(NOV 7) Women’s boxing has reached a
crossroads. The recent wave of champions vacating their WBC titles has reignited
the debate over three-minute rounds and whether equality means fighting under
the same conditions as men.
Amanda Serrano, Chantelle Cameron, and Alycia Baumgardner have all stepped away
from WBC belts to protest the organisation’s refusal to sanction three-minute
rounds. What started as a talking point has now become a real fault line in the
sport, forcing world champions to make tough choices about their futures.
Serrano Out to Show It Works
Serrano’s next outing against Erika Cruz Hernandez in San Juan on January 4 will
give her the chance to prove that the longer format can work. The bout has been
cleared by other sanctioning bodies for three-minute rounds, the same setup
Serrano has been pushing for over the past year.
The Puerto Rican is a heavy favourite to win, priced at 1/18 in the latest
sports betting
markets, while Cruz Hernandez is out at 17/2.
Analysts on Paddy Power’s
sports betting blog
have highlighted Serrano’s
superior stamina and body work in past bouts, factors that could prove even more
important over the longer rounds when she meets Cruz Hernandez.
.
Two months away! January 3rd it’s Battle time.
Going back to my Natural Weight 126 lbs. Fighting 3 Minute rounds
I’m feeling super strong - November 3, 2025
But the result itself may matter less than what it
represents. This fight will be a test of how the women’s game might evolve if
the format were to change permanently.
The Promise and the Risks
Supporters of the move say those extra 60 seconds can change everything. They
argue it allows more time to set traps, trade inside, and test endurance. Many
believe it could lead to more stoppages and give fans a clearer picture of each
fighter’s ability. Others suggest that it could also influence training methods,
with fighters adjusting their conditioning and tactics to the longer format in
ways that deepen the sport’s overall competitiveness and appeal.
That is the view shared by
Most Valuable Promotions, the company run by Jake
Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, which has built its women’s cards around the idea that
equality should extend to the rules themselves. Their January event in Puerto
Rico will feature two women’s title fights contested under the same conditions
as men’s bouts.
The WBC, however, remains firmly unmoved. Citing research from Pink Concussions,
it argues that female athletes are more prone to concussion and experience
longer recovery times than men. WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán insists the
policy “is not about equality or discrimination, but about protecting athletes."
A Sport Searching for Balance
That safety-first stance divides opinion. Fighters
like Cameron say that without
the choice to compete under equal conditions, women’s boxing can never claim to
stand on the same footing. Yet critics fear that expanding rounds without
improved pay or stronger medical safeguards would risk more harm than progress.
..
Ultimately, this is about more than minutes. It is about how the sport defines
equality, whether through identical rules or tailored ones that recognise
biological difference. Serrano’s next fight will not settle that argument, and
real change might still be some time away, but it could show whether
three-minute rounds can bring women’s boxing closer to the parity its champions
have fought so hard to earn.
