SERRANO DRAWS 3.4M VIEWS ON TIK TOK FOR 50TH WIN

 

Serrano's win over Manzur was watched by 3.4m viewers on TikTok. Getty Images 

Amanda Serrano retained her WBA and WBO featherweight belts with a narrow majority decision over Argentina's Lucrecia Manzur in the first world title fight to be streamed live on TikTok.

The Puerto Rican was made to work for her 50th career win, edging a majority decision but missing the 33rd knockout she needed to break the women's record, remaining on 32.

Serrano's fight, held over 12 two-minute rounds, may not have delivered a record‑breaking knockout, but it drew 3.4 million total views on TikTok.

The 37-year-old continues to be one of the most watched female fighters in the world, with her third fight against Ireland's Katie Taylor last year drawing an audience of six million on Netflix and their rematch in 2024 getting over 50 million on the same platform.

Friday's fight in Temeculam, California was scored 114-114, 116-112 and 116-112 in favour of Serrano.

Manzur troubled the champion early with repeated right hands, but the Argentine tired as Serrano seized momentum from round nine and finished the fight in control.

Speaking after the bout, Serrano said: "I am so happy and honoured. That was the first championship main event fight on TikTok guys, super excited, super honoured."

On Manzur, Serrano added: "I knew this girl was tough. She's young. She's 27. She's 10 years younger than me. These girls are getting younger and stronger.

"She was hungry, and I knew that coming into training. I trained very hard because I knew it was an opportunity for her, so I had to come on my A game."

The unified champion will now be hoping to eclipse Christy Martin with a 33rd stoppage in her farewell fight, which she plans to stage in Puerto Rico later this year or in early 2027.

It is unclear who Serrano will fight in her final outing.

After admitting post-fight her age may have played a factor in her performance, Serrano further elaborated on social media.

"Wow this was rough," she said.

"Honesty the mind tells you one thing but the body does another.

"You can fight anyone you want and squeeze out a victory but Father Time isn't allowing too much of that.

"Thank you so much to all my fans, you guys are amazing.

"You're the reason why I dug in deep tonight. I'll talk to the team and make my decision. I love you."

On the undercard, Denmark's Melissa Mortensen became a world champion for the first time by claiming the vacant the WBA super-bantamweight title with a points win over Mexico's Mayelli Flores.

Serrano wore Timberland boxing boots in the ring. Getty Images 

Serrano stays tied with legend Christy Martin for the knockout record in women's boxing. Getty Images 

- Jude Winter

CURRENT RING WORLD CHAMPIONS

 

All Current Ring Magazine World Champions:

🥊 Oleksandr Usyk

👑 Ring Heavyweight Champion

🥊 Jai Opetaia

👑 Ring Cruiserweight Champion

🥊 Dmitry Bivol

👑 Ring Light-Heavyweight Champion

🥊 Terence Crawford

👑 Ring Super-Middleweight Champion

🥊 Shadasia Green

👑 Ring Super-Middleweight Champion

🥊 Lauren Price

👑 Ring Welterweight Champion

🥊 Teofimo Lopez

👑 Ring Super-Lightweight Champion

🥊 Katie Taylor

👑 Ring Super-Lightweight Champion

🥊 Alycia Baumgardner

👑 Ring Super-Featherweight Champion

🥊 Amanda Serrano

👑 Ring Featherweight Champion

🥊 Naoya Inoue

👑 Ring Super-Bantamweight Champion

🥊 Ellie Scotney

👑 Ring Super-Bantamweight Champion

🥊 Dina Thorslund

👑 Ring Bantamweight Champion

🥊 Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez

👑 Ring Super-Flyweight Champion

🥊 Mizuki Hiruta

👑 Ring Super-Flyweight Champion

🥊 Gabriela Fundora

👑 Ring Flyweight Champion

🥊 Oscar Collazo

👑 Ring Strawweight Champion

PAUL-TYSON $18.1M GATE KO'S COMBAT SPORT RECORD OUTSIDE LAS VEGAS

You can debate whether Jake Paul is a "real" boxer, but what is not debatable is that the 27-year-old is now the biggest draw in boxing. Paul's unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, ended up being a massive success with a record-breaking gate.

