INTERVIEW: Amanda Serrano Talks Upcoming Katie Taylor Fight, Jake Paul 'MVP' Boxing, Claressa Shields + More

Summary

The Breakfast Club Podcast: Amanda Serrano on Her Upcoming Fight and the Evolution of Women’s Boxing

Release Date: June 10, 2025

In this compelling episode of The Breakfast Club hosted by DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Charlamagne Tha God, special guest Amanda Serrano delves deep into her illustrious boxing career, her upcoming trilogy fight against Katie Taylor, and the transformative role of Jake Paul’s MVP Boxing in elevating women’s boxing.

Introduction to Amanda Serrano

The episode kicks off with DJ Envy warmly welcoming Amanda Serrano, a seven-division world champion, to the Breakfast Club family. Amanda shares her exhilaration from recently being honored at a parade where fans enthusiastically celebrated her achievements ([02:24]).

Quote:
"Everyone knew who I was, screaming my name. It just felt so welcoming and so awesome." – Amanda Serrano ([02:24])

Chasing Legacy and Opening Doors

Amanda discusses her motivations beyond accumulating titles, emphasizing her desire to build a lasting legacy and pave the way for future generations of women in boxing. She proudly states, “I believe I've accomplished that already. I’m the first Puerto Rican to become undisputed female, and first seven division world champion. So now it's just doing other stuff.” ([02:52])

Charlamagne Tha God highlights the rarity of her achievement, comparing her eight-division record to Manny Pacquiao’s, further underscoring her dominance in the sport ([03:08]).

Upcoming Trilogy Fight with Katie Taylor

The heart of the conversation revolves around Amanda’s anticipated third fight against Katie Taylor, scheduled for July 11 at Madison Square Garden, broadcasted on Netflix. Amanda elaborates on her enhanced training regimen, including new coaching staff and a dedicated nutritionist, aiming to secure a definitive win this time.

Quote:
"This fight is going to be no different. We had headlining Madison Square Garden on an all-girl card. And the good thing is that all these girls are coming to fight. So we don't know who is going to be the fight of the night. So all of us are stepping our game up." – Amanda Serrano ([04:15])

Amanda expresses confidence in her previous performances against Taylor, believing she landed more punches and deserves the win on paper. However, she acknowledges the subjectivity of judging in boxing and hopes for a fair outcome.

Quote:
"I need the judges to see that I won this fight. I need this fight on paper. So, yeah, we're working a little differently, smarter. And I believe this, the third time's the charm." – Amanda Serrano ([06:00])

Critique of Boxing Judging and Politics

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the perceived biases and inconsistencies in boxing judging. Amanda voices her frustration with past decisions, suggesting that judges may be influenced by crowd reactions or promoters, thereby compromising the integrity of the sport.

Quote:
"We need better judges. I feel like those two fights, it was like four against one or five against one because it's the judges, Katie and the referee wasn't on my side the last fight as well." – Amanda Serrano ([08:34])

Angela Yee and DJ Envy echo these sentiments, highlighting the systemic issues within boxing that often leave fighters questioning the fairness of match outcomes.

Impact of MVP Boxing and Financial Transformation

Amanda credits Jake Paul and MVP Boxing for revolutionizing her career both financially and in terms of exposure. Previously earning modest sums for title fights, her association with MVP has catapulted her earnings into seven figures, allowing her to focus more on her craft and less on financial constraints.

Quote:
"MVP have changed my life completely. They have changed the sport of female boxing and I am super proud to be part of them." – Amanda Serrano ([13:42])

She contrasts her past earnings, such as $4,000 for certain fights, with her current lucrative deals, underscoring the drastic improvement in compensation for women boxers under MVP’s management.

Advocacy for Equality in Women’s Boxing

Amanda passionately advocates for equal treatment in women’s boxing, specifically pushing for the standardization of 12 three-minute rounds akin to men’s bouts. She argues that longer fights provide a better platform for women to showcase their skills and garner deserved recognition.

Quote:
"We talk about equality in the sport of female boxing, and one way to do it is to fight the same time the men fight. So I believe it's one step." – Amanda Serrano ([15:56])

She views the current 10-two round format as insufficient for demonstrating the full extent of female boxers' abilities, advocating for an increase to 12-three minute rounds to enhance the sport's competitiveness and visibility.

Personal Challenges and Resilience

Throughout the episode, Amanda opens up about the physical and emotional toll of boxing. She recounts enduring painful headbutts in her fights against Katie Taylor and the frustration of seeing these impacts reflected in the judges' decisions.

Quote:
"I have to be constantly eating. My trainer, my sister, everyone's like forcing me, you have to eat. I have to eat because I can't lose weight really, really fast." – Amanda Serrano ([04:40])

She also touches on the emotional strain of losing fights she believes she won and how it fuels her determination to prove herself in the upcoming match.

Future Aspirations and Legacy Building

Looking ahead, Amanda envisions a future where women in boxing receive the recognition and financial rewards they deserve. She aims to stay involved with MVP Boxing even after retirement, focusing on empowering the next generation of female boxers.

Quote:
"That's my goal, that's my love. I love empowering women. I love seeing women grow in the sport." – Amanda Serrano ([27:25])

She emphasizes the importance of role models in inspiring young athletes to pursue boxing, highlighting her commitment to fostering a supportive and progressive environment within the sport.

