Amanda Serrano vacates WBC belt over 12-round fight stance،
Featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano relinquished her WBC title after the organization refused to allow her to compete under the same rules as men's boxing, with 12 three-minute rounds.
Women's championship fights generally last no more than 10 rounds, with each round lasting two minutes.
Serrano, 35, who has unified the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO and Ring Magazine titles, was among the female boxers who launched a campaign in October for the choice to compete under the same rules as men.
Serrano, of Puerto Rico, defeated Danila Ramos by unanimous decision later that month, which was the first time a women's title fight was fought over 12 three-minute rounds.
While other governing bodies recognized the fight as a title defense for Serrano, the WBC did not sanction the fight.
“The WBC refused to move the sport toward equality, so I am relinquishing the title,” Serrano said on Instagram.
“If a sanctioning body is not willing to give me and my fellow fighters the choice to fight the same way as men, then I will not fight 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, 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 champion to fight in 12 x 3 minute rounds.”
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman earlier said he would not allow 12 three-minute rounds in women's fights.
“In tennis, women play in three sets. In basketball, the basket is shorter and the ball is smaller and these are not contact sports. We take care of the safety and well-being of the fighters,” Sulaiman said on X in September.
Serrano and Ramos were able to compete under the new rules without damage or incident, Serrano wrote on X.
“This is something I have wanted for years and finally, now that I have this position, I will continue my career under this rule,” she said.
