Best Female Pound for Pound Fighters and More News
By David A. Avila
This has been one of the best years in professional boxing for not just women, but men as well.
Women’s prizefighting pulled the rest of the boxing world into its current flow like Aaron Judge pulls the Yankees into contention. Without the women hungry to grab undisputed status the men would still be trying to protect their undefeated records.
But male boxers saw the success of female prizefighters like Claressa Shields, Chantelle Cameron, Jessica McCaskill and Amanda Serrano who were luring attention to the sport. They saw Katie and Amanda sell out Madison Square Garden. They wanted that same feeling and attention.
That was last year. This year fighters are going up in down weight divisions looking for ways to capture fan’s attention. You can attribute it to women’s prizefighting. Their fearless approach has set the sport on fire.
Here is the current list of women’s best pound for pound fighters top dozen:
Pound for Pound
1.Claressa Shields (14-0) USA – recently it was announced that Shields signed a contract with an MMA organization that will split her time from boxing. The undisputed middleweight world champion will be delving into MMA. It’s a sport that results in different sorts of injuries than boxing. Will she be able to maintain the same dominance in boxing once MMA takes some of her time?
2.Amanda Serrano (45-2-1) USA – the fighter from Brooklyn proved once again why she is one of the most entertaining prizefighters on the planet. Few other boxers can fight in the pocket and deliver eye popping performances over and over. Her battle with Heather Hardy had fans riveted and applauding. The two Brooklyn fighters showed the world just how entertaining women’s boxing can be.
3.Chantelle Cameron (18-0) UK – the undisputed super lightweight world champion will be trading blows again with Katie Taylor in Ireland. It’s the biggest fight possible for the money. Fans seem to forget that the sport is called prizefighting for a reason. Making the most money possible is the reason Cameron is fighting Taylor again. Who else offers as much?
4.Katie Taylor (22-1) Ireland – after losing her undefeated status to Chantelle Cameron, the great Katie Taylor will return to face her conqueror again on November 25, in Dublin, Ireland. It’s all about making adjustments. Can Taylor discover a method to overcome Cameron’s strength and weight advantage. It’s a tricky situation for Taylor whose speed and skill were negated by Cameron’s heaviness and power.
5.Seniesa Estrada (25-0) USA – The unified minimumweight world titlist Seniesa Estrada out-battled Argentina’s Leonela Yudica in a solid battle for 10 rounds. The speed fighter from boxing crazy East L.A. wants to fight Costa Rica’s Yokasta Valle but negotiations are not running smoothly. Estrada wants to become undisputed minimumweight world champion before moving up to another weight division.
6.Alycia Baumgardner (15-1) USA – Though Alycia Baumgardner is undisputed super featherweight world champion, the name of the game is making big money against star opposition. Baumgardner knows which names are big and can make her big paydays. She has the skills to keep the titles but not the drawing power yet. The Detroit-based fighter has the looks but needs an opponent big enough to draw fans to watch. Her stardom is percolating. She has the ability to move up if she desires.
7.Savannah Marshall (13-1) USA – After defeating undisputed super middleweight champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn, and leaving with all the belts, Marshall proved she has more to offer than just power. She showed skills against Claressa Shields in a loss and against Crews in a win. It was an impressive victory against the always tough Crews and catapults Marshall three spots to the seventh spot on this list.
8.Mikaela Mayer (18-1) USA – Now performing in the lightweight division and beyond, who can foresee which weight will suit her best. Mayer has size and skills to pretty much battle anyone on equal terms below 160 pounds. Mayer has beaten several world champions in the super featherweight class, and has Top Rank behind her to lure foes inside the prize ring. Who will be next?
9.Jessica McCaskill (12-3) USA – The Chicago fighter has a fight date against tall Sandy Ryan in defense of the WBA, WBO, WBC welterweight titles on September 23 in Orlando, Florida. It’s a good test with Ryan improving in every fight. Does McCaskill still have what it takes to beat Ryan who is taller and younger by nine years. McCaskill defeated the taller Norwegian queen twice. Can she do the same to Ryan on Sept. 23?
10.Dina Thorslund (19-0) Denmark – The Danish bantamweight bomber is set to meet Mexico’s Yulihan Luna Avila on Sept. 1, in Denmark. She will have all the advantages against the experienced Mexican fighter. But they still have to fight. Thorslund has fought good Mexican fighters before like Zulina Munoz and Jasseth Noriega, but they weren’t in their championship prime like Luna. It’s a great match.
11.Yokasta Valle (28-2) Costa Rica – the very athletic Yokasta Valle has incredible speed and endurance that allow her to out-fight the likes of Argentina’s Evelin Bermudez and Vietnam’s Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen in world title clashes. Though she called out Seniesa Estrada at her recent fight, it looks like Valle will be fighting someone else next month in California. When they finally meet it will be a mega fight.
12.Kenia Enriquez (26-1) Mex – Perhaps Mexico’s finest boxer today, Kenia Enriquez continues to remain an uncrowned champion. After the WBC kept her three years or so as the interim light flyweight titlist and never getting a shot at the actual champion, she moved up to flyweight. Enriquez will be fighting former multi-division champion Ibeth Zamora next.