Closing Remarks and Final Encouragement

As the episode wraps up, Amanda reflects on her journey, expressing gratitude for the support from her Puerto Rican fans and the opportunities provided by MVP Boxing. She encourages young athletes to strive for excellence and surpass her achievements.

Quote:
"I always want to be better than I was yesterday or the fight before. And that's all you have to do." – Amanda Serrano ([35:12])

DJ Envy and the hosts extend their support, urging listeners to back Amanda in her upcoming fight, encapsulating the episode’s theme of resilience, advocacy, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.

Conclusion

This episode of The Breakfast Club offers an in-depth look into Amanda Serrano’s quest for vindication against Katie Taylor, the pivotal role of MVP Boxing in reshaping women’s boxing, and her unwavering commitment to fostering equality and opportunity within the sport. Through candid discussions and heartfelt insights, Amanda inspires both aspiring boxers and fans alike, underscoring the indomitable spirit required to excel in the competitive world of boxing.

Transcript

[Katherine Townsend]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[DJ Envy]

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[Justina Valentine]

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[Charlemagne Tha God]

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[Lex Borrero]

Welcome to the youe versus you podcast. I'm Lex Borrero inviting you to go beyond the titles and the accolades of the world's most successful entertainers. Each week we take off the cape and get real about the inner battles, childhood stories and the moments that shaped our guests. Get inspired to become the best version of you. Listen to youo vs you podcast on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.

[Michelle Williams]

I also want to address the Tonys. On a recent episode of Checking in with Michelle Williams, I open up about feeling snubbed by the Tony Awards. Do I? I was never mad. I was disappointed because I had high hopes to hear this and more on Disappointment and Protecting youg Peace. Listen to Checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katherine Townsend]

Over the years of making my true crime podcast Hell N Gone, I've learned no town is too small for murder. I'm Katherine Townsend. I've heard from hundreds of people across the country with an unsolved murder in their community.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I was calling about the murder of my husband. The murder is still out there.

[Katherine Townsend]

Each week I investigate a new case. If there is a case we should Hear about, call 678-744-6145. Listen to Helen Gone Murderline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Amanda Serrano]

Wake that ass up early in the morning.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

The Breakfast Club.

[DJ Envy]

Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy. Just hilarious. Charlemagne. Tha God we are the Breakfast Club. We got our brother Ock with us this morning.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Hey.

[DJ Envy]

And we got a special guest in the building.

[Amanda Serrano]

The champ is here.

[DJ Envy]

Armando Serrano.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Welcome.

[DJ Envy]

How you feeling?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I'm feeling great. Feeling great. It's a little too early for me, but for you guys, I'll sacrifice.

[DJ Envy]

You was at the parade Yesterday.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yes. Yes. It was amazing. It was. It was. I was there in 2019. I got honored as one of my Guinness Book of world records for 7 Division. And it was like a complete different parade this time. Everyone knew who I was, screaming my name. It just felt so welcoming and so awesome.

[Amanda Serrano]

Yeah. You've won, like, you just said, titles in seven different weight classes. Are you chasing greatness? Are you chasing something? Something deeper?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I'm chasing legacy, and I believe I've accomplished that already. You know, I'm the first Puerto Rican to become undisputed male or female, and first seven division world champion. So now it's just doing other stuff.

[Angela Yee]

Making money.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Making money and opening the doors and continuing to open the doors for women in this sport.

[Angela Yee]

You know, he mentioned seven divisions. People don't realize how difficult that is. The only fighter that has done more is Manny Pacquiao we just talked about has done eight divisions.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

And that's questionable. Hawk, you should know. Yeah, yeah.

[Angela Yee]

But that's what's in the books, right? So what she's done is like. Like, it's insane. Right? But there's another division that you haven't fought in. 147. Right. And I just want to throw that out there because I know that Clarissa is a lot bigger. She's fighting heavyweight 154, 160. But she's a big name in the sport. And for some reason, you girls were cool, but it's like tension. Like you put out a tweet that. I actually respected your tweet, like, because it's kind of like you were fed up of her attacking mvp, your promoter. Is that a pipe dream? If it ever came, if she came down 147, could that fight ever happen?

[DJ Envy]

Well, tell her. What's your natural weight?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

First, I'm the champion. Currently, I'm the featherweight champion, which is £126.

[DJ Envy]

£20. Jesus.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I am fighting for the title at 140 with Katie Taylor. Okay. But respectfully, I respect Clarissa, what she's done in the sport. I respect her as an athlete, her accomplishments. But I came here today to talk about July 11, to talk about me. To talk about the girls that are making history at Madison Square Garden on Netflix.

[Amanda Serrano]

So, yeah, she said something. She said that the Manny Eight is questionable. Why?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Because he won two divisions. Divisions. They were in world titles. They were like regional titles. All my divisions was world titles.

[Amanda Serrano]

Got you.

[DJ Envy]

Now, I need to ask, you know, when. When gaining that much weight, Right. When you're naturally 126 and you have to gain £20, how does that affect you, affect your speed, affect your strength and affect your mental.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

It does, it does affect you. People don't realize it. It's harder for me to go up in weight than to make the lower weight because I walk around 134, 135. So it's easy for me to drop 10 pounds. But when I'm going up, a lot of these girls, they can withhold my power. They can, you know, they can, you know, the power is I still have power at that weight, but it's just a lot easier for them to withhold it. And it's, it's. I have to be constantly eating. My trainer, my sister, everyone's like forcing me, you have to eat. You have to eat.

