Just minutes into the main event, Amanda Serrano was “medically unfit” to fight in her home country of Puerto Rico.
Most Valuable Promotions said Serrano suffered an eye injury on Friday and was not cleared by the Puerto Rican Boxing Commission.
The promotion added that tickets would be refunded to those who requested it, and that Serrano's opponent, Nina Meinke, would receive her entire purse.
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Amanda Serrano reacts as Jake Paul looks on after her fight was canceled against Nina Meinke for Serrano's IBF, WBO and WBA women's featherweight titles at the Puerto Rico Coliseum on March 2, 2024 in Hato Rey , Puerto Rico. Serrano was declared medically unfit to fight by Puerto Rico's boxing commission after suffering an eye injury yesterday. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
An emotional Serrano, wearing sunglasses, said the injury occurred while she was having her hair dyed earlier in the week.
MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said a chemical from hair dye got into Serrano's eye during a race on Friday. She wore sunglasses throughout the Friday night weigh-in.
“I wanted to fight in front of my people,” Serrano said.
“I'm so sorry. I came to fight and put on a show for you. I'll be back.”
Saturday was scheduled to be Serrano's 50th professional fight, and perhaps even a farewell. The event was at the famous Puerto Rico Coliseum, an 18,500-seat stadium, and Serrano said he will “retire” at the venue.
Jake Paul, co-founder of MVP, explained that Serrano's cornea had been damaged by the chemical, which also burned his hand, and that there was too much risk in allowing him to fight.
Amanda Serrano (L) and Nina Meinke pose during Serrano's IBF, WBO and WBA women's featherweight titles weigh-in at the T-Mobile District on March 1, 2024 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They will fight at the Puerto Rico Coliseum on March 2, 2024. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Paul, who is normally the main event wherever he fights, took a back seat this time around, telling Fox News Digital earlier this week that it was Serrano's “time to shine.”
“I always wanted that for her. This is her moment and her time to shine,” Paul told Fox News Digital before Saturday's fight. “It's great to support her. She really deserves this moment and has worked really hard for it. I'm happy to be a fan. You have no pressure when you're not the main event, but you hear the crowd is a lot louder for her. That's why this It's your place, your time to shine.”
Serrano spoke to Fox News Digital last month and gave Paul the biggest thank you for allowing him to attend the main event in his home country.
“He said this is my house and he would never accept that main event,” Serrano said at the time. “I said, 'No, you can do it! You can do it!' He says, 'There's no way you're going to go home and show off your house.'”
Amanda Serrano reacts as Jake Paul looks on after her fight was canceled against Nina Meinke for Serrano's IBF, WBO and WBA women's featherweight titles at the Puerto Rico Coliseum on March 2, 2024 in Hato Rey , Puerto Rico. Serrano was declared medically unfit to fight by Puerto Rico's boxing commission after suffering an eye injury yesterday. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Paul fought just before the cancellation and won by first-round TKO over Ryan Bourland.
