Amanda Serrano was forced to withdraw from her scheduled featherweight championship defense against Nina Meinke at the last minute on Saturday when she was unable to receive medical clearance following an eye injury.
In a statement, Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions stated that Serrano “has unfortunately been declared medically unfit due to an eye injury she sustained yesterday. She is devastated that she won’t be able to perform in front of her hometown fans, but despite wanting to go out and put on a show, the Commission said there is no way she can fight with her eye in her current condition.”
The fight had been scheduled to headline a card in Serrano’s native San Juan, Puerto Rico. The announcement of the cancellation, following Paul’s first-round knockout win over Ryan Bourland, drew boos from those in attendance, but Paul urged understanding.
“Listen, I know there’s people booing, but Amanda came to fight,” he said. “She put in a hard camp and the doctors wouldn’t let her move forward because of her eye. Her cornea was exposed, and she was failing eye tests, and she did everything she could to make it happen. We’re standing by Amanda’s side, and she’s been emotional and she wanted more than anything to represent her island, and this night meant the world to her.”
There was no immediate word on what caused the injury.
A sobbing Serrano apologized to the crowd.
“I am so sorry,” she said. “I came to fight, I came to put on a show for you guys. I give you guys everything, I put everything on the line for you guys. I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart.”