[DJ Envy]

You gotta eat healthy. It's not like you eat burgers.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

But I'm like, I'm not, I'm not hungry. I just finished this training. I'm not hungry. And they're like, no, you have to eat because I can lose weight really, really fast.

[Amanda Serrano]

I refuse to believe you ate healthy yesterday after the Puerto Rican break. Definitely. Everybody, you know was cooking.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah, honestly, I didn't. Well, I had, so I had a fried fish sandwich. Surprisingly not Puerto Rican food, but it was just, it was crazy. It was crazy.

[Ock]

Well, you're, you're fight. Speaking of July 11, you are fighting Katie Taylor. You already fought her twice right now. What are you doing differently this fight?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah, definitely. I brought in new people for the camp. I have a nutrition coach now, Sydney Miller. She's been helping me, feeding me good food. I have a running coach, his name is Pensa. He's the one who helped Tito Trinidad and all his fights. So that's been a great help for me. I hire another assistant coach that's helping me keep my distance, helping me like my head movement and boxing and stuff like that. But listen, we, me and Katie had 20 great rounds together. We bring great fights, we show the fans that we can fight. And this fight is going to be no different. You know, we had headlining Madison Square Garden on an all girl card. And the good thing is that all these girls are coming to fight. So we don't, we don't know who is going to be the fight of the night. So all of us are stepping our game up. I'm stepping my game up. I need this win on paper. I believe I won both fights, but this one is different because I need the judges to see that, that I won this fight. I need this fight on paper. So, yeah, we're working a little different, smarter. And I believe this, the third time's the charm.

[Angela Yee]

And, you know, the fact that they're fighting a trilogy, even though Katie got both decisions, speaks to, like, how close those fights were and how many people felt you even won both of those fights. What flight you think was close out of the first two?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

The first one, the first one was a good fight. My coach told me after the fight, he said, I think it's 96, 94 is pretty close. So when the first judge said that, he looked at me, he said, you see, I got. We got it. But the, the second one, I think was pretty clear that I won. I landed 107 more punches on Katie Taylor. People say that I get hit a lot. Listen, 107 punches. That's a. Of punches.

[Angela Yee]

And you did it.

[Justina Valentine]

You heard.

[Amanda Serrano]

Was it the sixth round?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

You heard her? I think it was the first one was the fifth. The. The second one was the first and a couple of rounds. Like, I've heard Katie every fight, both fights I've heard her. She's never really hurt me other than the headbutts. But, you know, I respect Katie as a fighter. She's a great fighter, a great champion, and she's going to come to fight. She needs this win to be like, convincingly. She, she needs the, the fans to say, okay, Katie won this fight. And, and listen, I'm a professional, I'm a champion. If Katie was to beat me, like, clearly I would say, hats off to Katie. Katie, you're a great champion, you're a great fighter. You beat me. But I just don't feel it. The fans don't feel it. My, my team doesn't feel it, doesn't see it. So I'm like, God, it's just this one is like this, like the last hurrah.

[DJ Envy]

How do you feel confidence in the judges during that now? Right, because you think you lost, you think you won both of them. You feel like you were cheated. So how do you still have that confidence in the system and the judges? Because you. The punches show.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah, I know that. That's the only thing that I'm, I'm like, ah, we need, we need better judges. And hopefully the team gets that work before I step into that ring. Because I feel like those two fights, it was like four against one or five against one because it's the judges, Katie and, and the referee, the referee wasn't on my side the last fight as well. So I just want a fair fight. I just want me and Katie to fight and the winner, you know, takes it all. I mean, it's just.

[Amanda Serrano]

How do you fix the politics of boxing, though? Because, I mean, you can clearly watch those fights until boxing politics came into play. So how do you fix.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah, and it's not just my fight, you know, it's. You see it every day, every time there's a fight. I mean, that. I don't know. I don't know if the judges are influenced by the crowd or the influence by the promoters or. It's just really hard. I don't know what they're thinking, what they're seeing. I don't know if they need to watch it in a screen, because I watch fights front row, and it's really hard. Yeah, it's so hard to see a good fight. Sometimes the referee gets in the way. I just don't know what they're seeing. I. I've seen fights where the judges have to, like, be moving around to actually see the action. Like, and then if the person's back is against that. That one judge, you don't know what's happening. So I don't know if maybe a screen would be a better. I have no idea.

[Angela Yee]

Are there any better judges? I mean, boxing is the only sport where you can keep messing up at your job and never get fired. Like, judges that judge bad fights always wind up judging more fights, you know, So I. I think the commission and all the states need to. The judges need to be judged sometimes. But I. I want to go back to the second fight. What round was it that you got the cut again? I forget what round.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I think it was the fourth.

[Angela Yee]

Fourth.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

The fourth? Was it?

