On April 3, 1980, WBA the super featherweight world champion, Puerto Rican Samuel Serrano entered the ring in Nara, Japan, to defend his belt a year after being away from action.

Serrano faced Japanese host Kiyoshi Kazama and sent him to the canvas in round 13, to retain his title that lost four months later by KO with Yasutsune Uehara to end his four year reign.

Serrano regained his belt on April 9, 1981, when Serrano traveled to Japan to get even Uehara, whom he defeated by unanimous decision.

In 1996, he officially announced his retirement, with a record 50-5-1, 17 KO´s.