Two Australian female boxers will make history when they clash for the vacant Martial Arts Sports Association on June 30 [MASA] bantamweight boxing crown of Australasia by three minute round rules.
NSW’s Mai Soliman will fight current No. 1 ranked Queensland’s Nicila Costello after the pair won a lengthy fight outside the ring with the NSW MASA authorities to have the fight contested in three-minute rounds.
Championship bouts in women’s boxing typically consist of two-minute rounds, as opposed to the standard three-minute rounds in men’s boxing.
This discrepancy has sparked debate among fighters, promoters, medical professionals and committees.
Soliman and Costello become the first female boxers to contest three-minute rounds as they make history at the famed Revesby Workers venue with Neutral Corner Promotions [NCP] put on the map.
Sydney fighter Mai Soliman (pictured) paves the way for Australia’s first-ever three-minute fight that could change global rules
Nicila Costello, Queensland champion and mother of a two-year-old, supports her rival who wants to change the rules and will be a worthy opponent for Soliman
Women’s fights in MMA and the UFC are allowed to compete over three-minute rounds, but boxing has been banned so far
“And who knows, we hope this will change the face of women’s boxing around the world,” fight promoter NCP boss Paul Nasari told Daily Mail Australia.
“All the girls want it, but most boxing officials here and abroad are all stuck in their old habits and just don’t want to change, claiming that protecting women’s health is the reason.
“But the reality is because they’re fighting two-minute rounds, they have to go faster and harder to get into the round and there’s a fight that hurts more,” he said.
Nasari, himself a former Australian fighter who sparred with Jeff Fenech and the great Kostya Tszyu, believes this historic match is much like the eternal battle of five-set Grand Slam women’s tennis matches.
Nasari and Soliman initially filed an application with the World Boxing Council [WBC] for an Australasian title fight and while things looked good for a while, the old guard stepped in late, claiming that three-minute rounds are too dangerous for women.
“That’s kind of ridiculous because men fight three-minute rounds and this is something all female boxers want to try,” Costello said.
“Why are the girls cheated?”
Nicola was caught stealing a bottle of peach schnapps behind the bar last night hahahaha
— Liam (@Liam_costello_) July 22, 2017
Costello, who owns an F45 Gym in Brisbane, is understandably excited to be a part of history while also fighting for a belt.
“In the beginning I tried to stay out of it when some authorities were so opposed to what Mai was trying to get three-minute rounds,” she said.
“But when I trained specifically for the extra time, and started to realize how important this could become for women’s boxing, I became an absolute convert.
There is no doubt that this fight could become a contributing factor to a shift in boxing paradigm around the world.
In the other corner, Soliman, 25, pointed out that in women’s MMA world title fights, those fights last five times five minutes.
“Why should boxing be any different?” she asked.
“It just doesn’t make sense when you consider that the girls fighting in Australia want three minutes. And it is no more dangerous for women than for men. They can be hurt just as much.
“Another thing, this doesn’t mean we’re more aggressive. A lot of people think just because we fight in the ring and want this to be a matter of equality with the men that we should also look aggressive.
“We don’t and I’m the complete opposite. I’m married and I like the feminine look.’
Nicila Costello (pictured) agreed to the historic fight and her entire training schedule has changed
Costello wants to raise the profile of women’s boxing and legitimize the sport without resorting to gimmicks like other fighters
Costello, the more experienced of the couple and mother, shares with her opponent the need to be united on the front of equality and change within the sport.
“I’m looking at the great Irish fighter Katie Taylor who was the one who flipped the Olympic movement to allow women to box there. All her life she had to fight and disguise herself as a man to be accepted.
‘Which is ridiculous. This historic fight offers a great opportunity to expose the sport to a wider audience and our main argument, apart from equality, was that if both fighters want it, their training camps want it, why not just let us in?’
It took a lot of closed doors, but NSW made the change happen. The fight isn’t slated to be the main event on the big June 30 card, but it’s bound to have the most eyes from around the world.
“I know that because we’ve been given this rare opportunity, we have to put up a great fight and I know I will,” said Soliman.
“I want us to make our mark on the sport around the world with this fight because we are athletes and fight like the men do for three minutes.
“It’s unique and we don’t just want to be a highly publicized sport because we show up at press conferences with painted tops or showing a lot of skin.
“This change that we’re a part of is how we legitimize female boxing by being good athletes and I know this will 100 percent be our biggest payday.”
Soliman addressed the ensemble [or lack thereof] worn by boxing social media superstar Ebanie Bridges during her weigh-ins and last week’s amazing painted bra stunt pulled by compatriot Cherneka Johnson.
Irish boxer Katie Taylor was behind the push to allow female fighters to compete in the Olympics
Aussie Ebanie Bridges is as well known for her nudity as she is for her boxing career
Cherneka Johnson (finger up) showed up at her recent weigh-in in a painted bra
“I was shocked, really. Especially since it was a world title fight. I hope our three-minute rounds can change that so women don’t have to show up at the weigh-in like that anymore,” Soliman said.
While that weigh-in was mocked by Soliman, her June 29 weigh-in with Costello will be different.
“Making history with our fight is a great moment for women’s boxing and that is why we will now work to increase the pay for female boxers.
“Right now we all have second jobs to keep up with our education,” Soliman added.
Seven games are scheduled for competition at Revesby Workers and it is hoped that legendary callers Jon Harker and Barry Michael will take the places of honor.
“I asked them to come,” said promoter Nasari.