Amanda Serrano, the only boxer from Puerto Rico to become an undisputed champion and the only female boxer to have won titles in seven divisions, has relinquished her WBC Featherweight Championship. The decision comes in protest against the WBC’s refusal to allow women to fight 12 three-minute rounds, a standard in men’s boxing.
In a statement released on Instagram, Serrano declared that she would not fight for any sanctioning body that did not provide her and her fellow fighters with the same opportunities as their male counterparts. “The WBC has refused to evolve the sport for equality,” She said. “So I am relinquishing their title.”
Serrano’s stand is a significant moment in boxing history, and while it is extremely rare, she is not alone in challenging the practices of sanctioning bodies. Previously, Errol Spence Jr. raised questions about the percentage of his purse taken by sanctioning bodies. “We give three percent to these organizations,” Spence said. “Where’s it going to?”
In another notable incident, Riddick Bowe threw his WBC belt in the trash after the WBC threatened to strip him of the belt because he couldn’t come to a monetary agreement with his mandatory challenger Lennox Lewis.
Serrano’s action highlights the ongoing struggle for equality in boxing, a sport that has seen its fair share of controversy over the years. Despite the setback, Serrano remains undeterred and continues to break barriers in the sport. As she stated, “If you want to face me in the ring, you have a choice. I’ve made mine.”
Previously, Serrano attempted to make her super fight with Katie Taylor three-minute rounds, but Taylor declined. Since, Serrano has fought Danila Ramos in the first unified women’s title fight to feature three-minute rounds.
Full Statement
Moving forward, it remains to be seen how this will impact the WBC and other sanctioning bodies. For now, Serrano’s stand sends a clear message to the boxing world: equality is non-negotiable.
