Serrano title defense canceled on fight night due to eye injury
Jake Paul blows away Bourland in 1st round, calls out Canelo; 'Bomba' Gonzalez retains junior flyweight world title
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While Jake Paul was destroying Ryan Bourland in the co-feature the real drama was unfolding backstage, where there was uncertainly about whether unified women’s featherweight champion Amanda Serrano, who was due to headline in a homecoming fight in San Juan, Puerto Rico, would be permitted to fight.
A raucous crowd of nearly 18,000 filled the Coliseo de Puerto Rico anticipating Serrano’s mandatory title defense against Nina Meinke in the main event of the Most Valuable Promotions card on DAZN on Saturday night, but minutes after Paul polished off Bourland — and with Serrano and Meinke already in the ring along with Puerto Rican legend Felix Trinidad — ring announcer Lupe Contreras delivered the news to the shocked crowd: The main event was canceled because of an eye injury to Serrano, who was wearing sunglasses.
On Thursday night, Serrano had her hair done and when she went for a run on Friday, a chemical used in her hair got into her eye. It was badly irritated and bothering her, which is why she also wore sunglasses at the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday.
Her eye was still bothering her when she arrived at the arena on Saturday night, which led to an exam by the commission doctor, who would not clear her to fight even though Serrano said she wanted to.
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