The scheduled rematch between Amanda Serrano and Erika Cruz has been cancelled following an atypical finding in Cruz’s Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test.

Instead, the unified featherweight champion Serrano (47-4-1, 31 KOs) is set to square off in her homecoming against Reina Tellez (13-0-1, 5 KOs) on January 3 at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico on DAZN, Most Valuable Promotions announced on Thursday.

The bout will be contested over 10, three-minute rounds for Serrano’s WBA and WBO 126-pound titles.

Serrano, a pioneering force in women’s boxing and a champion across seven weight classes, has previously taken part in fights with three-minute rounds on two occasions and lobbied for those same conditions during her trilogy against Katie Taylor, only to see the proposal rejected.

Following three hard-fought decision losses against Taylor in 2022, 2024 and July of this year, the 37-year-old Serrano now turns the page toward Tellez on less than three weeks’ notice.

“I’m disappointed the original fight couldn’t move forward, but my priority has always been respect for the sport,” said Serrano. “Reina Tellez is a tough opponent who’s earned this opportunity, and I am up for the challenge. Fighting at home in Puerto Rico, defending my world titles, and continuing to push women’s boxing forward under equal rules means everything to me.”

Cruz’s loss is the gain of the still-green Tellez.

Tellez, a 22-year-old American and longtime fighter for Team USA, can now catapult her career with the surprise opportunity as a late replacement. But Tellez will have to find a way to bridge the tremendous gap in experience against a future Hall of Fame fighter.

Tellez turned pro in 2021 and fought to a draw in her debut. She has reeled off 13 straight wins ever since. Tellez, who has never fought in a scheduled 10-rounder, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Mayela Perez in an eight-round bout in September.

“This is the moment I’ve been fighting for my whole life,” said Tellez. “To step into the ring with a champion like Amanda Serrano, someone I’ve looked up to, is an honor, but I’m not here just to share the spotlight. I’m here to win. I represent San Antonio, I represent every fighter chasing a dream, and I’m coming with everything I’ve got. On fight night, the world’s going to see just how hungry I am to make history.”