[Angela Yee]

So. So you fought six rounds with blood in your eye. How do. How. How do you avoid those headbutts, like, going into the third fight? Like, is there a strategy where we know what Katie does? Like, is there something you're gonna do to kind of avoid getting hit with the head again?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah, maintaining our distance, definitely. Because once I heard her, I know she's gonna come in and try to hold me and try to grab me and then use her head. I mean, she's very good at using her head. I mean, not taking anything away from Katie. She's a great champion, and she's very, very strong, skillful fighter. But, you know, I think what I got hurt the most was with the head. And the second head butt was so painful. Like, people don't know. The first one was like, okay, whatever. But the second one, it was a very open wound, and it hit the bone, and I was like, I saw black for a second. I was like, what is going on? That's why I was just so. I was pissed off. I was like, oh, my God. And then there was no help with the referee. The referee wasn't really warning her with the head. But. But listen, this happens in. In the sport of boxing, and it's just on to the next one.

[Amanda Serrano]

How much does the fight.

[Ock]

I'm sorry, you did say third time is a job, and I'm with you, but are you prepared for it to go the other way? Like, what. What would it mean for you to win? Or, I mean, to lose the third time to Katie's hair?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

It would suck. I'm like, thank God. Three times. I mean, but. But I'm not thinking about that. I'm not putting that into the universe. I'm manifesting a win like I always do. But, you know, like I said, if. If she wins the way she's supposed to win, then I'm gonna be like, listen. Okay, she got it. But I'm just hoping that the judges are watching the fight in different, differently.

[Amanda Serrano]

You and Katie had the best fight on that. That card. Cause Jake Paul and Tyson sucked.

[Angela Yee]

Right.

[Amanda Serrano]

But when I think about that fight, I think about how bloody it was. Like, it looked like Mortal Kombat.

[DJ Envy]

It did.

[Amanda Serrano]

How much does a. How much does that take out of you?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Well, it takes a lot out of you. You know, honestly, knowing that you have this cut blessed, that I have a great. A great corner. My cup, man, was amazing. I did not know how big the cut was until I saw it in the monitor. And the monitor you can use. It wasn't that bad. When I went to the back to get stitched up, I was like, oh, my God. I put a. Brought a tear to my eye because I thought about my family back home watching it on Netflix, I was like. Because I know it looks a lot worse on tv, so. But it takes a lot. All that blood. And then it wasn't just that one head, but it just kept happening and her rubbing her head on it. So you definitely can feel it. I believe if I did lose around, it was the round after the cut, because I was just, like, probably still in pain, but that didn't stop me. You saw. You saw the. The heart I had in there. I was like, let's go. Let's keep fighting. And. But it can take a lot out of you.

[Angela Yee]

Yeah. There's been men with smaller cuts that couldn't continue and quit before her. So Jake Paul has signed so many women. Obviously, these are all girls card. He's done a lot for women's boxing. Do you feel like you are kind of the reason? Because you know what he done with your career and how successful you've been. That's why women are saying I want to go there. Look what a man has been able to do.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Listen, Jake Paul and Nakisa Badarian, MVP have changed my life completely. They have changed the sport of female boxing and I am super proud to be part of them. And yes, yes, I believe that these women in the beginning, these a lot of people had a lot of stuff to, yeah. Negative stuff to say about Jake and I took that chance to, to be with Jake Paul because when I met Jake Paul and Akisa they told me where they wanted to go. They asked me how much I was getting paid, what you want to do in the sport and whatever. They made sure the first card that I was co main event at, he, he said I want the whole card to make the most money that they made. So he paid me the most money. I got paid.

[DJ Envy]

Oh wow.

[Angela Yee]

Before that, how much have you, what was your biggest payday before mvp?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Not definitely not seven figures, way less than that. You know, I got paid $4,000 for world title fights. I got paid 4,000. $4,000 for, for tying up with Miguel Cotto becoming a fourth division world champion. Wow, $4,000. So you know the team even asked.

[Amanda Serrano]

For a percentage of that.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I'm not giving nobody exactly sanctioning fees and all that stuff. Damn. Yeah, it's been, it's been a journey. I got paid peanuts like sometimes I got paid nothing just, just to fight, just to stay, to maintain. But yeah, that's the, the difference with Jake Paul and these women. Now that they see that we're making me and Katie making millions or just making noise and my fan base how much it grew being on the Jake Paul there. Now they want to come along and, but, but I guess they had to see what, what was what, what he really wanted to do with female boxing. And he proved it. He proved it with me and now he's proven it come July 11, the first in history at MSG on Netflix. I am super proud to be part of that. And, and like I said before, this is going to be a car you don't want to miss because we have two undisputed championship, three unified champions championships and you just don't know who is going to be the fighter of the night.

[DJ Envy]

Now you recently pushed for 12 three minute rounds of women's boxing. You pushed for that hard. Why so why so much?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Because we. We talk about equality in the sport of female boxing, and one way to do it is. Is to fight the same time the men fight. You know, we fight. So some men complain that, oh, well, they fight less than us. Why you want to get paid just like us? So I believe it's one step. We want equality, so we have to fight for what we believe for what we want. And I. I'm a big Advocate for the 12 3. Katie, she said the rematch, she said. She shook my hand and said that we can. If we fight again, we can do it. And. And she neglect that promise. So, I mean, we were fighting 10 2, but I would prefer the 123 because I believe if I had that extra minute, I can definitely hurt her and finish her. But I think a lot of us women would want that because we have a lot more time to show our skills. I believe that the 10twos is like a sprint for women's boxing, and then the 123 is like a little jog and marathon. We can showcase more of our skills and have more time to. To get these knockouts.

