Amanda Serrano Talks Next Fight, 'GOAT' Status, Retirement Timeline and More in B/R Interview

Despite being the most accomplished fighter in women's boxing history, Amanda Serrano doesn't want to be called the GOAT.

Seriously, she hates it.

Even after being named to the inaugural TIME 100 Most Influential Athletes list, even as she holds the Guinness World Record as a seven-division champion, and even as she's on the cusp of earning her 50th career win and a record-setting 33rd knockout, Serrano is comfortable with her place in the sport's history without the oft-used moniker.

"I hate that word. I hate that name. I hate the 'face of women's boxing.' Listen, all of us bring something special to the sport. It takes a whole team to make a great sport. We all bring something different," Serrano told Bleacher Report. "I like fighting. I'm coming and I'm getting punched in the face, but I'm punching you just as hard. Each of us has our own thing when we get into the ring, so I don't like that. For me, for my family, for my team, I'm the best, I'm the GOAT, and that's all that matters to me. I mean, you always want to be the best version of yourself. So for me to get this 50th win and the 33rd knockout, I'm the best."

Serrano (49-4-1, 32 KOs) is set to defend her unified featherweight world titles against Lucrecia Manzur (14-4, 7 KOs) on Friday, Aug. 21, at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. It will be the first-ever unified women's world championship contested over 12 two-minute rounds, and the first fight ever to be streamed on TikTok LIVE through a partnership with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions.

Serrano tied Christy Martin for the most knockouts in women's boxing history with her second-round TKO victory over Cheyenne Hanson in May. In her first fight since her beloved New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA championship, she said she will bring some New York flavor to the West Coast with her Timberland boxing boots and Patrick Ewing No. 33 jersey as she seeks her 33rd KO.

So, as she approaches the end of her legendary career, how does Serrano want to be remembered?

"I want to be considered a game changer," she said. "A game changer and a great role model. I want to just continue to give out positive energy, and I'm all for my women, I'm all for my girls, I want to see us do great in any aspect in life, any sport, anything. We always need to bond together, fight together to make women special. It's really special to be a woman in this day and age. And to be a woman athlete, a woman in sports, is even more beautiful. But yeah, I want to be a game changer. And I think that I'm working on that, right?"

Undoubtedly, Serrano has helped usher in a golden era for women's boxing. Her trilogy with Katie Taylor brought more eyes to the sport than ever before and made her a multi-millionaire, something she never imagined when she began training after tagging along with her older sister, Cindy, 17 years ago.

"I never thought I would be where I'm at right now. Talk about a millionaire, never in a million years. It was just before I was signed with Jake Paul and Nakisa [Bidarian], I was getting ready to hang it up," Serrano revealed. "I was getting ready to retire because there was no light at the end of the tunnel. And then this beautiful light MVP came in and shined so bright. I ran right through it."

Serrano may be nearing the end of her boxing career, but she didn't rule out a return to MMA, where she's undefeated in three fights at 2-0-1. MVP's recent merger with the Professional Fighters League could provide an avenue for "The Real Deal" to test her MMA skills one more time.

"Listen, I would never say never. I am undefeated in MMA. I'm 2-0-1, and two of my wins are by submission. And like I said before, I think submissions are a lot better than knockouts. It feels different. It feels good," Serrano said. "But now that MVP is with PFL, I don't know, maybe I will get an itch to go in there. Once they start doing the shows, I'm gonna be like, 'Wait a minute, I like this, I like this, I'm gonna get back into it.' But it definitely was a goal of mine to do one more MMA fight before I'm completely done with fighting."

After previously saying that she wants to retire from boxing by the end of 2026 with 50 career wins, Serrano clarified to B/R that she plans to fight one more time after next week's match against Manzur later this year or in early 2027. She's already begun to prepare for life after hanging up her gloves, as she's been named chairwoman of MVP's women's boxing initiatives. She also became a manager, and she said her next goal is to help Krystal Rosado (10-1, 2 KOs) become a world champion.

While the date for her farewell fight isn't set, Serrano said she plans to say goodbye to boxing in the place closest to her heart.

"Well, it's definitely gonna be in Puerto Rico," she said. "I already promised my fans in Puerto Rico that it's gonna be there. I love my island to death, so I'm gonna finish it, hang it up there in my island."