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Just minutes before the main event was set to take place, Amanda Serrano was “medically unfit to fight” in her home country of Puerto Rico.
Most Valuable Promotions said Serrano suffered an eye injury Friday and that the Puerto Rican boxing commission would not clear her.
The promotion added that those who request would receive a ticket refund and Serrano's opponent Nina Meinke would receive her full prize money.
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Amanda Serrano reacts as Jake Paul looks on after her fight against Nina Meinke for Serrano's IBF, WBO and WBA women's featherweight titles was canceled at Coliseo de Puerto Rico on March 2, 2024 in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Serrano was declared medically unfit to fight by the Puerto Rican Boxing Commission yesterday after sustaining an eye injury yesterday. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
An emotional Serrano, wearing sunglasses, said the injury occurred while she was getting her hair dyed earlier in the week.
MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said a chemical from the hair dye got into Serrano's eye during a run Friday. She wore sunglasses during Friday night's weigh-in.
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“I wanted to fight in front of my people,” Serrano said.
“I am so sorry. I came to fight and put on a show for you. I will come back.”
Saturday was supposed to be Serrano's 50th professional fight and perhaps even a farewell. The event was held at Puerto Rico's famous Coliseo, an 18,500-seat arena, and Serrano said she would “retire” at the venue.
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MVP co-founder Jake Paul explained that Serrano's cornea had been damaged by the chemical, which also caused burns to her hand, and that the risk was too great to let her fight.
Amanda Serrano (l) and Nina Meinke pose at the weigh-in for Serrano's IBF, WBO and WBA women's featherweight titles at Distrito T-Mobile on March 1, 2024 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They will fight on March 2, 2024 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
JAKE PAUL SCORES SECOND VICTORY IN FIRST ROUND AND CALLS CANELO ALVAREZ: “I AM THE FACE OF THIS SPORT”
Paul, who is usually the main event wherever he fights, took a back seat this time, telling Fox News Digital earlier this week that it was Serrano's “time to shine.”
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“I just always wanted that for her. This is her moment and her time to shine,” Paul told Fox News Digital ahead of Saturday’s fight. “It’s just so cool to support them. She really deserves this moment and worked so hard for it. I'm happy to be a fan. The pressure is off you when you're not the main event, but you hear that.” The crowd is a lot louder out there for them. That’s why this is their place, their time to shine.”
Serrano spoke to Fox News Digital last month and deeply thanked Paul for allowing her to attend the main event in her home country.
“He said this was my home and he would never compete in this main event,” Serrano said at the time. “I say, ‘No, you can do it! You can do it!' He says, 'There's no way you're going home and showing off your home.'”
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Amanda Serrano reacts as Jake Paul looks on after her fight against Nina Meinke for Serrano's IBF, WBO and WBA women's featherweight titles was canceled at Coliseo de Puerto Rico on March 2, 2024 in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Serrano was declared medically unfit to fight by the Puerto Rican Boxing Commission yesterday after sustaining an eye injury yesterday. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
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Paul fought shortly before the cancellation and won by first-round TKO over Ryan Bourland.