[Angela Yee]

Rumor has a year of reason why Netflix wanted to stay in boxing after the first fight in Texas. Like how entertaining your fight was opposed to the others. I mean, look, you know, Jake, Paul, Mike, they were what they were, right. It was a unique type of fight. But Netflix said, no, we need to see that again. And that's why you fight on Netflix. Is that true? Is there some truth to that?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Well, I mean, the birdie said it. No. Yeah, I mean, that's what I want to do every time. My trainer, Jordan Maldonado, he told me, whenever you have an opportunity, you seize that opportunity. You go out there and you do what, Whatever you have to do to make sure that people tune in, people watch you, people want you. And I knew that fight, I knew the fight with Katie Taylor was going to be a great fight. So I said, no matter what I do, I have to just give him my all that that night. And I did. And look, now I. Netflix believed in me and Katie so much that they gave us our own card with all women. So they believe in us women. And that's something that really touches me and that really gets me excited because now we have these big networks, big stadiums, big people, big sponsors that are giving their money, giving their time to promote and to just give us the spotlight. And I'm excited.

[Amanda Serrano]

I want to ask you, mentally and emotionally, was it harder fighting her the second time or harder to lose to her the second time?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I guess I never thought about that, but I guess losing to her, because when you're a fighter, you're mentally, you. You go in there, you physically prepare yourself, and you mentally prepare yourself. So me, I felt, I felt good physically and mentally. I was like, I be here the first time. This time I'm going there with more confidence. And. And then it didn't go my way. So I was like, gosh. And I knew and I felt that I won that fight. Cause I kept coming forward and I landed more punches, I threw more punches. And for them, for the judges not to see, in my way, it's just like, oh, man, that sucks.

[Angela Yee]

What about the Puerto Rican people? You bought a house in Puerto Rico. You've been living there. When you went back after that fight, what did the Puerto Rican people say about that second fight?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

God, to this day, honestly, if I had a dollar for every person that told me that I won that fight, I wouldn't be fighting anymore. But to this day, people are like, we got this one, God, this one, you know, we need to knock out. And you won, you won, you won. And I'm like, I know. I like, I'm, I'm happy and proud that I gave my fans, I gave for my. My island such happiness and joy that I. I did my job. So I'm like, okay. But I still need. Hey, what up, y' all?

[DJ Envy]

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[Justina Valentine]

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[Lex Borrero]

Welcome to the youe versus you podcast. I'm Lex Borrero and every week we sit down with some of the biggest names in entertainment to talk about the real stuff, the struggles, the doubts, and the breakthroughs that made them who they are. We go deep, exploring childhood trauma, family, overcoming loss, and the moments that shape their journey. These honest conversations are meant to take the cape off our heroes with the hope that their humanity inspires you to become a better you and therefore set you free to live the life of your dreams. Here's a sneak peek.

[DJ Envy]

I'm trained to go compete. I'm trained to be like harder. But sometimes that mentality stops you from stopping and smelling the flowers in your own garden.

[Lex Borrero]

Is it wrong to want more?

[DJ Envy]

We migrated. Our family migrated here. I'm like second generation.

[Lex Borrero]

Listen to you versus you as part of Michael Tuda Podcast Network. Available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Flores]

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[Amanda Serrano]

I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here. And I'll say it seems like the.

[Angela Yee]

Ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves.

[Dan Flores]

So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.

[DJ Envy]

Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katherine Townsend]

Over the past six years of making my true crime podcast Hell and Gone, I've learned one thing. No town is too small for murder. I'm Katherine Townsend. I've received hundreds of messages from people across the country begging for help with unsolved murders.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I was calling about the murder of my husband. It's a cold case.

[Justina Valentine]

I've never found her and it haunts.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Me to this day. The murderer is still out there.

[Katherine Townsend]

Every week on Hell and Gone Murder Line, I dig into a new case, bringing the skills I've learned as a journalist and private investigator to ask the questions no one else is asking.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Police really didn't care to even try. She was still somebody's mother. She was still somebody's daughter. She was still somebody's sister. There's so many questions that we've never gotten any kind of answers for.

[Katherine Townsend]

If you have a case you'd like me to look into, call the Hell and Gone murder line at 678-744-6145. Listen to Hell and Gone Murderline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That win.

[DJ Envy]

How does it feel to fight with, you know, Puerto Rico on your back? Right. Those are some have been the biggest fights. When you have like a whole island, a whole group of people supporting you. I mean we've seen it at the Puerto Rican Day parade, over a million plus people. How does that feel? Because you can't let them down now.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

No, that it's, it's. I mean, with Puerto Ricans, as long as you go out there and you fight and you give it your all, they're super proud of you. But that's one thing. When I see my flag and when I see my people and hear my people cheering for me, that just gives me so much more to go out there. Like yesterday, seeing all those people screaming for me and I'm like, I gotta go to today to the gym and I gotta work my butt off extra hard because I don't want to let them down. And I don't, I don't. If I give it my all, I'm not letting them down. But it's just, it's not me, it's the judges guys. But it just, it just brings me so much more like ah, yeah, like I got, I have to do it for them.

[Amanda Serrano]

Yeah. I don't even know how to at least, at the least say it's a draw.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Right? You know what I mean?

