amanda-serrano Saturday night, on Showtime Extreme (7:30 EST), boxer Amanda Serrano competes for the chance to become the first Puerto Rican fighter and the first woman to win world titles in five weight divisions.Amanda Westcott/SHO –

When Amanda Serrano graduated from Bushwick High School ten years ago, she wasn’t busy filling out college applications or chasing boys in her Brooklyn neighborhood.

The Puerto Rican born Serrano had seen her older sister Cindy become an accomplished boxer and decided to follow in her footsteps. Without telling family members, she signed up for the New York Golden Gloves.

But the news didn’t go over well with her sister or her brother-in-law Jordan Maldonaldo who owned boxing gyms in the area.

The pair attempted to unnerve the young hopeful with some unorthodox methods.

The pair attempted to unnerve the young hopeful with some unorthodox methods.

“He had my sister beat me up to discourage me from going into the sport,” recalls Serrano.

“But she couldn’t beat me up. I kept on coming back. I was actually ready for it.”

Fast forward a decade and the 28-year-old’s resume shows just how ready she was that fateful day. The 5 foot 5 lefty is now nicknamed “The Real Deal” and has a record of 31-1-1 with 23 KOs. She and her 34-year-old sister — who are sometimes referred to as the Williams Sisters of Boxing — have landed in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first female siblings to become World Champions at the same time in a major organization.

On Saturday night, she’s looking to make history when she takes on Dahiana Santana at the Barclays Center for the WBO bantamweight title. If she wins, Serrano will become both the first woman and first Puerto Rican fighter in history to capture a fifth world title in five different weight classes.

20170114_fights_724  In Jan. 2017, Amanda Serrano (right) successfully defended her WBO Jr. Featherweight belt over two-division world champion Yazmin Rivas.Ed Diller/DiBella

Her collection of belts already include a lightweight, super featherweight, featherweight and super bantamweight titles.

Bouncing around to different weight classes means her fighting weight has fluctuated anywhere from 135 to 118 pounds.

For this matchup, Serrano gave up her beloved chocolate chip cookies and bread for two months.

“This time I ate a little less than I usually eat,” she explains. “It’s pretty much a high protein, no carbs. My trainer Jordan knows nutrition and how to cut weight. I feel good. I feel strong.”

She already has her sights set on a bulkier belt.

”Hopefully after this, I can go up to 140 pounds and win another division,” she says.

In a way, boxing fame is a strange path for Serrano, who admits that she was clueless about the sport before her sister put on gloves to get into shape after giving birth. Cindy’s then-boyfriend, Maldonado, saw her potential and molded her into a pro boxer before her younger sibling’s eyes.

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“I was never a boxing fan. I didn’t know anything about it,” says Amanda. “The only boxing match I remember was the Trinidad Oscar De La Hoya fight [in 1999] because my parents had a party at the house, but I didn’t watch it. I was outside playing.”

Amanda Serrano (left) and sister Cindy.

Though she caught the bug from watching her sister pound opponents, Serrano’s decision to enter the ring still devastated her mother, who didn’t want her youngest child fighting.

“It took a while for my mom to come [to fights], but she now shows me off. My dad has always been at my fights from the beginning.”

While her mother has come around to her career, one thing has never changed: The pretty brunette is still not chasing boys. In fact, she’s so focused on her career she has never a boyfriend in her life.

“I started [boxing] very young and Jordan and my sister were together for 18 years and brought me up the right way. He’s like my dad. I’m 100 percent in my career right now. Once I am done and retired I will have plenty of time for hanging out and boyfriends. I don‘t need the distractions right now,” says Serrano — who has also never had a cell phone to text boys from.

That’s not to say there haven’t been wannabe suitors.

“They can be intimidated. A lot of people ask Jordan, ‘Can I ask her out on a date?’ He says, ‘You can, but you know the answer is going to be no.’”

Serrano fights former world champion Dahiana Santana for the WBO Bantamweight World Championship on Saturday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m., on Showtime Extreme.

 

1458388  Pungluang Sor Singyu will defend his WBO bantamweight title against Jetro Pabustan on Feb 12

The fight, initially scheduled for Jan 16, will be held in Nakhon Ratchasima, about 260km northeast of Bangkok. It will be the first defense for the Thai champion after winning the title for the second time with a second-round knockout of Ryo Akaho of Japan.

“Everything has been confirmed. We have moved back the date because we needed more time to finalise our sponsorship deals,” said Pungluang’s manager Pariyakorn Rattanasuban. “The fight will be held in front of Thao Suranaree monument in Korat [Nakhon Ratchasima].”

