It is time for the ladies to light up New York as ten world title belts are to be put on the line at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theatre.

For Amanda Serrano, world title belts have become the norm. The SEVEN-WEIGHT world champion has been involved in a staggering 16 championship fights in a career that spans over a decade.

But success is just a fraction of the story when it comes to one of the sport’s most colourful characters. Originally, boxing was merely a pastime to keep Amanda close to her older sister. 

Now, she sits at the top table of the sport which she herself has helped steer towards its new-found popularity. However, for Serrano and her country, Puerto Rico, there is still one box to be ticked to solidify her greatness. 

Undisputed. 

To do so, she must meet the one with the missing piece, Erika Cruz. The Mexican beat Jelena Mrdjenovich in 2021 to end her six-year reign as champion and capture the WBA title.

And it is a WBA title that now holds even greater value, as Erika sits just three days out from a shot at all the marbles. It really is an ‘all to gain’ situation for the 32-year-old southpaw. 

The same, however, cannot be said for her 34-year-old counterpart. See, Amanda has a lot more on the line than just her gold. A defeat at the hands of Cruz on Saturday night could deal a hammer blow to the much-demanded rematch with Katie Taylor. 

A hammer blow that would also have repercussions on the wider scale of the sport. I’m not quite saying the female game NEEDS it, but as it tries to follow a ground-breaking 2022, I’m not sure there is much that whets the appetite more than a repeat of last April. 

Regardless, rematches are to be put on the backburner for the weekend in hope of another classic to add to the long list of Puerto Rican vs Mexican battles. 

By no stretch am I asking for Felix Trinidad vs Fernando Vargas, or Miguel Cotto vs Antonio Margarito - just something worthy of ruining a British guy’s sleeping pattern. 

Let them hands go, girls!

If one undisputed contest wasn’t enough, then this card is supplemented by a second as Alycia Baumgardner and Elhem Mekhaled clash heads for the super-featherweight collection. 

Alycia is aiming to cap off an extraordinary 14 months that include stopping Terri Harper for the WBC belt before unifying in a mega all-American tussle with Mikaela Mayer. 

Aside from the obvious in-ring qualities, Alycia has thrusted herself into the boxing spotlight with her personable attitude and feisty character. If female boxing needed to know it was in good hands going forward, then Baumgardner is the perfect case in point. 

But by no means is she in for a comfortable night in the Big Apple. Any opportunity a fighter has to capture ALL the belts will not be a chance taken lightly, and Mekhaled will be coming with everything and more. 

Last time out she took Delfine Persoon to the wire, showing why she is a piece of work that nobody wants. However, she is a piece of work that Alycia needs if she is to wrap up the 130lb scene. 

And I’d be very surprised if she didn’t do so.

Oscar Bevis