Amanda Serrano and Alycia Baumgardner become undisputed world champions | boxing news

Amanda Serrano and Alycia Baumgardner became undisputed world champions after points wins in New York on Saturday night.

Serrano – whose rematch with undisputed lightweight world champion Katie Taylor has been announced for May 20 in Dublin – beat Erika Cruz by unanimous decision to add the WBA featherweight title to her WBC, IBF, WBO belts , IBO and The Ring.

Baumgardner now holds all of the super featherweight division titles after a unanimous decision win over Elhem Mekhaled, who entered the contest as the WBA champion.

Serrano got a real scare by Cruz, who braved a nasty cut on his forehead to take the fight the distance before Serrano won 98-92, 98-92, 97-93 on the scorecards as Cruz saw his 14-game winning streak come to an end.

Mexican star Cruz’s cut was caused by an accidental headbutt in the third round after being the busier fighter and landing more punches in the first two.

Serrano grew stronger as the fight progressed and blood poured from Cruz’s head, with the latter falling to the canvas in the final round after a leg entanglement.

But Cruz continued to throw his own punches at a feverish pace.

Serrano said afterwards: “She’s a Mexican champion, we knew that. That’s what we expected. That’s what we trained for.”

Baumgardner floored Mekhaled twice en route to her win, which was her eighth straight since a single pro loss to Christina Linardatou five years ago.

Mekhaled was dropped twice in round three and injured in round seven as Baumgardner took a comprehensive 99-89, 99-89, 98-90 win.

Mekhaled troubled Baumgardner at times and was arguably the better fighter in the last two rounds, appearing to stun the American at one point, although she couldn’t get a knockdown.

Speaking afterwards, Baumgardner said: “I showed discipline and courage. Hard work. I had to fight who I had to fight and I succeeded. I want to challenge myself . It’s the only way to know where I am and how I can be better.”

Other results on the card include UK-based Australian Skye Nicholson beating Tania Alvarez on points at featherweight and Somali contender Ramla Ali edging out Australian Avril Mathie at junior featherweight to close in on a shot. On title.