“I Paid My Dues”: Amanda Serrano Details Her Experience of Sparring Men Who Treated Her “Equal” in Honest Confession

Amanda Serrano has not had it easy. But that has not held her back. In her 15-year-long reign in the ring, the southpaw fighter has led her career unlike anyone. Undisputed in the featherweight class, she has defeated the likes of Danila Ramos, Erika Cruz Hernandez, and Heather Hardy. In a riveting revelation, she has now listed the challenges she took on to reach the position she has reached today.

While creating history by undertaking the first 12 3-minute round fight in the female category in recent history, she also relinquished her WBC title, because the WBC refused to sanction such fights. She demanded that female boxers also be given the chance to fight under the same rules as their male counterparts. Having done so much, she stands tall as one of the best fighters of her era. But what did it take her to reach here?

Amanda Serrano and her journey to the top

On her X, ‘The Real Deal’ outlined the efforts she took to be the best. What are they? First, she says she only sparred with men, who were instructed to treat her as an equal and not hold themselves back. In such sparring sessions, she even incurred severe injuries; a picture of one such injury, she attached to the post.

“On my come up in the sport I paid my dues. I only sparred/spar men & they were/are instructed to treat me like an equal,” she noted in the post. About the eye injury, she explained that the injury was the price she paid to spar with skilled fighters. “Lol I had no choice my love. They are skilled fighters I spar with..,” she replied to a fan.

When one looks at her career, one would suggest she came with an advantage of sorts with her. But that’s further from the truth. She wrote, “I’m built different…No freebies where I come from…It doesn’t matter what it looks like from the outside watching me I promise it will feel differently in there with me…I’m going back to my ruthless days.” 

Through all her countless injuries, she has remained steadfast in her beliefs as well as her efforts. Recently, Ring Magazine too stood testimony to her efforts.

Featherweight Fighter of the Year goes to…

In its 2023 list of the Best Female Fighters, Ring Magazine listed Amanda Serrano for the featherweight class. Explaining why she was chosen, the magazine wrote, “Serrano is a trailblazer, a pioneer, and also a leader among her peers. Her campaign to have women fight three-minute rounds and to dispute titles in 12-round bouts is already the stuff of legends. But so is her unlimited talent in the ring and her second-to-none dedication to her craft.”

The magazine also rooted her at number 4 in their pound-for-pound rankings. She follows Claressa Shields, Chantelle Cameron, and Katie Taylor, who took their respective positions as the top three in women’s boxing. Thanking Ring for the honor, in an X post, Serrano noted, “Just when I thought my award seasons was completed I got to add another good one to my…2023 Female Fighter of the Yr!”

Also Read: Amanda Serrano Follows Jake Paul’s Footsteps, Partners With $11.34 Billion Company

Come March 2nd, she will fight German fighter, Nina Meinke, at San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is a fight that co-headlines with Jake Paul against an undisclosed opponent. With such dedication, it is safe to claim that Serrano is indeed here to stay. What do you think of her career so far? Let us know in the comments section below.

Watch This Story: Why Amanda Serrano’s Fight Against Danila Ramos Be A Historical Feat In Women’s Boxing