Serenity Mateo Ram At The Fights interview on her 119-pound fight

In the Serenity Mateo Ram At The Fights interview on MILLIONS, the amateur boxer explained why her planned 125-pound bout at Orlando Boxing Center became a 119-pound fight. Mateo also discussed her unanimous-decision win over an opponent from Puerto Rico, her upcoming National Championships trip and the coach who gave her the nickname Knock Knock.

Why did Serenity Mateo's Orlando Boxing Center fight move to 119 pounds?

Serenity Mateo's planned opponent at 125 pounds moved to the open division, which meant Mateo could not fight her because she is not an open-division boxer. A fight was arranged at 119 pounds instead. Mateo said she was already on weight, had completed a good camp and felt more than ready to compete.

The change did not mean entering an unfamiliar weight class. Mateo said she had fought at 119 pounds at the Golden Globes in April. Asked about making weight for the upcoming bout, she said she was already there, with no problem to solve in the final days.

She knew little about her new opponent beyond being told the boxer had one fight. Mateo said she had not spent time studying her, preferring to rely on the preparation she and her team had already done. Her plan was to enter the ring and perform as she normally does.

What did Serenity Mateo say about Queens of the Rings and her next tournaments?

Serenity Mateo said her most recent fight was a unanimous-decision win at a Queens of the Rings card against a tough opponent from Puerto Rico. She planned to follow the Orlando tournament with the National Championships in Lafayette, then finish her tournament schedule for the year at Silver Gloves.

The Queens of the Rings decision

Mateo described the Queens of the Rings bout as a win over a difficult opponent. She gave the result as a unanimous decision but did not offer a round-by-round account. The fight was her latest competition before the Orlando event, part of an active stretch that she intended to continue through the end of the year.

National Championships and Silver Gloves

After Orlando, Mateo identified the National Championships in Lafayette as her next tournament. Silver Gloves would come after that and, she said, would be her last tournament of the year. Those plans meant continuing to manage her weight and training while other people were approaching the holidays.

Thanksgiving, in particular, would be a challenge, Mateo acknowledged. She treated the restrictions around food as part of staying ready for the competitions ahead rather than as a reason to change her schedule.

How did Serenity Mateo get the nickname Knock Knock from Christian Rivera?

Serenity Mateo said her former coach Christian Rivera gave her the nickname Knock Knock. Rivera, whom she described as a professional fighter, had considered using it as one of his own boxing nicknames. When he chose another name instead, he passed Knock Knock to Mateo, and she kept it.

Mateo said she and Rivera were close when he coached her. She did not tie the nickname to a particular punch, result or moment in the ring; her explanation was that it had originally been Rivera's idea for himself.

That history makes the name a reminder of a coaching relationship as well as part of how Mateo presents herself as a fighter. She said it stuck after Rivera gave it to her, and she continues to use it.

How did Serenity Mateo start boxing, and who supported her?

Serenity Mateo said she was nervous when she first entered a boxing gym because she was the only girl there. She eventually grew close to the boys she trained with, while her mother and father supported her and helped her stay disciplined. For her first two years, all her sparring partners were boys.

Being the only girl at the gym

At first, Mateo told her mother she did not want to train because no other girls were there. As she became more comfortable, the boys in the gym became like older brothers to her. She said she was grateful that starting boxing brought those relationships into her life.

Family roots and support

Mateo credited both parents with having her back and keeping her on track. Asked about her family background, she said her father is Dominican and her mother is Crucian, from the Virgin Islands. She added that much of her mother's family is from that side.

Two years of sparring with boys

Training with boys also shaped how Mateo views her preparation. She described those early sessions as tough love: some partners were initially reluctant to hit her, but loosened up after she hit them. Mateo said that experience makes sparring with girls feel easier by comparison.

What did Serenity Mateo say about the Orlando tournament format?

Serenity Mateo said the Orlando event was a two-day tournament, with fights on Saturday and Sunday. She had only one other boxer in her bracket and expected to fight on Sunday for the championship. Mateo said fighters weighed in on the day they competed, and the championship prize was a jacket.

The OBC team's fighters

Mateo expected the OBC team to bring a substantial group of boxers, estimating around 10 fighters. She hoped they would all return with wins, but said that, even if they did not, she wanted them to put on good fights. Her own bracket was smaller: with one opponent, she did not expect to need an additional bout to reach the championship fight.

Sunday's fight and the weigh-in

Her expectation was to compete on Sunday, though she framed that timing as likely rather than certain. Mateo also said she would weigh in on the day she fought. Asked about the tournament award, she identified a jacket rather than a belt or trophy.

Which boxers does Serenity Mateo follow, and what did she promise fans?

Serenity Mateo named Alycia Baumgardner as her favorite female boxer and Gervonta Davis as her favorite male boxer. For her own upcoming fight, she promised her best performance rather than a specific result. Mateo said fans should expect a good fight when she stepped into the ring.

Alycia Baumgardner and Gervonta Davis

Mateo gave Baumgardner and Davis as her picks when asked which boxers she followed. The conversation turned briefly to Baumgardner's competitiveness and ability to promote a fight; Mateo agreed that she was competitive. She did not claim that her own style matched either fighter's.

Mateo's approach to fight night

When asked what fans could expect from her, Mateo focused on effort and execution. She said she would do what she could and treat the bout as game time, without predicting a stoppage or naming a particular way she intended to win. Mateo put her approach simply:

I go in there and I perform my best every single time.

Who is Serenity Mateo?

Serenity Mateo is an amateur flyweight boxer, a two-time Star Champ and a one-time Sugar Bert and World of Havoc champion. She is nationally ranked fourth at 110 pounds.