Amanda Serrano finished the night with a badly swollen right eye. Drenched in sweat. On a night she was expected to dominate.
But she also finished the night as the reigning WBO and WBA featherweight champion. She retained her titles with a victory over Reina Tellez by unanimous decision Saturday, Jan. 3 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Tellez, a 22-year-old who took the fight on two weeks’ notice, connected with enough punches to nearly shut Serrano’s right eye. Tellez got the call after Serrano’s originally scheduled opponent was removed from the card after an “atypical’’ drug test, stepping in despite inexperience.
“She’s a warrior,’’ Serrano said.
The two embraced before the final round and after the fight ended.
Serrano, 37, used her skill and experience during the 10-round fight. The judges scored the fight 98-92, 97-93, 97-93.
Serrano improved to 48-4-1. Tellez suffered her first loss and her record fell to 13-1-1.
What Amanda Serrano said after fight
Serrano not only was back on her home turf for her first bout of 2026, but also fighting at her preferred weight – the 126-pound featherweight division.
“It feels amazing,’’ Serrano said. “… It’s been two years since I fought this way (as a featherweight). So the next fights are going to be much, much better, but I feel good.”
She had to gain approximately 10 pounds for each of her three fights against Katie Taylor, and lost all three of those fights.
What Reina Tellez said after fight
For the first time, Tellez fought 10 rounds and, on top of that, three-minute rounds.
“I just did that with one of the best in the world,’’ she said. “Somebody I’ve idolized my whole life and I stood in there and I fought to the end.’’
Jake Paul provides update on jaw
Jake Paul, co-promoter for the boxing card, sat ringside and provided an update on his broken jaw during an interview on the DAZN broadcast. He had surgery Dec. 20, the day after Anthony Joshua broke the jaw in two places with a knockout punch.
“I got four (titanium) plates in my jaw but that’s part of the sport,’’ Paul said. “And the healing process has been a little bit tough. I’m a little bit tired. It’s hard to sleep. I go under the pillow and then my jaw torques up to the left when I wake up.’’
But Paul called his knockout loss to Joshua Dec. 19 “an amazing night and I learned a lot and gained a lot of experience and we’re on to more fights this year.’’
Paul provided no additional information about what fights might be in the works.
Amanda Serrano def. Reina Tellez by unanimous decision: Analysis
Round 1: Reina Tellez, who weighed in 0.6 pounds over the featherweight limit of 126 pounds, does not look fit. Amanda Serrano, as usual, looks to be in championship shape. Serran comes out behind the jab. Tellez looks a tad tentative. But she connects with a right. That is, as Serrao charges in and fires away. Serrano stalking, but Tellez catches her wit ha punch to the face. Tellez doesn’t look scared at all, although she just ate a hard left. Serrano 10, Tellez 9.
Round 2: Tellez might not be nearly as skilled as Serrano, but she looks game. Serrano is punching at a high rate, and Tellez is standing her ground. Serrano connects with two hard lefts. Now she’s charing forward, delighting the crowd. Serrano 20, Tellez 18.
Round 3: Tellez scores with a left, but Serrano keeps firing. Tellez lands three punches and Serrano definitely felt it. Serrano is winning the output battle, but Tellez has Serrano’s attention. Serrano 30, Tellez 27.
Round 4: Tellez connecting, but not with the volume and consistency of Serrano. But the real question wasn’t if Serrano could wn the fight. It was whether she could get the knockout. And she lands some bic shots, only for Tellez to respond. Tellez cut under the right eye. Serrano 40, Tellez 36.
Round 5: Serrano remains the aggressor, and the crowd is ready for fireworks. Serrano is attacking the body and Tellez is backing away. Serrano really digging into the body. Those body shots clearly are doing damage. But she nailed Serrano with two lefts. Serrano 50, Tellez 45.
Round 6: Serrano showing significant swelling under her right eye. Yes, Tellez has connected. But Serrano on the attack again. Tellez still landing shots, but far fewer than Serrano. Serrano scoring with both hands and the crowd cheers. Serrano 59, Tellez 55.
