The World Boxing Association (WBA) will have a double-header this weekend. Two first-level matches will have WBA titles at stake, in Las Vegas and in Boston.
The WBA middleweight champion Ryota Murata will defend his belt against American Rob Brant at the Park Teather in Las Vegas, Nevada. For the Japanese native, it will be the second defense of his crown that he won on October 22nd in his rematch against Hassan N’Dam. Murata defended successfully in April against Italian Emanuele Blandamura and will now return to Las Vegas for his second defense against Brant.
Murata was a gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics and at 32 years old he is a solid world champion who has won 14 fights and only lost 1, while scoring 11 knockouts. For his part, Brant has already been Champion AMB-NABA and will have his first starting chance. The American has a record of 23 wins, 1 loss and 16 knockouts.
For the other fight, Irish native Katie Taylor will be exhibited once again in the United States. On this occasion the lightweight champion will go against Puerto Rican Cindy Serrano at TD Garden, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Both fighters are already on US soil for their fight, which will be on the billing that the British company Matchroom will organize in the city of Boston. Serrano has already been world champion in lower weight categories and comes from a family of boxing tradition, which is a good challenge to the European. For her part, Taylor will try to retain her crown and continue to grow in the American market.
The champion and winner of the gold medal in the Olympic Games of London in 2012 will make the fourth defense of the belt that she won last year against Argentina’s Anahí Esther Sánchez, whom she defeated on October 28th by unanimous decision. Since then, Jessica McCaskill, Victoria Noelia Bustos and Kimberly Connor have been measured by the champion in three successful title defenses.
Both Taylor and Serrano will carry out pre-combat activities this week, including press conferences, public workouts and of course the weigh-in on Friday. Taylor has a record of 10 wins, 0 losses and 5 knockouts while Serrano has a record of 27 wins, 5 setbacks, 3 draws, and 10 knockouts.
