Cindy Serrano

Cindy Serrano, popularly known as Checkmate, is a former Puerto Rican professional boxer who has left a remarkable legacy in the sport. Born on May 8, 1982, in Puerto Rico, Serrano had a successful boxing career that spanned over 15 years, from 2003 to 2018. During her professional stint, she competed in four weight classes- Featherweight, Super featherweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight. Her boxing record stood at 27 wins, six losses, and three draws, where she registered ten knockout wins. Serrano held the WBO female featherweight title from 2016 to 2017, among other notable titles.

Serrano began her professional boxing career on September 12, 2003, where she won her first fight against Kathy Rodriguez, via a unanimous 4-round decision at Dover Downs in Dover, Delaware. After winning her first eleven fights by stoppage, on December 10, 2005, she faced Rhonda Luna for the Vacant WIBA featherweight title at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. The contest ended in a split draw.

Following three consecutive Unanimous Decision victories, she met Melissa Fiorentino for the inaugural WBC-NABF female super featherweight title on July 7, 2007, at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy, New York. Fiorentino won the contest and handed Serrano, her first career defeat via an 8-round Unanimous Decision.

In October 2017, Serrano returned to the lightweight division, challenging former Olympic gold medalist and reigning unified WBA, and IBF female champion Katie Taylor. On October 20, 2018, the highly charged contest between the two took place at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Taylor won the fight unanimously, presenting a dominant performance that saw the judges score the contest 10-0 for her. The fight marked Cindy Serrano's last professional appearance.

Throughout her professional career, Cindy Serrano was known for her ability to consistently achieve high proficiency levels in the ring. She was famous for her resilience, tenacity, and exceptional skills that saw her become a champion in the featherweight division.

Early Life and Background

Born on May 8, 1982, in Puerto Rico, Cindy Serrano grew up in a boxing family. Her father, Wilfredo Serrano, and her uncle, Juan Serrano, were both boxers at the time, which influenced her boxing ambitions. During her early years, Cindy Serrano was also an athlete, engaging in a variety of sports, ranging from basketball to volleyball. Her interest in boxing, however, proved more significant than the other sports, and she decided to pursue a career in the sport.

Throughout her formative years, Cindy Serrano struggled with discrimination against female boxers, famously referenced by boxing promoter Bob Arum as too "hard to promote." Despite the stigma against women in the sport of boxing, her passion for the sport held her to it, pushing her to strive for the best in the industry.

Professional Career

Cindy Serrano began her professional boxing career on September 12, 2003, defeating Kathy Rodriguez via unanimous 4-round decision. After securing several more consecutive victories, she faced Rhonda Luna for the Vacant WIBA featherweight title, although the contest ended in a split draw.

Following the draw, Serrano went on to register three consecutive Unanimous Decision victories before meeting Melissa Fiorentino for the inaugural WBC-NABF female super featherweight title on July 7, 2007. Serrano lost the fight, experiencing her first professional loss, which also marked the end of her win streak.

After her first professional career loss to Melissa Fiorentino in July 2007, Cindy Serrano went through a period of uneven results, registering a Mixed Record that included Losses, Draws, and Wins. Although her performance was not consistent, her performances continually exhibited her caliber and potential as a fighter.

In 2014, Serrano won the vacant UBF female lightweight title after defeating Diana Dominguez via a 10-round Unanimous Decision at the Cancha del Congo in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. She followed this victory with four additional fights, which included three wins and a draw, before securing her first major world title in 2016.

On December 10, 2016, at the Coliseo Cosme Beitia Salamo in Cataño, Puerto Rico, Cindy Serrano faced Calista Silgado for the vacant WBO female featherweight title. She won the fight via majority decision over ten rounds, with two judges scoring the bout 99–91 and 96–94 in favor of Serrano, and the third judge scoring it a draw at 95–95. With the win, Serrano and her younger sister, Amanda, made history, becoming the first sisters to hold major world titles at the same time.

Her willingness to seek out stiff competition and never give up gave her a reputation as a formidable fighter, and this was evident as she embraced and fought globally recognized opponents throughout her career. Her last fight was on October 20, 2018, against former unified WBA and IBF female champion Katie Taylor, which she lost via a shutout unanimous decision at TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts.

Boxing Style

Cindy Serrano's boxing style was that of a southpaw, although she was known to switch stances frequently. Her resilience, tenacity, and exceptional skills in the ring saw her earn a reputation as a formidable opponent among her peers.

One of the aspects of Cindy Serrano's boxing style that stood out most was her ability to read her opponents strategically. She always had her opponent's style figured out from the opening bell, and she regularly counter-struck with precise, powerful bursts. Cindy's ring intellect allowed her to set the pace with her consistent punching early in the fight, where she overwhelmed her opponents with her sheer volume of accurate attacks. Additionally, she was skillful in pivoting and moving side to side, often confusing her opponents with unpredictable footwork.

Retirement and Legacy

Cindy Serrano Fight Record