Manzur’s pressure keeps Serrano level with Christy Martin on 32 knockouts and sharpens the tactical demands of her last appearance.
Amanda Serrano’s pursuit of knockout No. 33 will extend into what she says will be the final fight of her career after Lucrecia Manzur forced her through 12 rounds in Temecula. Serrano retained her WBA, WBO and Ring featherweight titles by majority decision, but the stoppage she wanted never came.
That gives Serrano’s last appearance a specific target beyond another championship defense.
She remains tied with Christy Martin on 32 professional knockouts and made clear afterward that breaking that mark still appeals to her.
“We still got that 33rd knockout. I got one more fight. If I don’t get it, I’m glad that I tied with Christy Martin.”
Manzur showed why Serrano cannot simply chase the finish.
The 27-year-old contender pushed forward, closed the distance and forced Serrano to work under pressure. Her best spell came in the fourth, when she attacked with Serrano against the ropes and refused to give the champion an easy route back toward center ring.
Serrano relied on body shots and counters to slow that pressure. She found cleaner punches as the fight developed, but Manzur’s willingness to keep coming prevented Serrano from turning those openings into a stoppage.
The scorecards reflected the resistance. One judge scored the fight 114-114, while the other two gave Serrano 116-112 margins.
Afterward, Serrano gave Manzur credit rather than dressing up a difficult night’s work.
“I knew she was tough. She’s young. She’s 27. She’s 10 years younger than me. These girls are getting younger, stronger. Thank God I’m almost out of the game.”
Serrano has already declared that only one fight remains, and at 37 she understands the physical equation has changed while younger challengers continue coming through.
Her 50th professional victory supplied another landmark, although Serrano kept her assessment short.
“I got the 50th win. That’s a milestone on its own.”
Serrano’s final fight should start with the jab, body work and clean counters rather than a reckless hunt for knockout No. 33. Manzur showed that forcing the finish can take Serrano away from the distance and punch selection that create her best openings.