Amanda Serrano has signed a new promotional deal with the PFL to fight in MMA but her boxing legacy has today taken another gigantic leap.
For too long, women’s boxing has been seen as a completely different sport than the men’s. There are many reasons for this. The depth of the women’s divisions doesn’t carry as much talent as the men’s. The ladies at the top of the food chain though, are absolute stars.
When we talk about the top of the food chain, we talk about the legends of the women’s game. Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano and Seniesa Estrada. We are also talking about the likes of Alycia Baumgardner, Jessica McCaskill, Mikaela Mayer. The we have our own, Chantelle Cameron, Savannah Marshall and Natasha Jonas.
These women in particular are skilful enough. Marketable enough. They are deserving of higher paydays. The reason they are underpaid? They don’t fight as many rounds as the men. Secondly, they only fight for 2 minute rounds. That is the argument that you will hear from promotors across the world. 2 minute rounds is simply what we are used to seeing for the women.
Amanda Serrano: A Time for Change
Serrano released a statement on her ‘X’ account @Serranosisters. “This is one to show the world that anything a man can do, a woman can too. This one is to show we (are) equal. This one is for boxing. Championship Boxing. Orlando Florida I can’t wait to make history with you. Live on DAZN for the world to see.”
The statement was supported by the fight poster for the event which had the word ‘Women’s’ (with a red ‘x’ through it) Championship Boxing. It also announced that the fight would take place for Amanda Serrano’s unified featherweight championship over 12 x 3 minute rounds. Finally.
Both Serrano and her opponent Danila Ramos both deserve all the credit in the world for taking the appropriate steps to take the women’s game to the next level. So does Jake Paul and MVP promotions. They promote Serrano and are therefore responsible for this fight taking place.
Boxing…
A segment that needs only one word to title it… Boxing…
The news that Amanda Serrano would be fighting Danila Ramos over 12 x 3 minute rounds didn’t even get to gather much momentum. It was immediately shutdown by the WBC President, Mauricio Sulaiman. Sulaiman stated that the WBC title would not be on the line for this fight as the organisation would not sanction the bout. When why they had come to this decision, the WBC President said “Tennis – women play 3 sets. Basketball, the basket is shorter and the ball smaller. Those are not contact sports. We stand by safety and well-being of the fighters”. Per the WBC Presidents social media post on ‘X’.
If you follow boxing regularly, you won’t even be slightly surprised at this response. The WBC have been known in the past to make the rules up as they go along. This is the same man, talking about safety, who sanctioned Oscar Valdez to fight despite him failing a drug test for a banned substance. The same man who gave Conor Benn an excuse for his failed drugs test. He told Benn that the reson he failed the test is because they had studied his diet and that Benn had eaten too many eggs. I mean, come on. This man makes things up as he goes along but now he wants to take the moral high ground and state that he won’t allow three minute rounds for women on the grounds of safety.
MMA! Boxing… Take Note
The sport of MMA has grown significantly and as time moves on, it continues to become a bigger sport on the global scale. Now when we talk about MMA, there are different organisations but most would concede that the UFC is at the top of the tree. There are three reasons why the sport has come along so much.
One… Their is only one world champion per weight division.
Two… The best fight the best.
Three… Women are treated equally and fight the same number of rounds as the men.
MMA is, what boxing, should be. The men fight 3 x 5 minute rounds in non-title fights, as do the women. The men fight 5 x 5 minute rounds in title fights or main events, as do the women. Women also headline cards and PPV events. Women in mixed martial arts aren’t really seen as women, they are seen as athletes, fighters, competing against others to see who the best of the best is. That is why MMA has seen stars such as Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes, Valentina Shevchenko and so many others rise to the very top of the game.
Yet boxing continues to drag itself through the mud and create a divide between the men and women. Something which is old fashioned, outdated and in dire need of a change.
Has Amanda Serrano Set a Trend?
Serrano has drawn the headlines but many other women have claimed that they would be willing to step up to three minute rounds. In the past, Claressa Shields and Natasha Jonas have spoken that they would be willing to do so but want to be paid for the extra time, which is fair.
Today, the undisputed super-lightweight queen Chantelle Cameron has taken to ‘X’ to suggest that her upcoming rematch with Katie Taylor should also be a three minute round fight. On her ‘X’ account, Cameron wrote, “Throwing it out there after seeing that announcement Serrano V Ramos fighting 12 x 3 minute rounds. I say me V KT should follow that and fight 3 minute rounds for the rematch. Spice it up a little”.
Hopefully, more of the top names from the women’s game will jump at this opportunity too. It is time for the women to compete over the same time frame as the men because two minute rounds are simply holding the sport back.
The time for change, is now.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