[Amanda Serrano]

Like, just to give her the win. How did those losses shape you? Not just as a fighter, but just as a woman and a competitor?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah, well, we always turn those L's to W's, right? That's what Jake Paul says. It's not losing his learning. So yeah, we definitely go back to the gym and, and, and my team, they've been watching the both fights and they, they see what we need to work on and that's what we've been working on in the gym and just go out there and just like mentally, I mean, I'm, I'm okay. I, I'm still going in there with more confidence knowing that I can hurt her, and I did hurt her and I won't. But it's just being ready. I'm putting in the work. I make sure that I check all my boxes before I go out there. I am running, I'm sparring, I'm training hard, I'm eating right, getting my recovery done. So as long as I do that, I know I'll be okay.

[DJ Envy]

Now you jumped in MMA for a little bit?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

You did pro wrestling for a little bit?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah, I haven't done pro wrestling. I practiced it a little bit.

[DJ Envy]

Practiced a little bit. Is it the challenge or is it the competitive nature or is it the money?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Well, honestly, the MMA jump into MMA was part money because my MMA contract at the time was bigger than my boxing contract. And I was a 6th Division, 7th Division world champion at that time. So that's. I was like, okay, I do it. It's fighting. Let's. Let's try it. I mean, MMA is really, really hard. But yeah, I think it's just the competitiveness in me. Like, I just, I love fighting. I love going out there. I love proving to myself that I can do it. I. I never thought that I would be where I'm at now, being a champion, being a multiple division world champion. I never started boxing to become a world champion. I did it to have something in common with my sister Cindy, who was a former world champion as well. So I'm like, yeah, I'll try it, I'll try it. But look how I changed the sport of boxing. And I think it's just right now it's. I accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish, and now it's just opening those doors for those women, young girls looking at me in the sport and showing them that anything is possible, that you can do this, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There was so many times that I wanted to retire because it was just not worth it. The money in boxing, so much work you have to put in, and I wasn't getting paid anything. So I was like, but thank God Jake Paul came into my life, changed my, my life, my, my career, and now I can change other women's lives.

[Angela Yee]

Top in female boxing, in all the boxing. You talked about contracts, right? To my understanding, you have a lifetime contract with MVP now. Like, Like, I don't, I don't think any woman has ever had any type of contract like that. What does that look like? What does that mean exactly?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Well, that just means once I retire, that I have part of mep, the company, I will be part of the women's side of it. That's my goal, that's my love. I, I love empowering women. I Love seeing women grow in the sport. Listen, I. I always told the girls, if it wasn't for me, I want to see them grow. I want to see them make the money. So if I. If the next generation of the women make $10 million, I'm like, yeah, I'm dead. Cheering like, yes, I hope that. Because we're making a little bit millions now, but we wanted to grow. We want to see the. The. The women's boxing grow. So that's my. That's my thing.

[DJ Envy]

Now you talk about Jake. How did y' all meet? How did y' all meet and decide to start doing business?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Well, I have made. Met Jake. I have four hands on the car when he made his pro debut back in 2020. And we. I knew. Knew of Jake because of my nephews. They were big Jake. Jake Paul fans. So I met him there. And then Jake Paul wanted to empower women and put a woman on his. On his card when he fought in Cleveland. And it was for Showtime at the time. And Steven Espinoza, he said, oh, I have this young lady who fought for me a couple of times, Amanda Serrano. You should look her up, whatever. And then they reached out and they said, do you want to fight on Jake Paul on the car? And I was like, why not? You know, he has different viewers. He has a different audience. So I was like, that would be amazing. And then they talked about the pay. We're gonna pay. I was like, okay, we're gonna get it. Yes, let's do it. And then after that, he saw that I fought a tough Mexican champion. It went the distance, but we had a great fight. And. And they liked the way I fought, they liked the way I act. And they. They spoke to my manager, Jordan, and they said, what you want to do? We're gonna start a company called mvp. Well, you. Would you like to be a part of it? And we said, you know what? At that time, it was like, we're over. We're not getting the respect. We're not getting the pay. I was already a seven division world champion, Unified world champion, and we still wasn't. So when they gave us the call and the opportunity, we said, ah, let's do it.

[DJ Envy]

Is it true they said that when you first met him, you went to reach your hand out and he gave you a fist bump and you was like, this kid? Was that true?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah, it was true. It was true. Cause I was so excited. More for my nephews, because I knew of him. Cause I kept hearing his songs like his Everyday bro. So I Like I, I knew of him. So I, Paul got songs.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, he raps.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

So when I shook his head, he gave me a fist pump. But honestly I, I, I was like, okay, whatever. But there are boxes that, that don't shake people hand because of, of the, the squeeze in the knuckles or some, something that's, you know.

[DJ Envy]

So you thought he was trying to play you at first, right?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

At first, at first. And then after we spoke about that because I told him, I brought it up to him a couple of times and he laughed and, and he said, he, he said that it was, that he had Covid so he didn't want to give it to me. I was like, okay, okay, Jake. But we're cool now. We're cool.

[Ock]

He still could have got Covid though.

