Puerto Rican boxer Amanda Serrano, 35, has chosen to surrender her WBC world title following a disagreement with the governing body over the sanctioning of 12 three-minute rounds in women’s boxing.
Serrano, the undisputed featherweight champion since her victory over Erika Cruz last February, recently defended her title against Danila Ramos in October.
The historic bout, contested over 12 three-minute rounds, marked the first such women’s world title fight since 2007. However, the WBC’s refusal to adopt the same format as men’s professional boxing has led to Serrano vacating the title.
Serrano wrote on Instagram: “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.
“The WBC has refused to evolve the sport for equality. So I am relinquishing their title.
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“Thank you to the sanctioning bodies who have evolved for equality!
“If you want to face me in the ring, you have a choice. I’ve made mine.”
Men’s title fights typically comprise 12 three-minute rounds, whereas women’s bouts traditionally involve 10 two-minute rounds. The decision by the WBC to maintain this distinction has prompted Amanda Serrano, a two-weight undisputed world champion, to relinquish her featherweight title.
Katie Taylor, another two-weight undisputed world champion, has previously raised concerns about the feasibility of transitioning to the men’s format, questioning the “strength in depth” in women’s boxing to support such a change.
The Irish fighter said in November: “I don’t know if women’s boxing has the strength and depth to have three-minute rounds really.
“For me, I really don’t care whether it’s a two or three-minute round. I spar three-minute rounds all the time. There’s pros and cons to both really.”