There was Charlotte and Sasha Banks headlining a WWE pay-per-view last year. There was Ronda Rousey becoming one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts and now boxing will get its chance to showcase its top female talent for the whole nation to see.
The evolution of women?s combat sports will take its next step on January 14 at the Barclays Center. Amanda Serrano, the WBO female super bantamweight champion, and challenger Yazmin Rivas, the WBC international female super bantamweight champion, will compete on the undercard of the James DeGale vs. Badou Jack fight card. That fight, for Serrano?s title, will be televised on Showtime.
That feat is significant for the simple fact that it is the first women?s boxing match to be televised on national television in about a decade. Serrano spoke to Fightful.com and said this fight is just the next step in women?s sports becoming more prominent in mainstream media.
?I?m excited and happy to be here,? Serrano said. ?This is a great opportunity for women?s boxing and I want people to tune in to see us and to show them that we?re here and my opponent is a great boxer, but I?m a little bit better. My hands are stronger and after Saturday, I?ll still be the champ. I think this fight is big for women?s sports. But this is just a step, the first step, and I think after this fight is done, there will be full blown attention for women?s boxing.?
This fight isn?t just being billed as a top fight for women?s boxing, but the next chapter in the legendary rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico in the sport of boxing with Serrano representing Puerto Rico and Rivas being on the side of Mexico.
Serrano's game plan against Rivas? End the fight as quick as possible.
"Oh no, I don't want to this fight to go to the cards," Serrano said. "I don't like that. I'm going to go in and try to get the knockout."
Fightful will have complete coverage of this fight, as well as the rest of the card, live from the Barclays Center.