[Amanda Serrano]

Do women boxers have to be with MVP to get the, get the best kind of looks and the best kind of money?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I think so. I think we're changing the game and I think MVP wants to continue to empower women and give us this opportunity and give us these paychecks that are unheard of. And I think, I mean, hopefully a lot of these other promoters can take a page out of MEP's book and start paying us women better and paying these women who want to sign. But it's just, it's all women have to come together, continue to fight hard, continue to put on shows and continue to prove that we deserve the paydays, we deserve the spotlight. And I think one day it can change.

[Angela Yee]

Speaking of money and checks, you've obviously made good money in the last few years. Have you gotten to the point where now families coming out of nowhere asking for money, I need help with this, I need help with that because I.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Don'T know, I have a really small, tight knit family. I mean, now with social media, everybody's my cousin that I get a lot like, oh, you're my cousin. I'm like, I don't think so. I never met you before, so you.

[Angela Yee]

Have to say no already. No, no, I can't help you.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Jordan's been in my life. Jordan's also my brother in law, my trainer, manager. He's been in my life for 25 years. And he's like this person said he's your cousin. I was like, jordan, you know, my whole family, that is not my cousin.

[Angela Yee]

Oh, man.

[Amanda Serrano]

Listen, when it comes to people like, well, when it comes to just mentally preparing for a fight, when you hear somebody like a Clarissa Shield say she thinks you're going to lose, you know, against Katie for the third Fighter. Does that bother you mentally?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Listen, I go in there, I fight with everything I have. I go out there, I train, I, I give myself, my team gives me all the tools that I need to go out there and perform to my best ability to and to win. It's not, I, I feel like I'm not. I didn't lose those fights is what the judges saw. But, you know, it doesn't bother me. It fuse me to go out there and just prove people wrong, prove that I am the winner.

[Amanda Serrano]

Did you cry after the last fight? And if you did, was it from pain, pride, or just frustration?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I cried more from looking at the cut. It was a pretty big cut. And I, I don't. I cry. I cry sometimes. Even when I win, it is because of happiness. But I'm cry, baby. That's one thing for sure. But yeah, no, no, I cry. Yeah, it's definitely. I was frustrated because I'm like, I did everything that I could, but obviously there's room for improvement and that's what we're working on and that's why we're gonna change for the third fight.

[Angela Yee]

But you won, right? Seven divisions. This is obviously a big money fight, a big profile fight. But if you do get the victory, finally with Katie, what's the next challenge? You know, I know people talking about Alicia Baumgartner. She's with MVP now. She's around your weight class. What's the next big challenge for a man?

[DJ Envy]

You know, what the world wants.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

No, honestly, right now I'm just concentrating. I'm fully concentrating on Katie Taylor. That's, that's the one thing that's on my mind. My goal just to go out there and finally get this win. That's a big enough challenge for me right now. This moment, this second, this whole couple of weeks leading up to the fight and then after that, who knows? Who knows what the world holds for me? The team knows. And I mean, they will go back and we'll figure it out.

[Angela Yee]

What about your team? Like Nakisa and Jake, like, they have to plan ahead as a company, right? I know you gotta focus on Katie, but what is the team saying about what's next?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I don't know.

[DJ Envy]

Cause you're already fighting at 140.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

So they just look at. I was thinking about becoming the undisputed champion at 140 come July 11 and continue continuing to help and grow women in the sport of boxing. That's definitely the goal.

[Angela Yee]

Would that be division?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

No, no, no.

[Angela Yee]

You won at 140.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I won at 140. And then I went down and won at 115.

[Angela Yee]

This is crazy nuts.

[Ock]

She said, one fight at a time, y' all, right now.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

And this is the biggest one, a big fight. But I'm. I'm excited just to be on this card, just. Just to have all these women give them the spotlight so they can showcase their skills and. And who knows? I mean, I've been in a professional for 16 years. 16 long years. It had ups, downs, good times, bad times. Right now, the last four years have been. Have been fun, have been beneficial, have been super, super different than what I'm used to coming up into the sport. So I'm enjoying every second, every minute of it, and I can't wait to see the future of women's boxing.

[Amanda Serrano]

When you. When you retire, what do you want little Puerto Rican girls to say when they. When they mention.

[Angela Yee]

Not just.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Only part of little Puerto Rican girls. I need a little girl who. Or boy who. Who believes in themselves and want to do something. Just. You have to go out there and give it your all, you know, I. Greatness require sacrifice. I sacrificed my whole life to. To the sport, and I'm gonna continue to work for them and. And just believe in yourself. Surround yourself with positive people. Go out there and give it your all. That's all I can ask. And I always tell the. The young girls, they say, oh, I want to be like you. And I tell them, don't be like me. Be better than me. And that's what I want to push them for, just always to be better than. Than me. And that's what I do. I always want to be better than I was yesterday or the fight before. And that's all you have to do.

[Ock]

You gonna have Bad Bunny or Jocelyn Hernandez whack you out? Which one they. The two Puerto Rican stars.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Bad Bunny has a concert the same. His first concert in Puerto Rico is the night of the fight.

[Amanda Serrano]

So that means.

[Ock]

What about Jocelyn Hernandez? You know, she coming.

[Angela Yee]

Jocelyn drop some bars.

[Ock]

You know, she had a float.

[DJ Envy]

She had a float in the Puerto Rican decoration.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I bet she did.

[Angela Yee]

That's my girl.

[Ock]

That's a Puerto Rican princess right there.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

So. All right.

[Ock]

Yeah, I'm gonna see if she can walk you down.

