Amanda Serrano will get the opportunity to become the undisputed world featherweight champion on February 4 against Mexican Erika Cruz.
The Puerto Rican will return to the scene of her defeat to Katie Taylor last year, with the pair clashing at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Victory for Serrano is expected to see her go on to face Taylor in a highly anticipated rematch at Croke Park later this year, which would be seen as one of the biggest ever sporting events to take place in Ireland.
READ MORE: Katie Taylor preparing to make more history in 2023 after one of the biggest years of her career
Serrano faces off against Cruz in her hometown after a convincing win over Sarah Mahfoud in Manchester to add the Dane’s IBF title to her WBO and WBC belts at 126lbs.
The missing piece of the jigsaw is the WBA crown that belongs to Cruz. The Mexican became WBA champion in April 2021, ending the long reign of Canadian Jelena Mrdjenovich in West Point, New York.
Cruz defended the title in Mexico in November 2021 and then met Mrdjenovich in a rematch in September in Mexico and won via shutout on points. The 32-year-old, nicknamed ‘Dinamita’ will pose a big threat to Serrano’s hopes of becoming undisputed and put a spanner in the works of the Taylor rematch.
"This is a pivotal moment, not just for me and my own career but for my home island of Puerto Rico," said Serrano. Earning the opportunity to be an undisputed lineal champion is something most fighters only dream about but becoming the first boxer from Puerto Rico to be an undisputed champion would make it even more special.
"I look forward to entering the ring on Saturday, February 4th in my hometown of NYC back at Madison Square Garden, taking on a Mexican champion in Erika Cruz and making Puerto Rican history. I encourage all my fans to turn up and tune in!"
Meanwhile, Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna confirmed recently that early summer time slots have been made available at GAA Headquarters for the potential rematch between the Bray Bomber and Serrano.
He explained to RTÉ Radio's All Roads to Croker: "We're quite a way along the road in the talking with Brian Peters [Taylor's manager] and Matchroom [her promoter].
"It could be early summer - that's the time.
"What we do is we say that we have these dates available, and this is how it would work from our perspective.
"That job has been done. And now we need to make sure Matchroom, and Brian Peters can make all the other things come together."
Last November, Taylor's promoter Eddie Hearn told of how his company Matchroom required a helping hand from both Croke Park and the Irish government in order to make the Croker bout a reality.
And McKenna said he believed the Irish government remained supportive of the long-awaited event.
"The Minister for Sport has been supportive but he's not, nor should he, write a blank cheque," he continued.
"He'll want to see value in this.
"Any messaging I would have said to Matchroom, or Brian Peters would be to put a compelling case together and I think you are pushing an open door."
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