Amanda Serrano is moving quickly to secure a new opponent after her planned January 3 rematch with Erika Cruz was reportedly scrapped due to a failed pre-fight VADA test. According to Puerto Rico-based outlet El Vocero, Cruz tested positive for clenbuterol, prompting Serrano’s team to withdraw from the bout.
Serrano’s manager Jordan Maldonado explained that while the team technically had the option to proceed, they chose not to. Maldonado said Cruz’s camp claimed the result stemmed from food contamination, but stressed there was no time for an investigation before fight night. With the event approaching, Serrano’s team decided it was safer to move in a different direction.
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The fight card is scheduled to take place at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, marking Serrano’s first fight on the island since 2021, when she stopped Daniela Bermudez in nine rounds. Most Valuable Promotions is set to promote the show, though the company did not respond to requests for comment before publication.
While no replacement opponent has been officially named, Maldonado offered insight into what fans can expect. He said the new opponent will be younger than Serrano, have a winning record, and be a stronger boxer than Cruz, describing the matchup as “a more dangerous fight.” Maldonado added that Serrano wants an opponent who will engage, saying he hopes Puerto Rico sees a fight where both women are there to win.
Cruz’s manager Danny Aspiros disputed the initial report, stating that the information was inaccurate and that an official statement from the promoter would be forthcoming. Cruz previously lost a unanimous decision to Serrano in their 2023 undisputed unification bout and was stripped of the WBA junior featherweight title in May 2024 following a separate failed drug test.
Serrano will defend her WBO and WBA featherweight titles on the card as she looks to bounce back from back-to-back losses to Katie Taylor. The event is scheduled to air live on DAZN.
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