She added that the 26-year-old Filipino, ranked fifth in the 118-pound division, will not be an easy opponent for Pungluang. Pabustan’s record stands at 26 wins with seven knockouts and two losses.

Pariyakorn said: “Pabustan is left-handed and is very patient. He has never been stopped in his career. It will be an interesting but tough fight for Pungluang.”

Pabustan is challenging for the crown for the first time, but Pungluang is determined to make his first title defence a success.

The Thai had lost to Paulus Ambunda in Namibia in March 2013, only five months after stopping AJ Banal of the Philippines to win the vacant title.

Pariyakorn added that the winner of the fight will face Marlon Tapales of the Philippines in the mandatory fight.

Tapales stopped Shohei Omori in the elimination fight in Japan on Dec 18. Earlier, the Filipono was tipped to meet Pungluang but was ordered to take on Omori first.

“Surely, if Pungluang wins this bout, he must face Tapales in a fight in Thailand,” Pariyakorn said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/810612/pungluang-to-face-pabustan. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip

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By Boxing Bob Newman
Credits Photos: OneSongchai Promotions –

Pungluang Sor Singyu recently captured the WBO bantamweight crown for the second time when he stopped Japanese contender Ryo Akaho in two rounds on August 7 in Ratchaburi, Thailand. The big punching Thai raised his record to 51-3, 35 KOs with the win. Pungluang took some time to talk with Fightnews about recapturing the crown, his past losses, fighting abroad and his future in the ring.
(A special thanks to Dr. Siraphop Ratanasuban of One Songchai Promotions for his assistance with translating for the champ!)

Pungluang, congratulations on regaining the WBO Bantamweight title. How does it feel to be a world champion for the second time?

I am very happy.

Did you expect to score such a quick KO against your recent foe Ryo Akaho in winning the belt again?

No, Ryo is a good boxer. I just got lucky.

I want to go back to your start in boxing. You turned professional at age 16. Did you take the traditional road for many Thai boxers and begin in Muay Thai?

Yes. I fought 60 fights professional Muaythai before I turned to professional boxing.

Why did you decide to convert over to “Western” style boxing?

The promoter gives me good money and promised to make me world champion, as long as I train well.

In becoming WBO champion twice- you’ve won a vacant belt both times. Do you follow your co-champions Shinsuke Yamanaka (WBC), Randy Caballero (IBF), Juan Carlos Payano (WBA) and if so, would you be interested in unifying with any of them, to try and be recognized as the best in the division?

I would like to fight close by my country such as Japan first. For far away country, I am not so sure I want to go. I prefer to fight in Thailand.

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All three of your losses have been on the road (Stephane Jamoye- SD10 in Belgium, Paulus Ambunda- UD 12 in Namibia and Tomoki Kameda- KO by 7 in the USA). Do you blame the long distance travel as a factor in those defeats?

Yes, I don’t like to fight overseas much. I love my hometown family to cheer me. I want to build more experience while I fight in Thailand first.

Do you feel the two decision losses- one split in Jamoye’s hoe town and one close unanimous in Ambunda’s home town were fair or did you feel you did enough to win?

I feel I was a bad boy. I did not train well and didn’t get ready for those fights.

If the money is right, will you be willing to travel abroad for more fights or would you rather have several fights at home where you feel more comfortable?

I would like to have several more fights at home to be more comfortable first.

In the Kameda fight, the scores were dead even after six rounds, with each of you leading on one score card and a draw on the third. You were stopped in the seventh round. How frustrating was that loss in such a close fight?

Yes, I did not train well in that fight. I deserve to lose.

At 27 years old, you are relatively young, but have been fighting for eleven years and have had fifty four fights. Do you feel like you are slowing down at all, or do you still have many years to go?

I feel I am a very young champion. I have a bright future ahead of me. I am in a climbing up period now.

With a 65% knockout ratio, power seems to be a big part of your game. Do you rely on your power to win a fight or do you feel you are a complete boxer?

I think I am power boxer. I love to KO and get audiences excited.

What is next for you in your first defense of your second title reign?

It is up to my promoter Madame Pariyakorn Ratanasuban. I do my job by keep training.

Any final thoughts or words to your fans both at home in Thailand and around the world?

Thank you everyone for cheering for me. I will work hard and not let my boxing fans get disappointed.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/qa-wbo-bantamweight-champ-pungluang-sor-singyu-302627

Spirited Thai excites home fans with dominant two-round victory over Japanese fighter Akaho

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Thailand’s Pungluang sor Singyu, left, in action against Japan’s Ryo Akaho. 

Pungluang sor Singyu stopped Ryo Akaho of Japan in the second round to reclaim the WBO bantamweight title in Ratchaburi yesterday.

