Samuel Serrano


Samuel Serrano is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer who competed from 1969 to 1984 and made a two-fight comeback from 1996 to 1997. He was a two-time super featherweight world champion, having held the WBA title twice between 1976 and 1983.
According to Serrano during a 2017 interview with El Nuevo Dia newspaper, he learned to box starting at age 5 when he lived at Palmarejos barrio in Corozal.

Professional boxing career

Serrano, owner of long arms, began his career on October 29, 1969 with a four-round decision win over Ramon Laureano. He built a fan base in Puerto Rico, campaigning there for his first 23 bouts, including winning and losing the Puerto Rican Featherweight title v.s Francisco Villegas. For his 24th bout, he traveled to Panama City, where he met future world Featherweight champion Ernesto Marcel, who beat him on points in 10 rounds. That would be his last defeat in a long time.
He then continued his winning ways, including a 10-round decision win over tough veteran Cocoa Perez and one win over former title challenger Diego Alcala, also by decision in 10. Serrano then travelled in 1976 to Honolulu, Hawaii, to meet reigning Lineal and WBA world jr. Lightweight champion, the Filipino Ben Villaflor. By most writer's accounts, Serrano beat Villaflor, but he had to return home only with a 15-round draw.
The WBA ordered an immediate rematch, and so on October 16 of the same year, Villaflor went to San Juan to defend his title for the second time vs. Serrano. Serrano beat Villaflor by using his ring technique to win 12 of the 15 rounds on each judges' scorecards. As life had it, Samuel Serrano was destined to become a world champion in front of his fans.
Serrano became a traveling champion, defending his title in places like Venezuela, Ecuador, South Africa, Japan and, of course, Puerto Rico. One of his defenses, against Julio Diablito Valdez, resulted in an after-fight brawl when Serrano was announced as winner by a unanimous decision and went to greet his rival but was received with a punch to the face. Serrano retaliated, and police intervention was needed. Both fighters were escorted to their dressing rooms by the police. But disaster struck for Serrano in Detroit on August 2 of 1980, when, after leading on all scorecards, he was struck by a Yasutsune Uehara right hand to the chin in round six, and lost his title by knockout to the Japanese. After that loss, he set his eyes on recovering his world title from the Japanese world champion, and so on April 9, 1981, they met again, this time in Wakayama, Japan. Serrano was more cautious this time, and didn't try to go for the knockout after building a points lead. Even though Uehara was fighting in his homeland, all judges agreed and gave Serrano more rounds than they gave Uehara, and Serrano the world title back by a fifteen-round unanimous decision.
Serrano made two defenses and then went to Chile to give challenger Benedicto Villablanca a chance at the title on June 3, 1982. It proved to be a highly controversial fight. After 5 rounds, Serrano was ahead on the scorecards. However, a cut appeared over his eye during the 6th, and the referee ruled it to be from a punch. Serrano kept fighting, but during the 11th round, the cut was so deep, the fight had to be stopped by the doctor and Serrano had to be taken to a Santiago hospital. Since the referee ruled the cut came from a punch, initially the fight and the world title were given to Villablanca.
Serrano and his corner filed a complaint, however, claiming the cut had been caused by a headbutt instead, and upon review at the WBA's Panama City offices, WBA officials announced they had effectively seen the headbutt that Serrano claimed opened his cut happen. So the WBA decided the cut had come from a headbutt, and the judges' scorecards were reviewed. They had Serrano ahead on points after 10 rounds, so the fight, and the crown, were given back to Serrano by a technical decision.
In his next defense he met the younger and physically stronger Roger Mayweather. Serrano and Mayweather gave it a good fight for most of 7 rounds, but Serrano was weakened by a barrage of punches towards the end of the 7th, and downed with a right hand in the 8th, this time, losing the title definitively.

