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Laura Serrano, born October 30, 1967,
from Mexico, but resides in Las Vegas, is a fast-punching, versatile
fighter to hit the scene of women's boxing.
Serrano began her boxing career at the National Autonomous University in Mexico City.
Her reason--to lose weight and get in shape. She met with opposition
from Mexico as women's boxing was banned. She found that she was not allowed to box, and
so her battle began...outside the ring. Serrano did not get
discouraged and she stayed in the game, fighting some of the best
boxers in the world.
On May
7, 1994, Serrano fought Christy
Martin to a controversial
six-round draw. To this day, most boxing fans felt that Serrano
had won that fight. The two have never rematched, and boxing
fans keep waiting for this final showdown.
On April 20, 1995, Serrano fought
on the first all-women card held at the Aladdin Hotel &
Casino in Las Vegas. Serrano TKO'd her Irish opponent Deirdre Gogarty
in the seventh round. Serrano was relentless against Gogarty, and the
fight was stopped in the seventh round.
On March 29, 1997, Serrano fought Cheryl Nance and the
fight ended in the third round as a TKO.
On March 7, 1998, Serrano had a fight
scheduled to face Isra Girgrah on the undercard of the main event
featuring Julio Cesar Chavez and Miguel Gonzalez, but just a few days
before the fight, the women's bout was cancelled do to the México
City authorities bringing up an old 1947 law forbidding women to fight
professionally. The ban was overturn due to a 1992
constitutional reform proclaiming equality between the sexes.
On January 15, 1999, TL Fox met up with
Laura Serrano at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Serrano was recovering from surgery to her foot. Serrano told
Fox that she was hoping to be fighting in a few months, and was
training with Greg Hannley at Prince Ranch.
On July 26, 1999 at the Great Western Forum in
Inglewood, California, Serrano was finally able to return to the ring.
It was apparent that she suffered from ringrust in this bout, but
still walked away with a four-round majority decision.
On September 2, 1999 at the Gold Strike
Casino in Tunica, Mississippi Laura Serrano fought Tracy Byrd for the
IWBF Intercontinental Lightweight title and clearly won the belt. Her
record moved to 7-0-1.
On September 27, 1999, just three weeks
later in Inglewood, California, Serrano fought Cynthia Prouder in a
six-round unanimous decision in a lightweight bout.
On February 11, 2000 at the Gold Strike
Casino in Tunica, Mississippi, Laura fought Alicia Ashley and won by
an eight-round unanimous decision.
On May 24, 2000 at the Treasure Chest
Casino in Kenner, Louisiana, Serrano, 128, was matched up with Gina
Greenwald, 130 of Belleville, Illinois. The fight did not last long
and was stopped 1:45 in the first round.
On June 16, 2000 at the Mandalay Bay in
Las Vegas, Nevada, Serrano defeated Kelsey Jeffries in a surprise TKO.
The fight was stopped 1:59 seconds of the third round. Jeffries
suffered her first loss as a professional. Serrano's record improving
to 11-0-1.
On August 12, 2000 in
Miami, Florida, Melissa Salamone and Serrano fought to a
10-round draw for the vacant International
Boxing Association (IBA) 130-lb title. Neither fighter
walked away a loser or winner.... Again, most felt that this
fight should have gone in the favor of Serrano....no rematch is
in the works at this time.
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