In the fight for the vacant 118-pound division belt, the Thai did not waste his chance in the second round when he cornered and floored Akaho with a powerful right hook.

The stunning victory in front of his hometown fans made him a two-time champion.
In 2012, Pungluang, now 27, stopped AJ Banal in the ninth round to win the title, also for a vacant championship, in the Philippines.

“I am really happy and proud of myself, and to have made the fans happy,” said Pungluang after the bout.

“I promised them I would win the title and I did it.”

Pungluang is only Thailand’s third title holder at the moment with the other two being Amnat Ruenroeng (IBF flyweight) and Wanheng Meenayothin (WBC minimumweight).

Pungluang, who was stopped by Japan’s Tomoki Kameda in his second world title attempt last July, improved his record to 51 wins (31KOs) against three losses.

It was 29-year-old Akaho’s second loss and first by a knockout.

Pungluang’s manager Pariyakorn Rattanasuban said that she was relieved and happy to have another world champion.

“We made a lot of effort and spent more than 10 million baht to make the fight happen,” she said. “Pungluang deserves credit for his great win. He planned to study Akaho for four rounds but when the chance…

As the winner of a vacant title, Pungluang now has to face a mandatory bout in his first defence.

Pariyakorn confirmed that the fight will be held in Thailand.

“It will definitely take place in Thailand,” she said. “I have learned lessons from when he lost the title two years ago.”

After beating Banal in 2012, Pungluang flew to Namibia for his first and mandatory fight and lost to Paulus Ambunda.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/648572/pungluang-pounces-to-recapture-title

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Photos: M 150 OneSongchai

Bantamweight Pungluang Sor Singyu (51-3, 35 KOs) knocked out Ryo Akaho (26-2-2, 18 KOs) in round two to regain the vacant WBO bantamweight title on Friday in Ratchaburi, Thailand. This bout was for the title stripped from Tomoki Kameda after he signed for a “unification” match with “regular” WBA champ Jamie McDonnell.

Pungluang previously won the belt in 2012 against AJ Banal, but lost it in his first defense to Paulus Ambunda.

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http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/pungluang-regains-wbo-bantamweight-title-300894

c1_634364_620x413 Pungluang Sor Singyu, centre, is eyeing the vacant WBO bantamweight title.

Thai fighter says facing Japanese rival in Ratchaburi on Aug 7 in WBO title bout piling pressure 

Pungluang Sor Singyu made no effort yesterday to conceal his unease and openly acknowledged that he was under pressure while readying himself for the fight against Japan’s Ryo Akaho for the vacant WBO bantamweight title in Ratchaburi on Aug 7.

Pungluang, a former WBO champion who is ranked second in the division, claimed that boxing in front of his fans in Ratchaburi would not give him any real advantage over his opponent but will rather put him under more pressure.

“I am feeling the pressure a lot,” he said. “Everyone is suggesting that I have to win the title here,” said the fighter, who has so far sparred more than 100 rounds to prepare for the title bout.

“As for Akaho, we have studied his fights carefully. He is classic and very fast. What I can say is that he is not an easy opponent to beat.”

Pungluang (50-3-0, 34KOs) stopped AJ Banal in the ninth round to win the vacant title in the Philippines in October 2012.

However, in his first defence, he lost to Paulus Ambunda in Namibia in March 2013.

His manager Pariyakorn Rattanasuban said she had invested a lot of money to get the fight to be held in the country, but she was concerned about Pungluang’s fitness.

“I just hope he will be in a great shape for the fight and will not disappoint us,” she said. “I made a mistake last time by making him defend his title in Namibia even though he was not fit enough at the time.”

Akaho, who holds a record of 26-1-2 with 18KOs, is challenging for a world title for the second time after losing to then-champion Yota Sator in a WBC flyweight championship bout in 2012. The WBO title has been vacated by Tomoki Kameda of Japan.

On the undercard, veteran Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo will compete in the featherweight division for the last time before moving up to the super-featherweight class.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/634364/plucky-pungluang-feels-the-heat

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Pungluang Sor Singyu and his manager Pariyakorn

Former world champion Pungluang Sor Singyu will take on Japan’s Ryo Akaho for the vacant WBO bantamweight title in Ratchaburi on Aug 7. 

The title was vacated by Tomoki Kameda, another Japanese fighter. Akaho (26-1-2, 18KOs) is the top challenger in the division while Pungluang (50-3-0, 34KOs) is ranked second.

Pariyakorn Rattanasuban, Pungluang’s manager, said although the bout would be held in Thailand her fighter would not enjoy a big advantage.

