Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor clash over fight format ahead of July bout

In New York, Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor are preparing for their third boxing match scheduled for July at Madison Square Garden. This follows a contentious rivalry marked by their previous two encounters, where Taylor emerged victorious through unanimous and split decisions. The fighters recently debated the terms of their upcoming bout, highlighting a disagreement over fight round durations. Serrano advocates for three-minute rounds to match men's boxing standards and enhance fighting opportunities, while Taylor insists they should stick to 10 two-minute rounds, arguing that the extended format may not guarantee an entertaining fight. The notion of implementing three-minute rounds has drawn responses from both of their teams, complicating the decision-making process. While both fighters seek to establish their competitive edge and positioning ahead of the highly anticipated matchup, the dispute over rules casts a shadow on the bout's promotion. Taylor's team claims Netflix, which will stream the fight, prefers the two-minute format, while Serrano's team insists Netflix wanted three-minute rounds. As the date approaches, tensions continue to build between the two fighters, making it evident that their rivalry is far from resolved. Their upcoming match holds the potential for impacting women's boxing significantly, given the historical context surrounding it, particularly regarding equality in fight formats. The events leading up to this bout illustrate larger debates present within women's boxing regarding equal treatment and opportunities.