Round 7: Serrano’s pace appears to slow. Tellez scores with a right and a left. Serrano’s right eye looks badly swollen. Tellez doing what she can to worsen it. Serrano closes strong. Serrano 69, Tellez 64.
Round 8: Serrano lands a couple of combinations, and with authority. Then she unfurls a straight left and looks to be in control. But Tellez fights back. Serrano 79, Tellez 73.
Round 9: She’s not known for her defense, but Serrano dodges a couple of big punches. Tellez still is swinging hard and at times connecting. But she’s yet to stun Serrano, who’s sticking to her game plan — fire away with the left, to the body and head. Serrano 89, Tellez 82.
Round 10: Serrano initiates a hug as the round begins. Serrano stalking again, with three minutes left to score the knockout. The two trade big shots and Serrano is pouring it on. Tellez backing up and trying to stay on her feet. TEllez fighting back, at risk of eating a KO punch. Tellez survies, and the two boxers embrace again as the crowd roars. Serrano 99, Tellez 91.
Stephanie Han def. Holly Holm by unanimous decision
Holm is a legendary fighter, but she’s not a champion.
Her bout with Han, the reigning WBA world lightweight champion, ended in the seventh round after an accidental headbutt. But Han, who was bleeding badly after the clash of heads, clearly won the fight.
The judges scored it 69-65, 69-64, 68-65 in favor of Han, who landed almost three times as many punches as Holm.
The fight ended at 1:44 of the seventh round after the ringside doctor examined the cut and ruled the bout should be halted.
Holm, 44, saw her record fall to 34-3-3. Han, a 35-year-old police officer, improved to 12-0.
Round 1: Holly Holm quick to fire a jab, and the two women mix it up early. Han lands an overhand right. And Holm answers with a straight left. Holm scores with a big right and shows aggression as he unloads again. Up goes the chant: ‘Holly! Holly!” Holm 10, Han 9.
Round 2: Han opens with a straight right. Holm riding bursts of energy toward Han. Han looks more measured. Nice exchange of shots. Trading more shots. Han gets hit and almost tumbles before regaining her footing. Holm 19, Han 19.
Round 3: Holm making good use of the left. But Han connects with a big counter It’s action packed, and Han landed the big shots. Han 29, Holm 28.
Round 4: Holm still attacking with the left, and Han is matching her power and energy. Holm finishes strong, but too late. Han 39, Holm 37.
Round 5: Holm is 44, but fighting like a much younger boxer. Unfortunately for her, she’s up against a worthy world champion. Han drills Holm with a right. Han 49, Holm 46.
Round 6: Holm looks a little more tentative. She knows she’s vulnerable when she throws her big punches. Han also stepping forward more behind her shots. Han 59, Holm 55.
Round 7: Holm comes out aggressive with her left. Han cut on the forehead as a result of a head cut. The ring doctor inspects the damage and halts the fight! The referee collects the scorecards, which will include scores from seventh and final round. Han 68, Holm 65.
Krystal Rosado vs. Tania Walters, bantamweight
Rosado returned to action after suffering the first loss of her pro career. She proved she was too much for Walters and still has star potential.
Scoring with power and speed, she beat Walters by unanimous decision in six-round bantamweight bout.All three judges scored it 60-54 in favor of Rosado, the 23-year-old Puerto Rican who improved to 7-1. Her only loss came in October against Shurretta Metcalf by unanimous decision.
Walters, a 38-year-old Canadian, fell to 7-4.
Round 1: The fighters are letting their fists fly early. Tania Walters showing more aggression and Krystal Rosado showing composure. Rosado looks more measured and strategic. Rosado starting to find the right distance. Rosado 10, Walters 9.
Round 2: Walters comes out with the same energy, and Rosado responds with more quickness and power. Rosado looks sharp as she fires counter punches and then goes on the attack. Rosado 20, Walters 18.
