Aussie IBF women’s bantamweight champion Ebanie Bridges is willing to participate in bouts with three-minute rounds just like male fighters do, but won’t take the step up unless she gets paid for the additional time spent in the ring.
Amanda Serrano, an undisputed women’s champion, had previously given up her title as a result of the WBC’s decision not to permit women boxers to engage in three-minute rounds and 12-round championship fights.
Typically, women’s championship bouts are set to last a maximum of 10 rounds, with each round spanning two minutes.
Serrano, 35, is leading a campaign to have the choice to compete under the same rules as men.
‘The WBC has refused to evolve the sport for equality. So I am relinquishing their title,’ she wrote.
”Thankyou to the sanctioning bodies who have evolved for equality!’
Bridges is not willing to fight three-minute rounds like men do until she is paid for the extra time in the ring
The Blonde Bomber will take on ex-junior bantamweight champion Miyo Yoshida on Sunday
Bridges, who will fight ex-junior bantamweight champion Miyo Yoshida on the Regis Prograis-Devin Haney undercard this Sunday (AEDT), told SecondsOut.com that any transition towards longer rounds would need to include a pay increase, not only for her but for all women boxers.
‘Pay me more and I’ll fight threes (minutes). When you’re getting paid $1 million a fight, you fight whatever you want, you know what I mean?’ she said.
‘A lot of girls, not me, are getting paid like 10 grand for world title fights. Why should we be putting in extra risk when we’re not making that money?
‘But I would like it, if we all train three we can do it. Amanda Serrano proved we can do it, women can do it but I think the money needs to come with it. It’s all good for Amanda and the girls on top who are making that.’
Meanwhile, Bridges has voiced her frustration over the challenges of securing an opponent after finally nailing down the bout against Miyo Yoshida.
Yoshida steps in as a substitute for Avril Mathie, the bantamweight contender who had to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury.
Amanda Serrano is leading the charge for women boxers to be paid for three minute rounds
Bridges, a former maths teacher from Sydney, said boxing was unpredictable, particularly while juggling her OnlyFans account and a sponsorship agreement with a beer company owned by UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
‘This fight has had three opponent changes , she’s the fourth opponent. I had the person who was No.1 on my list say yes and then changed her mind,’ Bridges said.
‘Then we had another one say yes then change her mind after a week. Then there was another one that said yes then changed her mind. It got to the point where I said, ‘Why the f**k am I doing this?’. Seriously, I make so much money. I’m not fighting for money.
‘I’m absolutely not. Why do I need to put myself through this rollercoaster that is boxing, it’s a f***ing brutal sport outside the ring than in the ring.
‘In the ring is the fun part. Outside of it is more brutal. Then I reminded myself why I do this. I never started boxing for the money.
‘I started because I had goals. My goal was to be world champion. Once that happened my goal was to be undisputed.
‘Obviously I want to make the money, I deserve to get paid what I’m worth, which is a lot. But at the same time the goal is to be undisputed and that’s what keeps me focused.’
Bridges has a sponsorship agreement with the Forged Stout beer company owned by UFC superstar Conor McGregor
Bridges is also a popular figure on OnlyFans and is not afraid to bare a bit of flesh at weigh-ins to promote her fights
Bridges secured the IBF Bantamweight title in March 2022 with a unanimous decision victory over Maria Cecilia Roman.
Since then, the 37-year-old has successfully defended her title once, with an eighth-round termination of the match against Shannon O’Connell in December last year.
On the other hand, Miyo Yoshida, with a record of 16 wins and fourlosses, has had a mixed performance in her recent bouts, winning only two of her last five fights.
Her latest match ended in a loss to Shurretta Metcalf via a unanimous decision in November.
