Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano: Challenger suggests 12 three-minute rounds

Challenger Amanda Serrano needs her upcoming bout towards Katie Taylor to happen over 12 rounds of three minutes, however undisputed light-weight champion Taylor says the combat is “already iconic as it’s”.

“That is about equality and we should always make the change proper now. Katie, are you up for it?”, Puerto Rico’s Serrano stated. “Let’s do it like the boys.”

As the 2 fighters met at Monday’s media convention in London, Taylor replied: “I do not assume it’s going to make an enormous distinction to the occasion, it is already iconic as it’s”.

In males’s boxing, world-title fights are fought over 12 rounds of three minutes, whereas ladies’s title fights presently happen over 10 rounds of two minutes.

Serrano, 33, referenced current feedback made by 90-year-old Prime Rank promoter Bob Arum wherein the American stated followers “do not take note of ladies’s boxing”.

Arum – who was extensively criticised for his feedback – is selling a males’s super-featherweight world-title conflict between Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson on the identical evening as Taylor-Serrano.

“If we need to get folks to note us and never get these promoters to speak badly about ladies, I feel we have to take a stand,” Serrano stated.

Taylor replied: “I feel we’re making a stand the best way we’re combating one another within the first place. The most effective combating the most effective.

“This combat is definitely much more vital than we realise. Not solely are we breaking the ceiling with feminine purses, however we’re truly altering perceptions.”

‘It is the combat I all the time needed’ – Taylor

Taylor – who turned skilled in 2016 – turned undisputed champion by beating Delfine Persoon narrowly on factors at MSG in 2019, earlier than defeating the Belgian in a rematch in England the next 12 months.

She was because of face Serrano in Could 2020 however the combat known as off due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“That is the combat I’ve all the time needed,” Taylor stated. “Ever since I turned professional, I had my eyes mounted on two opponents. One was Persoon and the opposite was Serrano.”

She added: “I am clearly anticipating and getting ready for the hardest combat of my profession. I will not be discovered brief on coronary heart or grit; I do know my thoughts can take me to locations the place I’ve no proper to go.”

Serrano – who turned skilled in 2009 and has recorded 42 wins, with one loss and one draw – was joined on stage by promoter Jake Paul, the YouTube star who has additionally gained 5 fights since venturing into the game.

Paul, carrying a baseball cap etched with the phrases ‘make boxing nice once more’, stated: “Amanda is an superior individual, one of many best fighters – male of feminine – ever.”

‘One of many largest fights in boxing’ – Hearn

Taylor’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, says the combat has achieved the second largest pre-sale of all time for boxing occasions on the iconic Madison Sq. Backyard.

“It sounds just like the type of factor I might make up,” Matchroom Boxing’s Hearn instructed BBC Sport. “However you may examine with the Backyard, it is true.”

The 20,000 capability venue has hosted a number of the largest names in boxing historical past, together with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and, extra just lately, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Anthony Joshua.

“All of us knew this was large and ground-breaking however you all the time take a little bit of a punt whenever you go into the large enviornment on the Backyard however we’ll fill it up,” Hearn added.

“Sure it is the largest combat in ladies’s boxing, but it surely’s additionally one of many largest fights in boxing.”