What was supposed to be a Puerto Rico homecoming for Amanda Serrano on Saturday night ended in heartbreak.
Serrano's main event against Nina Meinke suffered a last-minute cancellation due to a doctor refusing to give Serrano medical clearance because of an exposed cornea.
"Amanda Serrano has unfortunately been declared medically unfit by the Puerto Rican Boxing Commission to fight tonight due to an eye injury she sustained yesterday," an official statement from Most Valuable Promotions said.
An emotional Serrano, crying behind sunglasses, addressed her adoring hometown fans in the ring inside the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in Suan Juan, Puerto Rico, and live on DAZN.
"The doctor didn't clear me because I had something wrong with my eye," Serrano told DAZN. "The doctor didn't clear me to fight and I wanted to fight in front of my people."
Jake Paul, who was victorious in a first-round TKO over Ryan Bourland during the co-main event, stood beside Serrano and tried to explain the situation with more details to the disappointed crowd.
"I know there's people booing, but Amanda came to fight, put in a hard camp and the doctors wouldn't let her move forward because of her eye," he said. "Her cornea was exposed and she was failing some eye tests. She did everything to make it happen and this happened super, super last minute."
Paul added: "You can't risk losing your eyesight forever just for a fight. I know she's a warrior, this is one of the best women in the world ... you guys should applaud her."
During the post-event press conference, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian explained that Serrano got her hair done Thursday night and while running Friday that a chemical went into her eye. Though she came to the arena Saturday night with the full intentions of fighting, Serrano was ultimately declared unfit to box.
DAZN announced a full refund to fans in attendance at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in Suan Juan. MVP also announced that it will be paying Meinke's full fight purse.
In what was slated to be her 50th pro fight, Serrano was set to defend her unified featherweight world championship against Meinke in 12 three-minute rounds — something that the Puerto Rican fighter has advocated for women's boxing over the years. (Women traditionally box 10 two-minute rounds).
Paul vowed that Serrano will heal up and that his Most Valuable Promotions would reschedule the fight.
"I am so sorry," a dejected Serrano tacked on. "I came to fight. I came to put on a show for all of you guys."
She added that she could barely see out of her injured eye but didn't step out of the ring before stating: "I will be back and this is where I will retire."