Retirement

Serrano retired from the ring for one year and came back in 1984, winning by first round knockout. Then, he retired again.
In 1996, Serrano won the Puerto Rican Lightweight title vs Sammy Mejias on a 12-round decision in 1996 and won a 10-round decision vs Anthony Ivory in 1997. Serrano retired after the Ivory fight with a final record of 50 wins, 5 defeats and 17 knockouts.
He made a television commercial for Budweiser in Puerto Rico in 1982.
As of 2017, Serrano was living in a beach house at Islote, ciudad de Arecibo. He dedicated himself to fixing beachfront apartments and renting them, as well as to creating mosaic art, some of which he sold.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
56Win50–5–1 Anthony IvoryPTS10Nov 6, 1997 Dorado, Puerto Rico
55Win49–5–1 Sammy MejiasUD10Jul 14, 1996 Bayamon, Puerto Rico
54Win48–5–1 Candido SantamariaKO1 May 26, 1984 Mets Pavillion, Guaynabo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
53Loss47–5–1 Roger MayweatherTKO8 Jan 19, 1983 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto RicoLost WBA super featherweight title
52Win47–4–1 Benedicto VillablancaTD11 Jul 5, 1982 Teatro Caupolican, Santiago, ChileRetained WBA super featherweight title
51Win46–4–1 Hikaru TomonariTKO12 Dec 10, 1981 Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained WBA super featherweight title
50Win45–4–1 Leonel HernandezUD15July 29, 1981 El Poliedro, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBA super featherweight title
49Win44–4–1 Yasutsune UeharaUD15Apr 9, 1981 Prefectural Gymnasium, Wakayama, JapanWon WBA super featherweight title
48Win43–4–1 Jesus DelgadoKO2 Sep 20, 1980 San Juan, Puerto Rico
47Loss42–4–1 Yasutsune UeharaKO6 Aug 2, 1980 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.Lost WBA super featherweight title
46Win42–3–1 Battlehawk KazamaTKO13 Apr 3, 1980 Central Gymnasium, Nara, JapanRetained WBA super featherweight title
45Win41–3–1 Nkosana MgxajiTKO8 Dec 9, 1979 Goodwood Showgrounds, Cape Town, South AfricaRetained WBA super featherweight title
44Win40–3–1 Julio ValdezUD15Feb 18, 1979 San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained WBA super featherweight title
43Win39–3–1 Takao MarukiUD15Nov 29, 1978 Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya, JapanRetained WBA super featherweight title
42Win38–3–1 Young Ho OhRTD9 Jul 8, 1978 San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained WBA super featherweight title
41Won37–3–1 Mario MartínezUD15Feb 18, 1978 San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained WBA super featherweight title
40Win36–3–1 Tae-Ho KimTKO10 Nov 19, 1977 San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained WBA super featherweight title
39Win35–3–1 Apollo YoshioUD15Aug 27, 1977 San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained WBA super featherweight title
38Win34–3–1 Leonel HernandezUD15Jul 26, 1977 Gimnasio Luis Ramos, Puerto La Cruz, VenezuelaRetained WBA super featherweight title
37Win33–3–1 Alberto HerreraKO11 Jan 15, 1977 Plaza de Toros, Guayaquil, EcuadorRetained WBA super featherweight title
36Win32–3–1 Ben VillaflorUD15Oct 16, 1976 San Juan, Puerto RicoWon WBA super featherweight title
35Win31–3–1 Adrian VillanuevaKO2 Sep 10, 1976 Bayamon, Puerto Rico
34Win30–3–1 Mar BasaTKO9 May 8, 1976 Bayamon, Puerto Rico
33Draw29–3–1 Ben VillaflorSD15Apr 13, 1976 Blaisdell Center Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.For WBA super featherweight title
32Win29–3 Maneul RodriguezTKO6 Dec 13, 1975 San Juan, Puerto Rico
31Win28–3 Diego AlcalaPTS10Oct 11, 1975 San Juan, Puerto Rico
30Win27–3 Ahmet TosciKO2 Sep 1, 1975 San Juan, Puerto Rico
29Win26–3 Victor EchegarayPTS10Jul 28, 1975 San Juan, Puerto Rico
28Win25–3 Jose PenaPTS10Apr 12, 1975 San Juan, Puerto Rico
27Win24–3 Memo CruzPTS10Nov 15, 1974 San Juan, Puerto Rico
26Win23–3 Ezequiel Cocoa SanchezPTS10Jul 29, 1974 San Juan, Puerto Rico
25Win22–3 Gustavo BricenoKO10 Jul 15, 1974 San Juan, Puerto RicoWon Puerto Rican featherweight title
24Win21–3 Lorenzo TrujilloPTS10Apr 15, 1974 San Juan, Puerto Rico
23Loss20–3 Ernesto MarcelSD10Dec 5, 1973 Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
22Win20–2 Jose Issac MartinPTS10Jul 21, 1973 San Juan, Puerto Rico
21Win19–2 Freddie MajorKO1 Jun 10, 1973 San Juan, Puerto Rico
20Win18–2 Terry RondeauKO2 Apr 14, 1973 Carolina, Puerto Rico
19Win17–2 John HowardPTS10Mar 24, 1973 Carolina, Puerto Rico
18Win16–2 Nestor RojasPTS10Feb 16, 1973 San Juan, Puerto Rico
17Win15–2 Angel RiveraPTS12Dec 9, 1972 Ponce, Puerto Rico
16Loss14–2 Francisco VillegasPTS12Apr 8, 1972 San Juan, Puerto RicoLost Puerto Rican featherweight title
15Win14–1 Angel RiveraPTS10Dec 4, 1971 Ponce, Puerto Rico
14Win13–1 Francisco VillegasPTS12Oct 25, 1971 San Juan, Puerto RicoWon Puerto Rican featherweight title
13Win12–1 Braulio RodriguezPTS10July 3, 1971 San Juan, Puerto Rico
12Win11–1 Gustavo BricenoPTS10May 15, 1971 Ponce, Puerto Rico
11Win10–1 Wilson YamboPTS10Feb 4, 1971 Ponce, Puerto Rico
10Win9–1 Modesto ConcepcionPTS8Oct 31, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
9Win8–1 Ramon DominguezPTS6Jun 6, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
8Win7–1 Modesto ConcepcionPTS6May 9, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
7Win6–1 Robert GuerreroPTS6Apr 11, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
6Win5–1 Ramon MontesPTS6Mar 14, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
5Win4–1 Modesto EscaleraPTS6Feb 14, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
4Win3–1Sammy Correa3 Jan 17, 1970 San Juan, Puerto Rico
3Loss2–1 Enrique RoquePTS4Dec 12, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico
2Win2–0Radames PizzarroPTS4Nov 13, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico
1Win1–0Ramon Laureano3 Nov 1, 1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico