Featherweight champion Amanda Serrano took a bold step on Wednesday, relinquishing her WBC title after the organization declined her plea to compete in bouts under the same ruleset as men’s boxing, featuring 12 three-minute rounds.

Traditionally, women’s championship fights adhere to a structure of no more than 10 rounds, each lasting two minutes. Serrano, having unified multiple titles across various governing bodies, was among the trailblazers who advocated for the choice to compete under identical rules as men. Witness the world boxing champions in action with attractive betting odds from Nextbet. 

In a groundbreaking fight against Danila Ramos in October, Serrano secured a unanimous decision victory, marking the first-ever women’s title bout fought over 12 three-minute rounds. While several sanctioning bodies recognized this event as a title defense for the 35-year-old, the WBC refrained from endorsing the fight.

Expressing her stance on Instagram, Serrano announced, “The WBC has refused to evolve the sport for equality. So I am relinquishing their title.” She reiterated her commitment to equality in the sport, stating, “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.”

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman had previously defended the organization’s stance, asserting their reluctance to sanction 12 three-minute rounds in women’s bouts. Sulaiman justified this by comparing it to other sports, stating, “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.”

Despite this, Serrano highlighted the successful implementation of the new rules in her fight with Ramos, emphasizing, “Both Serrano and Ramos were able to compete under the new rules without damage or incident.”

Expressing her long-standing desire for this change, Serrano concluded, “It’s something I’ve wanted for years, and finally now that I’m in the position, I will continue my career under that rule.” Her decision stands as a testament to the ongoing battle for equality and parity in the world of boxing. Get the latest updates from the world of boxing only on Nextbet Sports.