New Haven, Connecticut (January 2018) – Helen Joseph is tired of the way WBO World Female Super Bantamweight title holder Amanda Serrano is cherry picking opponents, and wants her to stop playing games and fight a real contender.
Joseph 15-3-1 (10 KO’s), known as the “Iron Lady,” has the credentials to be a worthy opponent for Serrano. Joseph is the current WBF Intercontinental female Bantamweight title holder, and she has been ranked as high as #4 in some female Super Bantamweight polls.
Joseph, originally from Nigeria, moved to the United States seven months ago to fulfill her dream of becoming a world champion. Her first visit to the U.S. was in 2015 when she came to El Paso, TX to fight Jennifer Hahn for the vacant IBF World Female Featherweight title. Joseph lost by decision, but she impressed many observers because she moved up from her natural weight of 118 pounds to challenge for the 126-pound title. Joseph did some real damage to the larger Hahn and even knocked her down in the fight, but in the end, Hahn was awarded the decision. Joseph was not bitter about the results because as Joseph is quick to say, “Champions fight. They don’t run away from challenges. They get into the ring to see who is the best. You find out who the real champion is.” Since the loss, Joseph has won three consecutive fights. She returned to the U.S. to fight in November, and she won by smashing success forcing her opponent to retire in her corner.
In November, Serrano’s team allegedly offered Joseph a contract to fight, but Joseph had some VISA issues which derailed a possible fight. Joseph was able to correct the issue, but team Serrano has not followed up with or approached Joseph or her team to schedule a fight.
To Joseph, boxing is her life. Joseph moved to the U.S. to make her dreams become a reality, she lives an hour and a half drive away from New York, so her frustration with Serrano is understandable: “Serrano and her team don’t have to go all over the world cherry picking opponents because I am right here. They don’t have to spend much to get me to fight her. Amanda is #1, and I respect that, but have some respect for the sport and have some respect for all of the women fighting. Fight real challenges and stop importing pretenders like Edina Kiss over and over again,” says Joseph.
For now, Serrano is scheduled to fight January 20, 2018 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, but she does not have a named opponent. Joseph is willing to sign today to fight her next week (Jan 20), and Joseph wants the world to know – “Amanda Serrano needs to stop playing games. Helen Joseph is right here waiting for her!”