Round 3: Walters remains feisty, but Rosado looks truly elite as she fires back a flurry of punches. She attacking Walters with bursts of punches and looks to have slowed down Walters. Walters, under a hailstorm of punches, snuck in a nice shot. Notable but not nearly enough to win the round. Rosado 30, Walters 27.
Round 4: Walters willing to mix it up despite the fury coming her way. Rosado slows down. Well, for about three seconds. No zip on Walters punches. Rosado 40, Walters 36.
Round 5: The action subsides. But Rosado is getting the best of it, of course. She closes the round with fury. Rosado 50, Walters 45.
Round 6: Walters walks toward Rosado and pays the price. Rosado’s left and right are serious weapons. Walters strikes with a left, but Walters unable to follow it up. Rosado unloads as the bell sounds. Rosado 60, Walters 54.
Alexis Araiza def. Ebanie Bridges by unanimous decision
It was the mother of all battles, an eight-round brawl between two moms.
Bridges, who put her stellar boxing career on hold for motherhood, fought for the first time in two years. She ran into another tough mom.
Araiza pummeled Bridges, who fought back – but not well enough. After the fight, she held her young son in her arms. Araiza turns out to be a mom of three children and was a big winner after the bantamweight bout.
The judges scored it 80-72, 78-74, 78-74 for Araiza, s 35-year-old American. Bridges, the 39-year-old Australian, saw her record fall to 9-3.
Round 1: Ebanie Bridges, who put her boxing career on hold after having a baby, returns to the ring for the first time in more than two years. Alexis Araiza looks to send her back to full-time parenthood. Bridge bulls forward behind an assortment of punches and Araiza fires back with more precision and power. Araiza 10, Bridges 9.
Round 2: Araiza getting through Bridges guard and connecting with Bridges head. But now Araiza is bleeding from the nose. Araiza 19, Bridges 19.
Round 3: The blood is flowing and so is Araiza. She lands a couple of nice uppercuts and a right hook. She lands a few more big shots as the round comes to an end. Araiza 29, Bridges 28.
Round 4: This is an active fight, and they two women come out swinging again. Bridges keeps marching forward — right into Araiza’s punches. Bridges getting in shots, too. The slugging continues, with Araiza landing the best shots. Araiza 39, Bridges 37.
Round 5: Bridges herself early, but Araiza slows her down with a right hook. The fight turns furious with a big exchange at the end. Araiza 49, Bridges 46.
Round 6: Almost non-stop action, and Araiza connects with a big uppercut. Another exhange and Araiza getting the best of it, including a sharp left as the round ended. Araiza 59, Bridges 55.
Round 7: There’s no letup here. Araiza’s face looks like a mess with that bloodied nose, but Bridges is the one taking a beating. She’s getting rocked midway through the round before Bridges finally responds. Araiza 68, Bridges 65.
Round 8: It’s rock ’em sock ’em and the crowd loves it. Bridges bulling foward behind big punches. Araiza looks exhausted, but both find the energy for aa big finish — especially from Araiza. Araiza 78, Bridges 74.
Jonathan Gonzalez def. Yankiel Rivera by unanimous decision
Gonzalez had a chance to end the fight early. Instead, he let it go the distance – and still walked away with the WBA interim world flyweight championship belt.
Gonzalez knocked down Rivera in the second round and Rivera looked to be in trouble. But he kept marching toward Gonzalez. His courage exceeded his ability, as Gonzalez relied on his counter punching.
The judges scored it 14-113, 116-111, 117-110 in favor of Gonzalez, the 34-year-old Puerto Rican who improved to 29-4-1. Rivera, a 28-year-old Puerto Rican, suffered his first loss and his record fell to 7-0-1.
Round 1: Jonathan Gonzales opens with a fury, and Yankiel Rivera is under seige but hanging in — or hanging on. Gonzalez lands a hard straight right. Gonzalez 10, Rivera 9.
