just truly amazing."

What does it mean for you to not only headline this event but also become the highest-paid female athlete in a single sporting event, especially as a proud Latina powerhouse?

"I'm truly honored to be the highest paid female athlete, not just in boxing. We've been paid nothing, and now we're changing the game. Being a part of MVP, who definitely wants to help empower women and give them the opportunity and give them better paychecks, is just a big turnaround for female boxing. And I think once they see that we're making this type of money, young girls in the sport gives them the motivation, the inspiration to want to become a professional boxer and continue to work hard and fight hard and say it's worth it at the end."

This is the first-ever all-women's boxing card at MSG, and it's going global on Netflix. But the first Taylor vs. Serrano bout was a landmark moment for women in combat sports. What's changed in the sport—and in the fighters themselves—since that groundbreaking night?

"It's truly an honor to be a proud Latina. I am super excited for my fight on July 11, and it's gonna be a bright history of women's boxing, because it's the first time in history that Madison Square Garden is holding an all-female card, and the first one on Netflix, and it's a great show. We have two on-the-street championship fights, three unified bouts, and amazing talent. The best of the best is fighting each other that night, and it's gonna showcase women's boxing. The first fight was a great fight between me and Katie. The second one was even better. And on a platform like Netflix that showcased our skills, we showcased that women's fight, and just so many eyes and attention came from that fight, which gave us this spotlight and opportunity to have an all-girl card by July 11. And it just changed women's boxing. And, you know, Netflix decided, you know, these girls put on a show. Let's give them the opportunity, and it's gonna just, it's gonna be a great night."

Sarah Stier / Getty Images for Netflix — Amanda Serrano after training in her gym in Brooklyn

How are your weeks ahead of the big night?

"Obviously, the week of the fight is just maintaining the way, just making sure that we everything is just down packed, but yeah, now it's coming down close to the end, and it's hard every every day is it's hard training two to three times a day, six days a week, the day before the fight is just the weigh in, and then it's just relaxing and just mentally preparing yourself leading up to the fight takes, like weeks to get my outfits done, outfits ready I get I make sure I get a pedicure. My toes have to be red. Superstitious for me and my sister for many, many years. So, I get a pedicure, and it's just relaxing and preparing for fight night."

Amanda Serrano's Fight-Ready Training Routine

When pushing limits, Amanda Serrano isn't just raising the bar; she's smashing it. As one of the most decorated fighters in women's boxing history, her training is a masterclass in discipline, drive, and balance. From grueling gym sessions to strategically planned snacks, here's how Serrano trains like the powerhouse she is.

Boxing: The Serrano Way

Serrano's day kicks off with a sweat-drenched, 90-minute boxing session that blends the fundamentals with fierce intensity. Sparring, hitting the heavy bag, and jumping rope are a nonstop circuit that primes her body for the ring. Serrano's morning workouts are dialed in like clockwork to build stamina, rhythm, and explosiveness, helping her stay sharp physically and mentally.

Behind the Scenes: Training with Amanda Serrano

"It’s gonna be a bright history of women’s boxing... the best of the best is fighting each other that night, and it’s gonna showcase women’s boxing."

Amanda Serrano

Later in the day, Serrano shifts gears to focus on strength and conditioning. This hour-long gym session is where the fight foundation gets reinforced. Think high-intensity circuits, core work, and plenty of mobility drills. It's about building endurance and preventing injury, so she stays strong deep into later rounds. Every session is tailored to elevate her performance, inching her closer to peak fight shape.

The Power of the Run: Longer Rounds & Distances

For Amanda, cardio is a strategy. Supervised by American professional boxing trainer Jordan Maldonado, Serrano starts running at least 36 minutes. However, Maldonado can push her to have hour-long runs or 45-minute runs.

Francisco Roman / Netflix — Amada Serrano, training, San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 27, 2025.

Her jogs mix endurance with intervals, mirroring the bursts and lulls of an actual fight. The longer rounds demanded more, and Serrano responded by training smarter and harder.

"I am super proud to be a Boricua. That alone gives me more energy and more force to go out there and fight with everything I have."

Amanda Serrano

Fight Week Fuel: Protein Up, Carbs Down

Amanda's no stranger to carbs, but fight week, she pivots to a protein-heavy plate, including grilled chicken, fish, and shrimp. As for veggies, she keeps it simple with brussels sprouts, corn, and broccoli. She minimizes water retention by cutting back on carbs just before a fight while maximizing muscle definition and readiness. The goal is always to feel light on her feet when she steps into the ring.

Amanda Serrano also has a sweet tooth strategy: She swaps the sweets for a snack that still hits the spot, like chocolate with peanut butter on frozen strawberries. It's the perfect post-session treat, as it is packed with protein, quick to blend, and satisfying enough to crush those sugar cravings without the crash.

What makes Serrano's training so powerful is her consistency. Day in and day out, she shows up purposefully, balancing brutal workouts with smart recovery and dialed-in nutrition.

It's no wonder she's become a legend across seven weight classes and counting. Amanda Serrano's training routine is as fierce as her punch, and just as inspiring.