Reina Tellez stepped in on two week's notice and gave Amanda Serrano a rugged, game challenge.
But by the end of 10 action-packed three-minute rounds, 'The Real Deal' showed and proved she was levels above in ring savvy, punch precision and power in retaining her WBA and WBO unified featherweight world championship via a dominant, hard-fought unanimous decision. Judges inside the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and live on DAZN, scored it 98-92, 97-93 and 97-93 all in favor of Serrano on Saturday night.
The 37-year-old Puerto Rican sensation and seven-division world champion took a 22-year-old undefeated fighter in Tellez and dictated the terms of the bout behind a steady buffet and fighting flow of punches, anchored by the jab with powerful potshots and pounding body work added to the mix.
Serrano (48-4-1, 31 KOs) had to overcome bad swelling under her right eye in the fifth round but never stopped moving forward and cutting off the ring on Tellez (13-1, 5 KOs) who stood tough over many sequences and exchanges, even catching the champ with stinging overhand lefts. Still, despite owning a big lead, Serrano stalked forward and attempted to get her 32nd career knockout which would have tied Christy Martin's mark.
Here is how the entire Amanda Serrano vs. Reina Tellez fight and main card went.