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Undisputed female featherweight champion Amanda Serrano has made a bold decision to vacate her WBC title due to the WBC's refusal to sanction 12 three-minute rounds, a format that is standard in male professional boxing. This move has sparked a significant debate about gender equality and the treatment of female boxers in the sport.
Amanda Serrano has now vacated her WBC featherweight world title (but remains WBA, IBF & WBO world champion) because they won’t sanction 12×3-minute rounds for women’s boxing: “If a sanctioning body doesn’t want to give me and my fellow fighters the choice to fight the same as…
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) December 5, 2023
Serrano, who had unified the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO, and Ring Magazine titles, expressed her frustration with the WBC's decision in a statement, saying, “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.” She also emphasized that if a sanctioning body doesn't want to give her and her fellow fighters the choice to fight under the same rules as men, she will not be fighting for that sanctioning body in the future.
The crux of the issue lies in the disparity between the rules governing men's and women's boxing. While men's championship fights are typically scheduled for 12 three-minute rounds, women's championship fights are usually limited to 10 two-minute rounds. Serrano's recent bout against Danila Ramos, which was fought across 12 three-minute rounds, marked the first time a women's title fight had been scheduled in this format. The WBC, however, did not sanction the fight, while other sanctioning bodies recognized it as a title defense for Serrano.
The WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman, had previously defended the organization's position, stating that it would not sanction 12 three-minute rounds in women's bouts due to concerns about the safety and well-being of the fighters. He compared this decision to the rules in other sports, saying, “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.”
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman answers why the WBC title will NOT be on the line in the Amanda Serrano vs Danila Ramos fight. The fight will be the first women's fight with 12 rds at 3 mins each. His answer: It's for the safety of the women 🤷🏽♂️#Boxing #MMA #Women pic.twitter.com/JzBnK5gBqk
— Abe (@AbeMorales209) September 6, 2023
Serrano's decision to vacate her WBC title has reignited the ongoing conversation about gender equality in boxing and the treatment of female fighters. It has also brought to the forefront the need for a more inclusive and progressive approach to the sport, one that allows female boxers to compete under the same conditions as their male counterparts.
In a sport where athletes often have to fight not only their opponents but also the limitations and biases of the governing bodies, Serrano's bold stance is a powerful statement for equality and fairness in boxing. As the first female boxer to have won titles in 7 divisions and the first undisputed female champion to fight 12 three-minute rounds, Serrano's legacy extends far beyond her accomplishments in the ring. She is a trailblazer and a symbol of resilience for female athletes in boxing and beyond.
The debate sparked by Serrano's decision is likely to continue, with many in the boxing community calling for a reevaluation of the rules governing women's boxing. As the sport evolves, it is essential that the voices of female boxers are heard, and that they are given the opportunity to compete on equal terms. Only then can boxing truly claim to be a sport that values and promotes equality for all its athletes.