Honorable Mention
Franchon Crews-Dezurn, Ebanie Bridges, Marlen Esparza, Natasha Jonas, Tsunami Tenkai, Terri Harper, Jessica Nery Plata, Mizuki Hiruta, Daniela Bermudez, Yulihan Luna Avila, Delfine Persoon, Kim Clavel and Layla McCarter.
Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame
A two-day event is planned for October 6 and 7 at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada by the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame.
It’s the premier event for women boxing fans.
This year the IWBHOF will be inducting Kaliesha West; Sonya Lamonakis; Laura Ramsey; Kim Messer; Leah Mellinger; Jenifer Alcorn; Melissa McMorrow; Yvonne Trevino; and Melissa Del Valle.
For tickets and information go to: https://www.iwbhf.com/tickets.htm .
More Fight News
Argentina
Juliana Basualdo (11-3) won by technical decision in the fourth round versus Vanesa Taborda (11-16-3) on Friday Aug. 11. The fight was stopped due to a bad cut from a clash of heads. The Argentine super bantamweight title fight was held at Cordoba.
On Friday Aug. 18, featherweights Brenda Carabajal (18-5-1) and Danila Ramos (11-2) meet 10 rounds for the interim WBO title at Buenos Aires.
Colombia
Arlis Tapias (2-3-1) knocked out Stefany Cassiani (1-7) in the fifth round on Thursday Aug. 10. The flyweight bout took place at Santa Marta. Also, super flyweight Adriana Tobon (1-1) beat Valentina Angarita (0-1).
Germany
On Saturday Aug. 19, lightweights Madeleine Mohrhardt (3-0) and Diana Kulinova (4-6) meet six rounds at Oberhausen.
Japan
Yukiko Ijuin (1-1-1) defeated Yuka Ota (0-1) by majority decision after four rounds on Friday Aug. 11. The super bantamweight match was held at Sakai.
New Zealand
Holly McMath (4-3) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Sarah Watt (3-5-1) on Saturday Aug. 12. The Australian super flyweight title fight took place at Auckland.
On Saturday Aug. 19, heavyweights Sequita Hemingway (1-3) and Maria Hunt (0-0) meet eight rounds at Awapuni.
On Saturday Aug. 19, super bantamweights Anna Collie (0-0) and Sarah Linton (0-1) meet four rounds at Porirua.
Russia
On Friday Aug. 18, heavyweights Katsiaryna Kavaleva (0-0) and Luiza Davydova (7-4) meet four rounds at Moscow.
Tanzania
On Friday Aug. 18, super lightweights Happy Daudi (13-13-1) and Domina Boniface (0-1) meet six rounds at Dar es Salaam.
Thailand
Pornchita Seehaburan (10-2) knocked out Preeyaphon Sutthawong (0-3) in the fourth round on Sunday August 13. The super bantamweight fight took place at Pathum Thani. Also, atomweight Phunnakran Karnjanawong (4-1-1) beat Duangkamon Khunwang (0-3); Muthita Iamsaard (5-1) beat Rawiwan Saikrajang (1-8); featherweight Thanchanok Phanan (16-7) defeated Arisa Camna (0-5), Nantachat Wanpeng (5-2) won versus Somwang Sawinchai (2-8-1), and flyweight Arisara Wisetwongsa (5-4) beat Nomphon Kangkeeree (0-1).
Uganda
On Saturday Aug. 19, bantamweights Catherine Nanziri (4-0) and Egine Kayange (8-4) meet 10 rounds at Kampala.
United Kingdom
Maisey Courtney (4-0) defeated Gemma Ruegg (7-8) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday Aug. 12. The super flyweight match was held at London, England.
On Friday Aug. 18, featherweights Raven Chapman (6-0) and Lila Dos Santos (9-0) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at London, England.
USA
Jaime Clampitt (25-6-2) beat Josefina Vega (9-6) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday Aug. 12. The super featherweight bout took place at Uncasville, Conn.
Nicole Chisolm (5-1) won by technical knockout over Cara McLaughlin (1-7) in the third round on Saturday Aug. 12. The bantamweight match took place at Sioux City, Iowa.
Reina Tellez (1-0-1) knocked out Kavarcia Polk (0-1) in the second round on Saturday Aug. 12. The super featherweight fight was held at Houston, Texas.
Stephanie Chavez (3-0) defeated Devany Cuevas (2-5-1) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Friday Aug. 11. The super flyweight bout took place in Atlanta, Georgia.
Christina Cruz (5-0) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds over Nancy Franco (19-18-2) on Thursday Aug. 10. The super flyweight match was held in New York City.
On Friday Aug. 18, super flyweights Krystal Rosado-Ortiz (0-0) and Tarrethia Dixon (1-0) meet four rounds at Orlando, Florida.
On Friday Aug. 18, flyweights LeeAnna Cruz (5-0) and Maryguenn Vellinga (4-3-2) meet six rounds at Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Skysports Boxing)