Round 2: Gonzalez drops Rivera with a hard left. Rivera is up but looks to be in trouble. He survives the round. Gonzales 20, Rivera 17.
Round 3: Rivera emerges with some risking taking as he goes at Gonzalez. It seems to help neutralize Gonzalez’s power but not reverse the momentum. Gonzalez 30, Rivera 26.
Round 4: Rivera comes out aggressively and goes after Gonazalez’s body. It’s a worthy effort even though Gonzalez possesses the more impressive power. Gonzalez 39, Rivera 36.
Round 5: This is no longer a one-sided fight. But Rivera will have to turn things up even more if he’s got any chance to win it. Gonzalez lands a hard right. Gonzalez 49, Rivera 45.
Round 6: Rivera’s left eye is swollen, evidence that Gonzalez’s punches have landed. Yet he continues to show newfound aggressiveness. Gonzalez content to throw effective counter punches. Gonzalez 59, Rivera 54.
Round 7: Gonzalez again letting Rivera stalk and setting up for counterpunches. But he’s no longer got Rivera on the ropes — figuratively. But Rivera fails to capitalize. Gonzalez 69, Rivera 63.
Round 8: Gonzalez unleashes his power again, and Rivera feels it. Rivera fights back with a flurry of punches, but Gonzalez lands two hard left. Down goes Rivera, but the punch landed on the back of Rivera’s head and the refere waves off the knockdown. Gonzalez 79, Rivera 72.
Round 9: Rivera not backing down and lands a flurry of shots. But Gonzalez responds with heavier punches. He connects wit ha hard left and manages to stay on his feet. Gonzalez 89, Rivera 81.
Round 10: Gonzalez back to retreating and setting up the counterpunches. Am I alone and wanting Gonzalez to exert some dominance and dispatch Rivera. Intead, Rivera is loading another flurry of punches — none rock Gonzalez but many that score. Gonzalez 98, Rivera 91.
Round 11: Rivera lands a strong shot early as Gonzalez is back up against the ropes. But the threat fades pretty quickly. Gonzalez slips a few punches and then lands a few of his own. Gonzalez 108, Rivera 100.
Round 12: It’s more of the same, with Rivera stalking and Gonzalez fighting (well) off his back foot. He connects with a laser left as he tries to load up. They trade punches in a corner, and Rivera needs a miracle. No miracles, but he wins the round with energy and output. Gonzalez 117, Rivera 110.
Jan Paul Rivera def. Alfredo Cruz by majority decision
Jan Paul Rivera stayed undefeated at 14-0 with a victory over Alfredo Cruz by majority decision. And he had to earn it in the eight-round featherweight bout.
Rivera, the 24-year-old Puerto Rican, fell behind early as Cruz stayed on the move and landed more punches. But Rivera picked up the pace – and showed more power as the fight progressed.
One judge scored the fight 75-75 and the two other judges scored it 77-75 for Rivera.
Cruz, a 24-year-old from Puerto Rico, fell to 10-4-1.
Round 1: Alfred Cruz on the move and strikes with a jab, as Jan Paul Rivera stalks. Cruz connecting early with the jab. Rivera picks up the pace and connects with hard right hands. Cruz fights back with the jab and Rivera misses with big overhand. Cruz 10, Rivera 9.
Round 2: Cruz stays on the move and Rivera leans in and wraps him up. Cruz scores with the jab, but Rivera landing combinations. Rivera marches in and pushes down Cruz’s head. But the punches are flying — and landing. Cruz’s is winning the war of punching output. Cruz 20, Rivera 18.
Round 3: Cruz stays busy with the jab. Rivera exhibits power but has yet to stun Cruz. But he breaks through the high guard and scores. Then lands a couple of solid shots and smothers Cruz. Cruz swinging and missing before landing a big right. But Rivera landed more power shots. Cruz 29, Rivera 28.
Round 4: Spirited fight with both fighters landing punches, and Rivera asserts himself behind power shots. He attacks Cruz to the body as the two exhange meaningful shots. Cruz 39, Rivera 37.
