Amanda Serrano vs Heather Hardy rematch breakdown
“The Real Deal” faces “The Heat” in Dallas this summer
On Saturday, August 5th, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (44-2-1, 30KO) faces challenger Heather “The Heat” Hardy (24-2, 4KO) in a highly anticipated rematch for the undisputed featherweight championship.
Brooklyn-based Puerto Rican star, Amanda Serrano is a seven-weight world champion, trained by Jordan Maldonado. She is the only female fighter in history to have won world titles in more than four divisions.
Born and bred in Brooklyn, Heather Hardy is a former WBO World featherweight champion, trained by Devon Cormack, and has won WBC International titles in two weight classes.
In their first meeting in 2019, at Madison Square Garden, the ‘Battle for New York’ was a very one-sided affair. Although Hardy went into the contest 22 fights unbeaten, it was Serrano who was looking to close the show in the very first round, and Hardy was a bit fortunate referee Mike Ortega didn’t step in to stop it, saved by the bell instead.
Plucky and brave, Hardy clawed her way back into the contest and, by round five, she was right back in it. Serrano had realised her tough counterpart wasn’t going anywhere soon and set herself up for a distance fight.
Hardy was coming forward in the second half of the contest and putting weight behind her shots as Serrano settled her pace down. Hardy even dropped her lead left hand down to her hip as she looked to counter Serrano, which she did very well, but the persistent Puerto Rican was busier, more dominant and accurate to win 98-92 and 98-91 twice. Serrano outlanded Hardy 222 to 131 punches.
In the return fixture, Hardy is now 41 and Serrano is 34. This time they have both lost twice and have each won two and lost one during their last three bouts, creating an even playing field for the rematch.
Betting Odds (Betway Sports)
Serrano is 1/10 to win and Hardy is 15/2. A draw at 16/1 odds is low.
Predictions
Serrano came agonisingly close to scoring a first-round stoppage in their first meeting, but those two minutes just fly by and Hardy was saved by the bell.
Then, Serrano took her foot off the gas during the middle rounds, perhaps partly due to Hardy fighting back so strongly, but then she piled on the pressure in the latter stages and really tried to get the stoppage in the final rounds.
Both boxers landed their hardest blows on each other and took them well. It’s hard to see Serrano being outboxed, outpunched or stopped, so this could be a repeat of the first fight.
Serrano hurt Hardy a few times, especially in the first round, and caused some facial damage, so it’s possible she could get the stoppage win that eluded her in the first bout. To do this, she would have to swarm Hardy or cause a bad cut, which either scenario could well happen.
Hardy’s best chance to win will be to match Serrano’s workrate and make it a battle of wills. She was overwhelmed in the opening rounds last time, perhaps surprised by the quality of the opponent in front of her, so this time she shouldn’t be taken by surprise early, you would expect.
Verdict
Serrano to win by stoppage, but I couldn’t put a round on it! I’d imagine Serrano won’t be as dominant in the opener, with Hardy more clued up to know what’s coming, so I’ll say Serrano to win by stoppage any time after round four. It will take a sustained attack that goes unanswered to prompt a stoppage, I’m not sure it’ll come from a single heavy shot. If the finish doesn’t come early, then Amanda to win on points. I can’t envisage Hardy being able to win in any way, but show could pose from problems if she puts in an improved performance.
