Laura Serrano
Encyclopedia
Laura Serrano Garcia is a Mexican
boxer.
Serrano began boxing at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma Nacional in Mexico City
, where she was studying to become a lawyer. She wanted to lose weight and stay in shape. She applied for a professional boxer's license in Mexico. After a short appearance in two episodes of the Volver a empezar
soap opera, she went to Las Vegas
, and on a pay per view card she challenged Christy Martin for the world title . It was her first fight as a professional and resulted in a draw
.
Serrano's next fight was against world champion Deirdre Gogarty
. She won by a knockout in seven rounds, in what was the first all women's boxing
undercard held at the Aladdin Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Serrano was supposed to box on the Julio César Chávez
-Miguel Ángel González
Pay Per View event's undercard in Mexico City
, until an ordinance from 1947 was found, forbidding women from boxing events in Mexico. Thanks in part to Serrano's subsequent legal battle, the ordinance was dropped.
Serrano suffered a foot injury for which she underwent surgery, but in 1999 she came back and won a decision in her comeback bout. She then met and defeated the world champion Tracy Byrd
to become Mexico's first woman world boxing champion.
She defended her title against Cinthya Prouder (won in a unanimous decision after round 6), Alicia Ashley
(won in a unanimous decision after round 8), Gina Greenwald (knockout in round 1) and Kelsey Jeffries (knockout in round 3), followed. The Jeffries fight resulted in Jeffries' first defeat.
On August 12, 2008, Serrano challenged Melissa Del Valle
for the Junior Lightweight title. Once again, this world title attempt resulted in a draw (tie
).
Serrano has won her last two world title defenses, both decisions, one in ten rounds in Las Vegas and another one, a six round win in Phoenix
.
As of 2005, she is also a lawyer, and is engaged to be married.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
boxer.
Serrano began boxing at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma Nacional in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, where she was studying to become a lawyer. She wanted to lose weight and stay in shape. She applied for a professional boxer's license in Mexico. After a short appearance in two episodes of the Volver a empezar
Volver a empezar (television)
Volver A Empezar is a popular Mexican telenovela of the 1990s, filled with action, intrigue and light hearted moments....
soap opera, she went to Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, and on a pay per view card she challenged Christy Martin for the world title . It was her first fight as a professional and resulted in a draw
Tie (draw)
To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...
.
Serrano's next fight was against world champion Deirdre Gogarty
Deirdre Gogarty
Deirdre Gogarty is a female boxer who was born in Drogheda, Ireland.Due to legal issues regarding Women's Boxing in Ireland at the time, Gogarty could not engage in competition there. She currently fights out of New Orleans, Louisiana...
. She won by a knockout in seven rounds, in what was the first all women's boxing
Women's boxing
Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1902. For most of the 20th century, however, it was banned in most nations. Its revival was pioneered by the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association, which sanctioned events for women in 1988. The British Amateur Boxing...
undercard held at the Aladdin Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Serrano was supposed to box on the Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
-Miguel Ángel González
Miguel Ángel González
Miguel Ángel González Suárez , known as Miguel Ángel, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
Pay Per View event's undercard in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, until an ordinance from 1947 was found, forbidding women from boxing events in Mexico. Thanks in part to Serrano's subsequent legal battle, the ordinance was dropped.
Serrano suffered a foot injury for which she underwent surgery, but in 1999 she came back and won a decision in her comeback bout. She then met and defeated the world champion Tracy Byrd
Tracy Byrd (boxer)
-Background:Byrd comes from a boxing family: her father, Joe Byrd, is a former boxer who currently trains her.Her brother Antoine once lost to Roy Jones Jr. in a bid to win the world's Middleweight title, and her other brother, Chris, is a former heavyweight title holder.Tracy Byrd enjoyed...
to become Mexico's first woman world boxing champion.
She defended her title against Cinthya Prouder (won in a unanimous decision after round 6), Alicia Ashley
Alicia Ashley
Alicia Ashley is a women's boxing participant who is the current WBC female world super bantamweight champion. Ashley is a Jamaican-American. Born in Jamaica, she moved to the United States at a young age....
(won in a unanimous decision after round 8), Gina Greenwald (knockout in round 1) and Kelsey Jeffries (knockout in round 3), followed. The Jeffries fight resulted in Jeffries' first defeat.
On August 12, 2008, Serrano challenged Melissa Del Valle
Melissa Del Valle
Melissa Del Valle is an American multiple champion in the sport of women's boxing, both at the amateur and professional levels....
for the Junior Lightweight title. Once again, this world title attempt resulted in a draw (tie
Tie
Tie may refer to:* Necktie, a long piece of cloth worn around the neck or shoulders* Tie , a finish to a competition with identical results, particularly sports...
).
Serrano has won her last two world title defenses, both decisions, one in ten rounds in Las Vegas and another one, a six round win in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
As of 2005, she is also a lawyer, and is engaged to be married.