Social media sensation and undefeated boxer Jake Paul is making progress in his effort to have women's boxing fights move to three minute rounds.
The YouTuber-turned-fighter is 5-0 as a professional, and is now dipping his toe in the water as a promoter alongside Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing for next month's Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano fight.
And both he and Serrano, who make up the fighter base for his 'Most Valuable Promotions', have pushed to have the April 30 bout moved to a 12, three-minute round fight, as is customary for men's title bouts.
The legendary fighters will compete over 10 rounds of two minutes, which is standard for women's fights, but Paul and Serrano are keen to move forward with the introduction of new round lengths.
"Great meeting with Mauricio Sulaiman [the president of the World Boxing Council]," Paul tweeted yesterday. "WBC has some exciting things planned for Taylor vs Serrano.
"We also discussed a path forward on getting women's boxing to equal rounds and minutes to men. More to come…"
And Sulaiman appears receptive to what Paul was proposing during the meeting, telling the 24-year-old that he supports him in his efforts to improve the women's sport.
The WBC are one of the four major governing bodies in boxing, and will have their belt on the line as one of the titles in the undisputed lightweight title fight between Serrano and Taylor.
"The WBC and myself has great respect for you and will be supportive of your efforts my good friend," Sulaiman told Paul in response to his tweet. "Let’s get to work."
Both Paul and Serrano very publicly made their interests in three-minute rounds for the Taylor fight known at a press conference in London last month.
But Hearn and Taylor had already agreed to a contract that stipulated 10 rounds of two minutes, and weren't keen to change the rules at the last minute.
Would you like to see women's boxing matches move to 12 rounds of three minutes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
“The struggle has been real," Serrano said at the second leg of their media tour. "I’m super excited and happy that I get to see a little light at the end of the tunnel with this fight with Katie Taylor – we’re making history.
“I’m a woman for equality. If Katie Taylor’s willing, I’m ready and willing to make these 12 rounds of three minutes.
“If we want to make a change... [Let’s do] the same as the men.”
And Paul admitted that he was unhappy with Taylor turning down the suggestion, telling media after the event that he felt it indicated fear of Serrano.
“I was a little disappointed in Katie Taylor’s response because it seemed that she just didn’t want to do it," he said.
“She definitely does not want to do it. So what does that mean on the fight side of things? I already said that I sense of little fear from Katie and I really do.
“I am genuinely saying that not to offend anybody. I genuinely sense fear and that answer solidifies my statement.”
