Amanda Serrano looks to make history by becoming the first Puerto Rican boxer to become the undisputed boxing champion by winning Erika Cruz’s WBA title to complete her set. The boxing odds expect this to happen with Serrano as a sizable favorite. However, her Mexican challenger will not be intimidated as she is more than ready to stand in the center and fight back.
Let’s check the latest Boxing news, stats, and Boxing lines for Serrano vs Cruz. We’ve got plenty of Boxing picks for you to consider.
Serrano Is Unchallenged But…
Everyone and their mom know that Amanda Serrano is the top 126-pound boxer in the world. However, just how much does she have left in the tank? Serrano may only be 34 years old, but she’s been in 46 professional bouts on top of amateur and mixed martial arts (MMA).
She easily turned back Sarah Mahfoud in her last bout and is expected to do the same to Cruz, given the online sports betting lines. Serrano is all-offense, which is why she’s a fun boxer to watch, kind of like Manny Pacquiao and many of her Latin American peers.
Serrano’s biggest edge is still in her explosiveness and power. Sure, she’s also fast and crisp in her punches. But once her opponent feels the impact of her strikes, it gives Serrano the advantage as they begin to slow down and lose confidence. What happens when her opponent eats her punches and says, “Alright. Now what?”
Cruz More Than Tough
Erika Cruz has the durability to be that boxer to Serrano. Of course, simply being “tough” won’t get the job done; otherwise, she’s a glorified punching bag. The Mexican will have to find ways to match Serrano’s output. That’s easier said than done. Katie Taylor, the only boxer to defeat Serrano in the last decade, had to weather a hell of a storm. And she’s a 134-pounder.
For Cruz, she will have to be more of a counter-puncher early in the match. Serrano tends to start strong but can fade as the fight goes on due to her incredible output. If Cruz is still in it, she can look to outbox Serrano towards the end.
At her current odds, it’s worth betting online that Cruz can somehow rally and “steal” a few rounds from Serrano. Of course, earning the decision may require some luck.
Serrano vs Cruz Head-to-Head
Cruz is slightly taller than Serrano. But otherwise, Serrano has a 1.5-inch reach advantage. The latter is also two years older but has nearly triple the professional experience of Cruz. They are both southpaw boxers.
Serrano vs Cruz Fight Information
- Records: Serrano (43-2-1, 30 KOs) vs Cruz (15-1-0, 3 KOs)
- Location: Hulu Theater at MSG, New York, NY
- Day/Time: Saturday, Feb. 4, 10:00 p.m. ET
- Serrano vs Cruz Live Stream: Box Live
Serrano vs Cruz Betting Lines
Serrano vs Cruz Picks and Prediction
Backing Serrano here is a hefty ask with her lines. Either parlay her or bet her to win by a decision at -175. Otherwise, betting the total to go over 8½ is also a solid choice. There is a slight chance that Serrano hurts Cruz enough to make her quit on the stool. But we’ll put faith in Cruz’s grit that she’ll see this to the end even if she is battered.
Serrano is listed at -700 in our boxing lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Serrano, you have a chance to win $14. Cruz is +450, offering a chance to win $450 on a $100 wager. The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Serrano an 87.50% chance to win, with Cruz at 18.18%.