“All the judges are from the US,’’ she said.

Pungluang was crowned champion in October 2012 after stopping AJ Banal in the ninth round to win the vacant title in the Philippines.

He held the belt for only four months before losing to Paulus Ambunda in Namibia in March 2013.

The Ratchaburi native had a chance to win back the title last July but was stopped by Kameda in a mandatory fight in Las Vegas.

It will be Akaho’s second title shot after losing to compatriot Yota Sator in a WBC flyweight championship in 2012.

It is expected to be a tough assignment for Akaho as no Japanese boxers have won a world tile in Thailand.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/626512/pungluang-to-fight-akaho-for-vacant-wbo-crown

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Tomoki Kameda: Unbeaten in 31 fights

Credit Photo: By Naoki Fukuda05  –

Tomoki Kameda kept on course for a unification fight with Jamie McDonnell as he retained his WBO bantamweight title in Chicago.

The unbeaten Japanese won a split-decision verdict over Mexico’s Alejandro Hernandez, earning a 115-113 victory on two cards and going down by the same margin on the third.

Kameda was fighting in the United States for just a second time, and his third outing on American soil is likely to come against Doncaster’s WBA champion McDonnell early next year.

That fight, confirmed in principle by Eddie Hearn earlier this week, now rests on McDonnell defending his belt against Walberto Ramos on the undercard of the Nathan Cleverly-Tony Bellew rematch – live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Hernandez caused Kameda problems late in the fight, opening a cut above the champion’s left eye in the ninth and finishing strongly.

But Kameda had plenty of rounds in the bank having dominated early on, and the stats were overwhelmingly in his favour.

The 23-year-old landed more punches, including almost half of 320 power shots thrown.

http://www1.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/9546137/tomoki-kameda-wins-split-decision-against-alejandro-hernandez-to-stay-on-course-for-jamie-mcdonnell-fight

Date:  Saturday, November 1, 2014

WBO BANTAMWEIGHT  TITLE BOUT

Location:   UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Promoter:   Warriors Boxing / Leon Margules

Supervisor:  John Duggan

Referee:     Genaro Rodriguez

Judges:   Bill Lerch (115-113); Michael Pernick (115-113);  Dennis Nelson (113-115)

Results:  The Champion Tomoki Kameda defended and retained the WBO Bantamweight Title with a split decision over Alejandro “Payasito” Hernández.

TV:  USA Showtime

Tomoki Kameda v Immanuel Naidjala - WBO Bantamweight Title

Tomoki Kameda landed a brutal liver shot that ended Pungluang Sor Singyu’s night on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs Erislandy Lara.

The WBO bantamweight title was on the line as a special pre-pay-per-view attraction before the Canelo Alvarez vs. Erislandy Lara main card. Undefeated Tomoki Kameda was defending his title against former champion Pungluang Sor Singyu.

The bout was entertaining, but fought in front of a mostly empty arena as Las Vegas boxing crowds arrive late, so a pre-PPV bout wasn’t going to have much by way of fans in the stands.

Singyu was able to land some big shots and even badly hurt Kameda in round four. But Kameda appeared to be clearly up on the cards heading into round seven.

In round seven, Kameda landed some solid shots that cut Singyu around his left eye before landing a brilliant body shot at 1:35 of the round, freezing Singyu in place and causing him to collapse to the canvas in awful pain.

Singyu would not get to his feet as Kameda retained his title with a TKO.

It turned out that the official cards had the fight closer than most observers as it was a draw after six rounds, 58-56 Kameda, 58-56 Singyu and 57-57.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/7/12/5894329/canelo-vs-lara-results-tomoki-kameda-defends-wbo-title-with-crushing

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By Joe Koizumi –

Photos by Sumio Yamada –

OSAKA, JAPAN

Unbeaten Japanese speedster Tomoki Kameda (29-0, 18 KOs), 118, successfully retained his WBO bantamweight title as he positively outjabbed and outpunched previously unbeaten Immanuel Naidjala (17-1-1, 11 KOs), 118, from Namibia, winning a unanimous verdict over twelve fast rounds on Tuesday in Osaka, Japan.  It was the second of a world title tripleheader.

Adelaide Byrd, Don Trella and Carlos Ortiz Jr., all from the US, saw the unanimous affair 119-109, 118-110 and 117-111 respectively in Tomoki’s favor.  The third man was Robert Byrd, US.

Tomoki, 22, proved faster and busier throughout the contest in his first defense since he dethroned Namibian Paulus Ambunda by a unanimous nod in Cebu, Philippines, this August.

