Overview
- The World Boxing Council said women’s championship bouts will remain capped at two-minute rounds and a maximum of ten rounds.
- The decision is grounded in an independent study cited by the WBC from PINK Concussions indicating greater concussion susceptibility and longer recovery in female athletes.
- President Mauricio Sulaimán defended the policy as a biology-based safeguard and rejected pressure campaigns that promote three-minute rounds as entertainment.
- Top fighters including Alycia Baumgardner, Chantelle Cameron and Amanda Serrano have relinquished WBC belts in protest, demanding the same three-minute, 12-round format used in men’s bouts.
- Most Valuable Promotions is pressing ahead with women’s title fights scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds on a Jan. 3 Puerto Rico card, while the WBC says it would revisit its rules only if new, credible research supports a change.