Women’s Boxing Pound for Pound List and More News
By David A. Avila
Where does the sport of women’s boxing go next?
After a record number of people viewed the Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor rematch to a shattering 70 million plus views, a knee-jerk reaction from media companies could follow with some deals.
Though it was Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that initially brought the interest of the fans worldwide, it was Serrano and Taylor that satisfied the palate of boxing lovers who watched the Most Valuable Promotions fight card on Nov. 15. Netflix showed the historic fight card.
Wow. Did they bring it.
It was a climactic ending for women’s boxing in 2024 to see Serrano endure head butts and bloodied eyelids while banging it out with Taylor. This year brought some memorable matchups from the beginning of the year until now.
Claressa Shields moved up to heavyweight after scouring the super welterweight to super middleweight weight classes in search of competition and a payday. She found a willing foe in the heavyweights and showed off her usual blinding hand-speed and one more new weapon, a knockout punch.
It was the first time I can recall Shields actually using leverage from her legs to plant and deliver an overhand right and left hook. That spells danger for everyone he faces from now on. The only drawback from her last fight against Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse was coming in at 174 pounds. For someone as fast as Shields extra weight can slow down the reflexes a la Roy Jones Jr. when he went up weight to defeat heavyweight champ John Ruiz. When he returned to 175 his speed seemingly diminished.
That would be bad for Shields who remains the most talented female fighter on the planet.
Pound for Pound list
- Claressa Shields (15-0, 3 Kos) – her knockout win over Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse was surprising because it came in the heavyweight division. The two-time Olympic gold medalist still has the best hand-speed and reflexes in women’s boxing along with so many added technical skills. She is a rare talent but doesn’t get to perform much. And now she can punch. The boxing world needs to see more of her in action.
- Amanda Serrano (47-3-1, 31 Kos) – though she lost on the scorecards to Katie Taylor, that doesn’t mean I agree. Serrano did more than enough to get the win and despite repeated head butts largely ignored by the referee, the Puerto Rican southpaw battled on and energized the fans watching worldwide. Even people not familiar with boxing were impressed by Serrano. And now, she has become the “face of women’s boxing” and everyone she meets gets their biggest paydays. What a change from barely able to pay the bills, to giving female boxing its largest purses in history. She is the Christmas bonus for everyone that meets her in the prize ring. And she is very entertaining as a fighter.
- Katie Taylor (24-1, 6 Kos) – although I felt Taylor should have been deducted more than one point for head butting, she still brought the action by engaging full-throttle against heavy-hitting Amanda Serrano. I hope Skye Nicolson was watching. Pro boxing is all about entertainment and you cannot entertain fans without punching. This is prizefighting. Taylor could have run away and used hit and run tactics but showed off her blazing hand speed and produced another spectacular moment for women’s boxing.
- Chantelle Cameron (20-1, 8 Kos) – a very dynamic fighter who was the first to defeat Katie Taylor according to the judges. This year the British fighter defeated two very capable opponents and maintains her place at the doorstep of the super lightweight division. She has all the tools and whoever she fights could be in for a long night.
- Alycia Baumgardner (14-1, 7 Kos) – she still holds the super featherweight championship and eagerly engaged Delfine Persoon this past September. A clash of heads forced the fight to end early but Baumgardner continues to impress with her stylish fighting skills. Power is her base along with balanced counter-punching.
- Mikaela Mayer (20-2, 5 Kos) – the former super featherweight champion moved up to welterweight and defeated Sandy Ryan for the WBO title this past September. It was one of the best fights of the year with Mayer winning by majority decision. The Olympian now is a two-division champion and continues to add layers to her fighting skills. She can fight inside or outside. That’s talent.
- Dina Thorslund (23-0, 9 Kos) – the Danish fighter defeated Japan’s Terumi Nuki this past October and awaits an opportunity to fight the other bantamweight champions. She is an aggressive boxer-puncher with speed and power. So far, she has only fought in Europe but she has outstanding talent.
