Amanda Serrano’s journey to put her name next to best ever

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico and BROOKLYN, New York — Amanda Serrano and Jake Paul walked through the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel and Casino and out the double doors. By now, the boxing champion and YouTube sensation, who have worked together for the past eight months, have spent enough time together they understand one another.

And here, on this 100-mile-long, 35-mile-wide tropical island, their unlikely bond has another connection. Puerto Rico is Serrano’s birthplace and Paul’s adopted home. They both feel close to this place, and on this day, the fighter wants to show her promoter something important.

They walk across the plaza to Distrito T-Mobile, one of the main gathering areas in San Juan, attempting to reach a wall that’s part of the exterior of Arena Medalla, a sports bar in the complex.

It might not seem like a big deal, but the first time Serrano saw it, she was stunned. “Amanda Serrano” was there, written in black against a yellow background, between baseball stars Bernie Williams, Pudge Rodriguez and Jorge Posada. Not far away, the names of Puerto Rican boxing stars Miguel Cotto and Tito Trinidad were in large, block lettering.

Eager as she was to reach the mural, this short journey included its own set of challenges. Being trailed by a camera crew and Paul’s small entourage, the duo was stopped by security at the entrance. The second they’re halted, the swarm of fans arrives. Cellphones pop up as the crowd tries to engage the pair and take a few pictures.

This is commonplace for Paul, the former Disney Channel star-turned-YouTube superstar who has millions of followers on Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Serrano doesn’t have the same celebrity but she’s approached, too, including by one security guard who mouthed her name and slyly took a photo.

They finally arrive and Serrano shows Paul the small piece of the mural that means so much to her on the island…