On Friday, each fighter will try to knock out her opponent well before the full distance, so the fight may not go the full 12 rounds, Smith said. But in boxing, often what really matters is how well two people can put on a show.
Heather Hardy, a former featherweight champion, said the longer format would allow Serrano to showcase her technical work and strategy.
“So many eyes are always on her fights,” said Hardy, who lost to Serrano in August. “She has the target audience, the talent and the athleticism to do it.”
In all three of the combat sports that Hardy competes in — kickboxing, mixed martial arts and boxing — she said she had never been hit by anyone as hard as Serrano hit her.
“I wouldn’t want to be in there for three minutes with Amanda,” she said.