Too often in life, we leave it too late to appreciate what we have. Sport is one of the guiltiest avenues for this neglect. Athletes across disciplines are rarely given their flowers while still at their peak. The sporting world writes eulogies far better than it does testimonials.
Boxing is possibly the biggest culprit for this. For all the talk of the unstoppable “prime Mike Tyson” who could have knocked out Superman himself, there was a time he was mocked as a washed-up, face-tattooed loose cannon. Muhammad Ali is forever crystallised as ‘The Greatest’ in our collective consciousness now, but not before he saw out his ring career shambling around with a moustache and paunch, being brutalised by lesser men.
These sad denouements often arrive only as we start to appreciate what we had in these immortal ring warriors. But there are living legends in boxing today. Transcendent fighters you can enjoy while their skills are sharp. While they are doing the very things that historians will one day commit boxing canon. One such name is Amanda Serrano.
‘The Real Deal’ holds so many records that Guinness could do an entire book on her. Boxing’s first ever seven-weight world champion, only Manny Pacquiao has achieved the feat since. She is the only woman to win world titles in more than four weight classes. Serrano is also the first Puerto Rican to reign as a four-weight world champion. Amanda’s sibling, Cindy, is also a former professional boxer and the Serranos are the first boxing sisters to both win world belts. In short, Serrano stands alone in her industry.
But unlike her counterparts in the realm of multi-division world domination, you can still watch Serrano. Compete in actual boxing matches too, against world class opponents. While her only peers, the likes of Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and countryman Miguel Cotto, are either retired or taking part in lucrative-yet-meaningless exhibitions, Serrano is an active legend.
Serrano is so of-the-moment that you could argue her greatest fight took place less than two years ago. While the superb southpaw lost to fellow icon and lightweight champion Katie Taylor in April 2022, their bout was one for the ages. The first female main event at Madison Square Garden, their ten scintillating rounds will live forever.
Now Serrano defends her championship belts in 12 round fights, the first female world title holder to do so. The decision cost her the WBC crown, stripped by a backwards-facing organisation that is willing to ratify ridiculous 'Mayan' and 'Union' belts. But the other sanctioning bodies are joining her on this trip into history. As they should.
So don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy a legend in the moment. Boxing’s greats will always be feted when they retire, but why wait? Fighters like Serrano have already done enough to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Let’s pile on that praise while she’s still active and we can still watch ‘The Real Deal’ do what she does best.
