14 September 2019

Amanda Serrano beats Heather Hardy to win WBO World Featherweight title

Amanda Serrano beat the previously undefeated Heather Hardy by unanimous decision to claim the WBO World Featherweight title in New York.

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Everyone out of bed?

Everyone from the US excited? Everyone from the UK awake? Everyone anywhere else excited and awake? YOU SHOULD BE!

What a fight this is going to be. A super fight in women's boxing.

But before we see Heather Hardy and Amanda Serrano take to the ring tonight, there is a heavyweight clash between Michael Hunter and Sergey Kuzmin.

We will bring you updates of that one, before a round-by-round scoring of Hardy-Serrano a little bit later on!

Hardy vs Serrano

The two women will fight in 10x2min rounds tonight in what promises to be fast, ferocious, thrilling action.

Do not go anywhere.

Hardy vs Serrano

The winner of this fight has signed to take on Ireland's unified lightweight world champion Katie Taylor within the next six months.

Is there a bigger fight in boxing?

Michael Hunter vs Sergey Kuzmin

The first televised fight of the evening is set to get underway. Michael Hunter expected to beat Sergey Kuzmin, although will be expected to get rounds here.

Michael Hunter vs Sergey Kuzmin

Hunter ring walks with Hasim Rahman. Some pedigree to have behind you, that.

Here we go then. First fight of the night. Bell goes and we're underway in New York.

More importantly, we're one step closer to Heather Hardy and Amanda Serrano!

Crowd

It looks pretty packed out here tonight, albeit with a little bit of a flat atmosphere at the moment.

That is bound to change once Hardy and Serrano step into the ring though. Hardy a Brooklyn-born fighter who will love fighting in front of this New York crowd.

Pedigree

Heather Hardy is undoubtedly the underdog tonight, but will almost certainly have the crowd behind her.

Serrano has been beaten, unlike Hardy. However, that was a controversial defeat to Frida Wallberg seven years ago and since then she has crushed several top-level opponents.

In the ring

Meanwhile, in the ring, Hunter is getting drawn in a bit here when he could probably stick to his boxing skills and win this one in a more clean manner.

Having said that, the American could well have taken the first two rounds on the judges scorecards.

Who are the bookies backing?

Heather Hardy - 7/1

Amanda Serrano - 1/16

Hardy was a shorter price earlier on in the week but Serrano clearly being backed by the punters as the week has gone on.

A very good price for tonight though, Hardy.

Kuzman's weight advantage

Kuzmin came in 37 pounds heavier than Hunter, who is a former cruiserweight.

It is showing in the clinches and you can imagine that the big Russian is trying to soften up the American to capitalise in the later rounds.

So far though, Hunter's speed and slickness is telling. He has won all four rounds.

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