Minutes before the main event was scheduled to take place, Amanda Serrano was declared “medically unfit” to fight in her native Puerto Rico.
Most Valuable Promotions said Serrano suffered an eye injury Friday, but the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission will not treat her.
The promotion adds that ticket refunds will be provided to those who request it, and that Serrano’s opponent, Nina Meinke, will be paid in full.
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After Serrano’s IBF, WBO and WBA women’s featherweight title fight against Nina Meinke was called off at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico on March 2, 2024 in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. , Amanda Serrano reacts as Jake Paul watches. Yesterday, after Serrano injured her eye, she was declared medically unfit to compete by the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission. (Albero/Getty Images)
An emotional Serrano put on sunglasses and said she injured herself while dying her hair earlier in the week.
MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidalian said chemicals in hair dye came into Serrano’s eyes while she was running on Friday. She wore sunglasses throughout Friday night’s weigh-in.
“I wanted to fight in front of the people,” Serrano said.
“I’m so sorry. I came to fight for you guys and put on a show. I’ll definitely be back.”
Saturday was supposed to be Serrano’s 50th professional fight, and perhaps her farewell fight. The event took place at Puerto Rico’s famous Coliseo (an 18,500-seat arena), and Serrano said at the venue that she was “retiring.”
MVP co-founder Jake Paul explained that Serrano’s corneas were damaged by the chemicals and her hands were burned, making it too risky to let her fight.
Amanda Serrano (left) and Nina Meinke pose during the weigh-in for Serrano’s IBF, WBO and WBA women’s featherweight titles at Distrito T-Mobile on March 1, 2024 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They will fight on March 2, 2024 at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. (Albero/Getty Images)
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Paul usually fights in the main event wherever he fights, but this time he took a backseat, telling Fox News Digital earlier this week that it’s Serrano’s “time to shine.”
“I always wanted that for her. This is her moment, her time to shine,” Paul told FOX News Digital before Saturday’s game. “It’s really great to support her. She really deserves this moment and has worked hard for it. I’m happy to be a fan. There’s no pressure when it’s not the main event, but… When you hear that voice, the audience is much louder for her, so this is her place and this is her time to shine.”
In an interview with FOX News Digital last month, Serrano expressed her utmost gratitude to Paul for allowing her to participate in the main event in her home country.
“He said this is my home and I would never be in the main event,” Serrano said at the time. “I’m like, ‘No, you can do it! You can do it!'” He was like, ‘There’s no way I’m going home, I’m going to show off my house.’ ”
After Serrano’s bout with Nina Meinke for her IBF, WBO and WBA women’s featherweight titles was called off at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico on March 2, 2024. , Amanda Serrano reacts as Jake Paul watches. Yesterday, after Serrano injured her eye, she was declared medically unfit to compete by the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission. (Albero/Getty Images)
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Paul fought just before the stoppage, scoring a first-round TKO win over Ryan Borland.
