Amanda Serrano has put her title where her mouth is.
The seven-division belt holder has given up her WBC 126-pound title because the sanctioning body refuses to allow women to fight under men’s rules – 12 three-minute rounds.
Women are generally limited to 10 two-minute rounds, which WBC officials say protects them.
Serrano in October defeated Daniela Ramos by a shutout decision in defense of three of her four titles in a 12-round fight. The WBC belt was not on the line.
She made a statement on Instagram to explain her position:
“The WBC has refused to evolve the sport for equality. So I am relinquishing their title. Moving forward if a sanctioning body doesn’t want to give me and my fellow fighters the choice to fight the same as the men, then I will not be fighting for that sanctioning body.”
“I am the only boxer, male or female, from Puerto Rico to become undisputed champion. I am the only female boxer to have won titles in seven divisions,” Serrano said.
“I am the first female boxer, along with Katie [Taylor] to headline Madison Square Garden. I am the first female boxer to make seven figures from a fight and the same from sponsors.
“And I am the first undisputed female champion to fight 12×3 minute rounds.”
Serrano, who plans to do MMA after signing with the PFL earlier this year, later told ESPN that she will fight only under men’s rules in championship fights going forward.
“After an amazing fight (against Danila Ramos), we proved to the world how incredible women’s boxing is and that we are just as capable as any man in the ring, and we deserve the choice to be treated equally,” Serrano said.
“I’ve made my choice, one that I’ve worked many years to earn, and my choice is to continue to only fight 12 three-minute rounds for the rest of my career. Once you break down barriers, you don’t go backwards.
“Women can do whatever we put our minds to, and I hope everyone can respect the progress we’ve made and my choice to continue to compete under the same rules as my male counterparts for their championship bouts.”
Serrano in October was among a group of female boxers that called for the right to fight for 12 rounds in championship fights.
However, the WBC has not budged in terms of its policy. The sanctioning body’s president, Mauricio Sulaiman, recently stated on X: “Tennis, women play three sets. Basketball, the basket is shorter and the ball smaller and those are not contact sports. We stand by safety and well-being of the fighters.”
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