Women boxers call for 12-round option for championship bouts - ESPN

More than two dozen female fighters joined together in a statement Tuesday calling for the option to fight 12 rounds and three-minute rounds if they choose to do so for championship fights.

The statement comes weeks before Amanda Serrano and Danila Ramos fight on Oct. 27 for Serrano's IBF, WBO and WBA featherweight championships in 12 three-minute rounds, the first time a unified title will be fought by women at those specifications.

The majority of women's title fights are currently contested in 10 two-minute rounds.

Beyond Serrano and Ramos, many of the top names in the sport — past and present — supported the statement, including undisputed junior welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron, WBA and WBC strawweight champion Seniesa Estrada, IBF welterweight champion Natasha Jonas, Mikaela Mayer, Franchon Crews-Dezurn, Holly Holm, Heather Hardy, Christy Martin, Ann Wolfe, Shadasia Green, Laila Ali and Ramla Ali.

«As women, we have had to fight inch by inch to earn the same equity and respect freely awarded to men. In our sport, we have made progress, but there is still far to go,» the statement read. «For too long, we have been underpromoted and undercompensated. This has finally started to change as all of us have proven that women's boxing captures the attention of sports fans and creates moments the world will never forget — and we create these moments despite how rarely we are afforded the same time and opportunity to showcase our skill as our male counterparts.

»That is why today, we stand together with the desire and dedication to have the CHOICE to perform on the same stage, with the same rules, as men in professional boxing. We have earned the CHOICE of 3 minute rounds, with 12 rounds for championship fights to