Amanda Serrano Retains Her Title in Controversial Decision

Women’s boxing icon Amanda Serrano retained her WBO and WBA Featherweight Championships after twelve grueling rounds last night. The majority decision victory is a significant milestone for Serrano who notched her fiftieth victory inside the professional ranks. She was chasing the female boxing knockout record of thirty-three stoppage victories to break the current mark of thirty-two that she shares with Christy Martin. There was some online uproar over the decision from fans upset with the scoring. Writers and pundits across boxing media saw a close fight.

Bleacher Report 114-114 Draw

USA Today 116-112 Serrano

Yahoo: 115-113 Serrano

Forbes: “Manzur was robbed” No scorecard

NESN via Yahoo: 115-113 Manzur

Argentine challenger Lucretia Manzur pushed Serrano all the way and built a strong lead early in the fight. After eight rounds Manzur led 78-74 on my score card. The twenty-seven year-old challenger entered 14-4 (7) and had never been past the tenth round. The challenger was also fighting outside of her native Argentina for the first time and according to the broadcast was a +3,500 underdog. Manzur did not look phased by the moment and certainly did not fight like such a significant underdog against MVP (Most Valuable Promotions) darling. Manzur fought with determined aggression from the opening bell. Her strategy was to press forward, lower her head, stick out a jab and throw looping hooks with either hand.

The opening round was a close one with the challenger setting the tone for the night to come. Serrano stood and traded with Manzur and soaked up early punishment. Serrano wisely moved and boxed behind her jab and counters in the second round. The challenger continued to fall in and generate exchanges having a strong fourth round. The hooks were catching Serrano on the exit as she circled in range with her hands down. The punches did damage to Serrano who showed swelling around her right eye. Manzur continued the onslaught with a strong sixth and seventh round before winning a closer eighth round.

Many online commented on Serrano’s defense being leaky and her legs certainly did not generate the movement and power fans have come to know. It was clear heading into the ninth round that Serrano needed to close strong to have a chance on the cards, let alone attain the elusive thirty third knockout. The ninth round was the turning point in the fight and was evenly competed in the first minute. Serrano began to show her class in the final minute of the round getting space and countering.

Serrano finally began to back Manzur up with her lefts and got her punches to the challenger’s body. The aggression and new territory began to show as Manzur showed signs of fatigue. The looping punches became more predictable as Serrano evaded the shots and began to counter with punches of her own. The punches began to stop Manzur in her tracks or get her to take a step back. The eleventh round was very competitive with similar amounts of blows appearing to land. Serrano finished stronger in a competitive twelfth round in a streak that would stave off defeat. In the end Serrano was awarded a majority decision with scores of 114-114 overridden by scores of 116-112 twice.

My final score was 114-114

Round 1: Serrano

Round 2: Manzur

Round 3: Serrano

Round 4: Manzur

Round 5: Manzur

Round 6: Manzur

Round 7: Manzur

Round 8: Manzur

Round 9: Serrano

Round 10: Serrano

Round 11: Serrano

Round 12: Serrano

There were some very competitive rounds in this fight. I felt the rounds Manzur won were pretty clear. The first and third that I scored for Serrano were close though many observers in the linked scorecards awarded Serrano the third. I felt nine and ten were clear Serrano rounds with eleven and twelve being competitive. Statistically the fight was pretty close as far as punch statistics.

According to the broadcast, Serrano landed 41% (142 of 346) of her power punches compared with Manzur’s 42% (118 of 283). Manzur was consistently the aggressor through the first eight rounds of the fight and appeared to have the clear advantage.

As per ESPN

Both fighters showed the wear and tear of the fight with each developing swelling around the eyes. Neither seemed close to being knocked out or getting knocked down at any point in the fight. Manzur landed many telling blows with clean hooks that caught the attention of fans and judges. She won her rounds more convincingly which gives off the impression of a robbery. I find the 116-112 cards to be very wide and not representative of what occurred in the ring. I think it would be difficult to find another round to give to Serrano and I can see a good case for Manzur winning the first. If one fighter was more deserving of the victory I think it’s Manzur.

Serrano escaped with her titles against an over matched opponent on paper. Post fight comments from Serrano focused on her age and slowing down. She indicated a desire to pursue the record but all signs point to retirement either next or soon after. I am not sure what kind of safe opponent they can choose given Manzur was supposed to be a walkover. Boxing is a cruel sport on older legends and this fight appeared to be writing on the wall.