By Ruth Raper THIS past weekend, we saw three shows headlined by female boxers, a fact that would have been unheard of only a few years ago. It is true that, at present, few female fighters draw in big crowds. For example, Dixon v Harper fought for a world title in Sheffield last Friday but drew in fewer than 2,000 fans.
On the other hand, there are women who have fan bases that warrant big events, and it is these women who are paving the way for their lesser-known counterparts. Two of the biggest names in women’s boxing, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, made history as the first women’s fight to headline the legendary Madison Square Garden back in April 2022. Their much-anticipated rematch will feature as the co-main event alongside Mike Tyson v Jake Paul on November 15th.
Knowing that these two trailblazers will share the stage with what is ultimately a gimmick, stings. However, you can only assume that they will both be getting paid well and exposed to a bigger audience than ever before. The show will be part of the Most Valued Promotions (MVP) boxing partnership and will stream live globally on Netflix.
When a female fight is included on a show, it is not uncommon for that fight to be the most entertaining contest of the night. This has a lot to do with the structure of women’s bouts: 10 x 2-minute rounds. This shortened format tends to result in fights that are high-tempo and action-packed.
Although they may be more entertaining, some argue that elite women require.
