How women’s boxing megastar went from shy teenager to million-dollar fighter

On April 30th, Amanda Serrano will face Katie Taylor in a fight that has been dubbed the biggest in professional women’s boxing history. 

The two will become the first female fighters to headline Madison Square Garden, with pre-sale for the contest allegedly the second-highest-grossing of all time for a bout at the venue. 

Taylor is undefeated, internationally recognised and a former Olympic champion. But Serrano’s resume is equally impressive and she is widely considered one of the best female boxers ever. 

Indeed, the 33-year-old is the only female fighter to win world titles in more than four weight classes and holds the Guinness World Record for the most boxing world championships won in different weight classes by a female. 

But how did a shy girl from Puerto Rico come to be the unified featherweight world champion? 

Here’s the story of Serrano’s journey from Brooklyn bred teenager to boxing star: 

Initially, Serrano had no interest in boxing, despite her sister, Cindy, being an avid fan and an aspiring professional. 

It wasn’t until the age of 17, that she first began to train at a gym in Brooklyn, where she and her family lived, in an attempt to bond with her sister. Admittedly shy but naturally talented, Serrano continued her training and soon made the step into amateur competition. 

Her time spent at amateur level was brief and she finished with a record of 9-1 –– winning the Staten Island amateur championship in 2008. 

After that, she competed in the featherweight division of the New York Daily News Golden Gloves –– defeating US Boxing national champion Jody-Ann Weller via unanimous decision in the final. 

By the age of 20, just three years after taking up the sport, Serrano was competing professionally and