Round 5: Cruz snaps back Rivera’s head with a left, but Rivera keeps marching forward. Fatigue may be setting in, but suddenly they’re trading punches again. Cruz finishes strong. Cruz 49, Rivera 46.
Round 6: Cruz still on the move and you got wonder how long those legs will hold up. Rivera lands a bevvy of combinations. Things are heating up again as the two trade shots. Crus hits the gas, but Rivera sufficently dominated the round early. Cruz 58, Rivera 56.
Round 7: Cruz scores to the body, and Rivera responds with a firestorm of punches. Cruz looks weary as Rivera pounds away. Cruz still running — and maybe not fast enough to evade Rivera. Cruz 67, Rivera 66.
Round 8: Cruz slips and hits the canvas. But he’s up and trying to elude Rivera again. Cruz hits the deck again, apparently pushed. Rivera attacking and Cruz holding on to Rivera — and for dear life. Cruz landsd a big right and unloads, only to get caught by a big right from Rivera. Cruz 76, Rivera 76.
Serrano vs Tellez fight results: prelims
Caleb Tirado def. Justin Hill by TKO, bantamweight
Yandiel Lozano def. Johniel Ramos Cotto by unanimous decision, super featherweight
Abner Figueroa def. Edwin Rodriguez by unanimous decision, bantamweight
Elise Soto def. Liliana Martinez by TKO, super featherweight
Alexis Chapparo def. Augusto Leal by unanimous decision, middleweight
Chris Echevarria def. Gabriel Bernardi by unanimous decision, super bantamweight
Henry Lebron def. Juan Tapia by TKO, super featherweight
What time is Amanda Serrano vs Reina Tellez fight card?
Serrano vs Tellez starts at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 3.
When is the Serrano vs Tellez main event ring walk?
The main event between Serrano and Tellez has an estimated start time of 11 p.m. ET.
Amanda Serrano vs Reina Tellez price: How much to watch fight
The fight available on DAZN with a monthly plan of $29.99.
Amanda Serrano stats
Amanda Serrano is 47-4-1 with 31 KOs. She has lost her last two fights, both to Katie Taylor by way of decision.
Amanda Serrano vs Reina Tellez fight card, odds
Amanda Serrano (-3000) vs. Reina Tellez (+900); Featherweight, for the WBA and WBO title
Stephanie Han (+160) vs. Holly Holm (-225); Lightweight, for the WBA title
Krystal Rosado vs. Tania Walters; Bantamweight
Ebanie Bridges vs. Alexis Arazia; Bantamweight
Amanda Serrano age
Amanda Serrano is 37. Her opponent, Reina Tellez, is 22.
Holly Holm fight
Holly Holm, the legendary boxer and MMA fighter, will be making her second appearance in the boxing ring since signing with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. This time, the 44-year-old Holm will be fighting for a world title against Stephanie Han, the reigning WBC lightweight champion.
In June, Holm boxed in her first pro bout since 2013 and defeated previously unbeaten Yolanda Vega by unanimous decision.
Anthony Joshua friends honored
The main card event opened with a 10-bell salute for Latif Ayodele and Sima Ghami. They were the close friends close friends of Anthony Joshua and members of the boxer’s training team who died in a car accident Dec. 29 in Nigeria while riding with the former heavyweight champion.
The names of Ayodele and Ghami also were embossed on canvas of the boxing ring at Coliseo Roberto Clemente, site of MVP’s 13-fight card.
Amanda Serrano chasing history
Before she retires, Serrano said this week, she has two goals. One: break the record for all-time knockouts for a woman. Entering the fight against Tellez, Serrano has 31 knockouts heading into her fight with Tellez. The record is 32, held by Hall of Famer Christy Martin. The second goal: 50 all-time victories. Serrano had 47 before fighting Tellez. Martin has 49 and Regina Halmich, a retired boxer from German, had 54 victories.