It was a rather easy fight for Tomoki since he quickly took the initiative in round two, when he connected with a solid left hook and almost topped the 29-year-old Namibian, whose hand speed had been highly expected.  But Tomoki proved his hand was faster than the unbeaten challenger who had gained the WBO Africa belt and IBF international belts in the 118-pound category.

It was Tomoki that positively made his fight by throwing good jabs and body shots to the less aggressive African.  Naidjala, as tall as the champ, turned loose in rounds six and seven, when he landed a good right to the champ’s face as Tomoki looked temporarily less aggressive after his opening attack in earlier rounds.

From the eighth on did Kameda regain his rhythm in mixing it up to score with quick combinations in the close range.  His body attack looked effective enough to make Naidjala fading down the stretch.

The champ said, “I’m not satisfied with my performance.  I wished to finish this challenger, but couldn’t.  I’ll win in my next mandatory title bout.”  The top contender is Randy Caballero, 20-0, 12 KOs, NABO bantam champ from California, who may be a threat against the Japanese speedster.

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http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/t-kameda-naidjala-full-report-232582

Ambunda

By:  Edri K. Aznar –

 

WORLD Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight titleholder Paulus Ambunda arrives in Cebu City early for his first world title defense on Aug. 1 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino against unbeaten Japanese prospect Tomoki Kameda.

 

The 32-year-old Namibian star is scheduled to arrive at Mactan Cebu International Airport at 7 tonight from South Africa.

 

Ambunda won the WBO belt last March in his hometown in Windhoek, Namibia. He dethroned then-champion Pungluang Sor Singyu, who beat AJ Banal for the vacant crown, via unanimous decision. It’ll be his first title defense.

 

Tomoki, on the other hand, is a hungry young fighter that wants to follow in the footsteps of his brothers Koki and Daiki. Koki, the eldest of the fighting Kameda brothers, is the current World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight champion, while Daiki is a former WBA flyweight titleholder.

 

Tomoki made a name in the international boxing circuit by fighting in Mexico, thus the moniker “Mexicanito”. He hopes to make a name for himself in the Philippines with a win over Ambunda.

 

Ambunda is unbeaten with an impressive 20-0 slate with 10 knockouts, while the 22-year-old Tomoki is 27-0 with 18 knockouts.

 

The main supporting bout features Marlon Tapales (22-2, 9 KOs) taking on fellow Filipino prospect Fredirex Rodriguez (11-2-1, 8 KOs) for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight belt.

 

The undercard is also beefed up with an exciting war between former world champion Sonny Boy Jaro (34-12-5, 24 KOs) and 22-year-old journeyman Gerpaul Valero (14-14, 10 KOs).

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/sports/2013/07/21/wbo-champ-ambunda-arrives-today-293667

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By Ron Jackson

Paulus Ambunda is not afraid to go to the Philippines to defend his WBO bantamweight title. And he is unconcerned about taking on a member of the rough-and-ready Kameda family. The Namibian will make a voluntary defence of his belt when he fights Tomoki Kameda in Cebu on August 1. Known as The Rock, Ambunda knows he is in for a battle against the Japanese challenger, who is undefeated after 27 professional fights and has won 18 of them inside the distance.

The 32-year-old champion is unbeaten after 20 fights; half of them ending in short-cut victories. He won the title when he beat Pungluang Sor Singyu on points in Windhoek on March 2 this year.

His trainer, Nestor Tobias, is as confident as Ambunda is. He believes Ambunda’s training has gone well and the champion is fit and well prepared.

With the fight being held in a “neutral” city and with neutral officials in charge, Tobias feels Ambunda’s skills will enable him to retain his title. The Namibians fly to the Philippines on July 21.

Tobias has been chosen as best trainer and promoter in Africa and Ambunda as African boxer of the year, as well as Namibian sportsman of the year.

Kameda, a 22-year-old member of a famous boxing family from Tokyo, has been fighting and training in Mexico so often that he is known as Little Mexican. His brother Koki has held the WBA and WBC flyweight titles and the other brother, Daiki, now holds the WBA belt in the same division.
The brothers, and their father, Shiro, have received some bad publicity but there is no doubt about their boxing ability. Tomoki has been a professional for more than four and a half years.

He won the vacant NABF bantamweight title in February 2011 when he beat German Meraz on points in Mexico. In April last year he won the vacant WBC silver bantamweight title by stopping Jairo Hernandez in the tenth round, also in Mexico. Since then, he has beat Monico Laurente on points, stopped Javier Franco in the fifth round, Ray Las Pinas in the fourth and Nouldy Mankane in the sixth.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/paulus-ambunda-to-make-first-defense-of-wbo-belt-213270#more-213270