Laura Serrano

Born on October 20, 1967, Lauran Serrano is a Mexican boxer who started taking the sport seriously while attending the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, a law school. Although her reason for taking up boxing was to stay in shape, Serrano improved in the sport that she later applied for a boxing license in Mexico. Shortly afterwards she was in her first professional fight facing off with Christy Martin for the world title. The match later resulted in a draw. Her next fight, against Deirdre Gogarty finished more favorably. Serrano won by a knock-out after seven rounds at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

She was also slated to fight at the Julio César Chávez-Miguel Ángel González Pay Per View as an undercard but was prevented from fighting due to an 1947 Ordinance that forbade women to box in events in Mexico. This ordinance was later dropped due to Serrano’s subsequent legal efforts to have the ordinance voided.

After suffering a foot injury Serrano made her comeback in 1999, facing off with Tracy Byrd and emerged as Mexico’s first woman world boxing champion. This was also the year when she made the move to Las Vegas after leg surgery in order to pursue her boxing career. She went on to successfully defend her title from Cinthya Prouder, Alicia Ashley, Gina Greenwald and Kelsey Jeffries. Her next match, against Melissa del Valle for the Junior lightweight title again resulted to a draw.
Serrano became a lawyer in 2005. She announced her retirement from boxing in 2008 after making the announcement that she and her husband were expecting a baby.