[Angela Yee]

Katie Taylor. Chapter close after this third fight is.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That I think win or lose, I think so. You know, honestly, I said that after the second, after the first, I was like, I am so tired of. I love Katie. Katie's my best friend. But I'm like, how can you love and hate someone at the same Time. Yeah.

[Angela Yee]

Because that last press conference, I'd never seen y' all go at it the way you did. She threw shots saying, you're delusional. And you. You came. You came with the helmet. Was the football helmet to the press conference incinerated? And I don't want to get hit with. So this. It's not as friendly as it was before.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

That was just something that was just. It was good.

[Angela Yee]

It was a good idea.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

But then the day after, we had to do, like, promo and photo shoot, and we were just laughing and talking on, like, regular. But, yeah, I think she's kind of probably tired of me.

[Angela Yee]

What if you beat her and she says, I won two, you won one. Let's do it again.

[Ock]

Damn.

[Angela Yee]

Money jokes.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Money talks. But, like, honestly, I'm like. I told myself, I said, God, but. Because it's been like, I'll talk to both our names since she returned pro, and we wasn't even in the same weight class at the same. Well, I was. I'm never at her same weight class, but I'm like, who is Katie? But Katie Taylor's brought eyes to the professional box boxing world, which. Which is good, but it's been like that for years. I was like, oh, my God.

[Angela Yee]

I'm kind of done with that.

[Amanda Serrano]

Well, we all know what the ultimate payday is. I don't know what that weight would be between you and Clarissa, but that would be the ultimate payday and the ultimate match in women's boxing.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Listen, it can be. But I'm just. Like I said, I'm here promoting July 11th, and it's just.

[Angela Yee]

But would you go to 147? That. Forget about. About. Would you.

[DJ Envy]

You're almost there.

[Angela Yee]

Fight.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

No, that's not. That's not true. I'm can't. I can barely make 140. And the spiders at 140. Yeah, that's good for eating. Good eating and training hard. But, yeah, I'm not. I'm not a natural 140, a natural 135. I'm a natural 126. I walk around at 134. So, like I said, going up in weight, it's really hard for me. It's a lot harder for me than losing weight. And people look at me like I'm crazy. Like, oh, my God. Losing weight is hard. No, gaining weight for me is lean.

[Angela Yee]

You got fast metabolism.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

When I'm constantly working hard and training hard, I sweat so much and I lose, lose. I lose weight so fast. So I'm like, no, like, but you.

[Angela Yee]

Can'T make 147 if you had to.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

No, I know I can't. Oh, I won't. The heavier you go, the. The more you lose.

[Amanda Serrano]

More.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah. And my power is still there. But like I said, these 20 million.

[Angela Yee]

You won't go up to 147.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

No. Okay.

[Angela Yee]

All right, all right.

[DJ Envy]

For 20 million, I go up to 147.

[Amanda Serrano]

You could whip his ass. How does it feel when you walk in the gym sometime and know you better than 99 of the men?

[Charlemagne Tha God]

It boosts your confidence. You walk around. Like sometimes I walk around the street and I'm like, only if they knew.

[DJ Envy]

We wish you the best of luck. You're fighting Madison Square Garden, July 11th.

[Ock]

Absolutely.

[DJ Envy]

All my Puerto Ricans. But equals. Go buy your tickets, get out there and support. Yes. I'm saying right now because I was on the float last year.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Thank you.

[Ock]

Thank you.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Yeah, we're making hit all women's card great fights. Honestly, me and Katie had two great fights, but I don't know, we up for some good competition this fight.

[DJ Envy]

Absolutely. Well, thank you for joining us, Amanda Serrano.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

Thank you.

[DJ Envy]

It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.

[Amanda Serrano]

Wake that ass up early in the morning.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

The Breakfast Club.

[Justina Valentine]

Does friendly have a taste? If it does, it's probably like hello's peppermint flavored anti plaque and whitening toothpaste. Brush away plaque, show tartar who's boss and remove surface stains to naturally whiten. Hello's thoughtful and flavor forward products make brushing your teeth feel like a confetti filled bathroom dance party. So say hello to hello with the always cruelty free never tested on animals toothpaste that's made to spread smiles. Visit helloproducts.com and let hello add some everyday yay into your life.

[Lex Borrero]

Welcome to the youe versus you podcast. I'm Lex Borrero inviting you to go beyond the titles and the accolades of the world's most successful entertainers. Each week we take off the cape and get real about the inner battles, childhood stories and the moments that shaped our guests. Get inspired to become the best version of you. Listen to youo vs you podcast on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michelle Williams]

I also wanna address the Tonys. On a recent episode of Checking in with Michelle Williams, I open up about feeling snubbed by the Tony Awards. Do I? I was never mad. I was disappointed because I had high hopes to hear this and more on disappointment and Protecting youg Peace. Listen to Checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katherine Townsend]

Over the years of making my true crime podcast Hell and Gone, I've learned no town is too small for murder. I'm Katherine Townsend. I've heard from hundreds of people across the country with an unsolved murder in their community.

[Charlemagne Tha God]

I was calling about the murder of my husband. The murder is still out there.

[Katherine Townsend]

Each week I investigate a new case. If there is a case we should Hear about, call 678-744-6145. Listen to Helen Gone Murderline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I Heart podcast.