Amanda Serrano ‘Sacrificed’ WBC Title To Take A Stand For Women’s Boxing

“I’ve done pretty much everything I needed to do in the sport of women’s boxing,” Serrano said. “Seven-division world champion. The undisputed champion. Now it’s time to open up the door for the women coming into the sport and helping the future of women’s boxing. I believe if you believe in something really a lot you have to take that stance.

“I believe that women should have a choice in fighting three, two [-minute rounds], or 12, 10 [rounds in a contest], whatever they feel like. “The WBC wasn’t aligned with that. So I said, ‘you know what, I have other organizations that are supporting me’.

“I hope so, I took my stance,” Serrano added when asked if she feels other female boxers will follow her lead. “I believe in it and I hope other women believe that we do have a choice. And if they believe in it they will do the same thing.”

In April 2022, Serrano was involved in the biggest fight in women’s boxing history when she took on Irish star Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Their thrilling lightweight bout, which Taylor won by a narrow split decision, saw both women earn $1 million purses for the first time and set new viewership records for a professional female boxing bout.

A rematch to take place in Dublin, Ireland was announced in February last year, only for Serrano to withdraw after sustaining an injury in training. Serrano insists she still wants the fight, and having initially urged for the rematch to be contested over three-minute rounds, is happy to fight Taylor over two-minute rounds.

“For Katie, if she doesn’t want to do the three minutes, I will accept it and do the two,” she said, “because I think this time I will get the knockout!”

Before the prospect of that tantalizing rematch, Serrano has a homecoming fight against Nina Meinke to focus on first. While there will be no WBC title on the line, the Puerto Rican still has her IBF, WBO, WBA, and IBO titles to defend. In a unique move, challenger Meinke has win and knockout bonuses included in her contract, which will give her added incentive to push forward and attack the champion.

“She’s going to come to try to knock me out. It’s going to be a good night for female boxing,” Serrano said. “We have to make it exciting and I love fights like that. People don’t understand. I can box. I can do it if I want to. But I don’t want to. I like going in there and having some bloody matches. It’s fun for me.

“I love giving the fans their money’s worth. I love to go out there and fight, I don’t mind getting hit in the face, I don’t mind getting punched. I’ll take two of yours to give you three of mine. I’m always going to have exciting fights.”