The main event that pitted the YouTuber-turned-boxer against an iconic heavyweight champion -- paired with a historic co-main event in which Katie Taylor narrowly defeat Amanda Serrano via controversial split decision -- was the biggest gate for any boxing or MMA event outside of Las Vegas in U.S. history, according to a statement from Paul's Most Valuable Promotions.

Over 72,300 fans attended Paul vs. Tyson and brought in $18,117,072 in total revenue. The event, promoted by MVP Promotions and streamed live on Netflix, clocks in as the ninth-highest combat sports gate ever in U.S. history and set a record as the highest-grossing gate at AT&T Stadium for a combat sports event.

The previous Texas gate record was set by Canelo Alvarez's 2021 showdown with Billy Joe Saunders at $9 million.

As a result of the success of Paul-Tyson, Netflix stock rose 2.8% to close at 847.05 on Monday.

"Paul vs. Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2 rewrote the record books, solidifying Most Valuable Promotions as a trailblazer in combat sports," Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, said in a statement. "From setting the highest gate outside of Las Vegas in U.S. history for a combat sports event to becoming the most streamed sporting event in U.S. history, this event is a testament to the global impact of Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, and the incredible athletes on this card."

The event was also a massive success on Netflix, despite widespread streaming issues, with 60 million households tuning in for Netflix's first foray into live sports.

Off the heels of Paul-Tyson, the streaming giant announced that Beyonce will be performing at halftime of Netflix's first NFL Christmas Gameday, where the Houston Texans will host the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 25. Netflix also announced the debut of WWE's "Monday Night Raw" on the streaming platform will take place on Jan. 6 at Los Angeles' Intuit Dome and feature a special appearance by Travis Scott.

- Andreas Hale, ESPN

MIKE TYSON FIGHT WITH JAKE PAUL POSTPONED AFTER TYSON'S HEALTH EPISODE

 

Getty 

Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paul has been postponed after the 57-year-old Tyson fell ill on a flight last weekend.

Tyson and Paul said Friday that they will announce a new fight date next week. They were scheduled to meet on 20 July in Arlington, Texas.

Tyson became nauseous and dizzy during the final hour of a flight from Miami to Los Angeles last Sunday, and his plane was met by first responders who attended to the former heavyweight champion. Tyson’s camp attributed the episode to an ulcer problem.

 “During a follow up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flare-up, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations,” the fight’s promoters said in a statement.

Tyson hasn’t fought professionally since June 2005, but he has been training regularly for several years. He fought Roy Jones Jr in an entertaining exhibition in Los Angeles in November 2020.

“My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s, and I will be back to my full training schedule soon,” Tyson said in the statement. “Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone’s patience and can’t wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year.”

Texas boxing officials have sanctioned Tyson’s meeting with Paul as a legitimate bout with eight two-minute rounds and unusually heavy gloves. Tyson will turn 58 before the fight, which was scheduled to be streamed on Netflix in what’s likely to be a massive payday for both fighters.

Tickets already purchased for the fight, which was to be held at the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium, will be honored on the new fight date, promoters said. The rescheduled fight is also expected to be in Arlington.

The co-feature bout on the card was an eagerly anticipated rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano for Taylor’s undisputed junior welterweight championship, a rematch of their epochal May 2022 fight at Madison Square Garden.

Representatives for Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, which is promoting the card, did not immediately respond to a message from the Guardian inquiring about the status of the Taylor-Serrano fight in light of the Tyson-Paul postponement.

The 27-year-old Paul is a YouTube star who has forged a successful prizefighting career mostly by taking on mixed martial artists and journeymen boxers.

“I fully support postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night,” Paul said. “My fans know I don’t want to face Iron Mike at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake: When he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish.”

- Guardian Sport

BOXING: KATIE TAYLOR TALKING AFTER HER DEBUT WIN IN THE UNITED STATES