- Sandy Ryan (7-2, 3 Kos) – the tall British fighter lost her last fight to Mikaela Mayer in one of the top fights of 2024. She has power and a relentless style and seems comfortable as a welterweight after years of fighting in the lower weight divisions. She keeps improving. A rematch with Mayer seems imminent.
- Kenia Enriquez (28-1, 11 Kos) – hailing from Tijuana, Mexico, she is definitely the most avoided fighter in women’s boxing for the past 10 years. Now fighting in the flyweight division, she seems destined to meet Gabriela Fundora who holds all the titles. We will see. For the last 10 years Enriquez has been ranked number one as a light flyweight and now flyweight.
- Yokasta Valle (32-3, 10 Kos) – she recently regained a minimumweight world title with a win over Elizabeth Cordero. Valle has outstanding speed and earlier in the year clashed with the now-retired Seniesa Estrada in an incredible display of speed and skill. It was one of the best fights of the year. And though she lost by decision, she remains one of the best lower weight fighters in the world.
- Franchon Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 Kos) – regained the super middleweight title with an impressive display of inside fighting to nullify the vaunted power of Shadasia Green. That took place in December 2023. Hopefully she can return to the ring to show off her fighting skills. She is a fighter and a very good one.
- Gabriela Fundora (15-0, 7 Kos) – she’s an extremely tall southpaw flyweight with power. Fundora is also the new undisputed flyweight champion and basically showed the world what can happen when she hits you. Its lights out. Against Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz she didn’t need the judges, as she won by a vicious knockout in Las Vegas.
Honorable Mention
Mizuki Hiruta, Skye Nicolson, Delfine Persoon, Natasha Jonas, Tsunami Tenkai, Jessica Nery Plata, Daniela Bermudez, Gabriela Alaniz, Kim Clavel, Layla McCarter, and Clara Lescurat,
Happy Thanksgiving.
More Fight News
Argentina
Magali Tobares (1-1) beat Mariana Rodriguez (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Sunday Nov. 24. The featherweight fight was held in Cordoba.
Dalma Reynoso (8-4-1) defeated Luciana Belen (0-2) after four rounds on Sunday Nov. 24. The light flyweight fight took place in Montecristo.
Jesica Lujan (1-0-2) and Victoria Moreyra (1-6-2) fought to a draw after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 23. The bantamweight fight took place in La Plata.
Ayelen Granadino (11-2-4) won by knockout over Carolina Ferrari (3-6-3) in the ninth round on Saturday Nov. 23. The South American flyweight title fight took place in San Francisco Solano.
Maria Gigena (9-6) defeated Yoana Rodriguez (5-6-1) in four rounds on Friday Nov. 22. The welterweight match took place in Cordoba. Also, lightweight Melina Gomez (6-1) beat Eliana Rodriguez (0-4) in four.
Australia
Kaitly Lodge (1-3-1) and Sylvana Touma (0-0-1) fought to a draw after six rounds on Wednesday Nov. 20. The welterweight fight was held in Penrith.
Denmark
Melissa Mortensen (3-0) knocked out Gabriella Mezei (11-36-5) in the first round on Saturday Nov. 23. The featherweight match was held in Kolding.
France
Romane Moulai (3-0) defeated Klaudia Ferenczi (20-117-10) in six rounds on Saturday Nov. 23. The bantamweight fight took place in Venelles.
Emilie Somvico (1-0) defeated Ksenija Medic (3-36-3) in four rounds on Saturday Nov. 23. The welterweight fight took place in Nimes.
Selma Renier (7-0) knocked out Marta Vucic (1-2) in the third round on Saturday Nov. 23. The light flyweight fight was held in Lates. Also, super bantam Sabrina Flamand (4-6-1) knocked out Stefany Sale (0-5) in two.
Lauryne Brankaer (6-0) beat Audrey Chibani (0-3-1) by majority decision after eight rounds on Saturday Nov. 23. The bantamweight French title fight was held in Gien.
Hasna Tebsi (1-0) won by decision after four rounds versus Yuliana Echeverry (1-4) on Saturday Nov. 23. The lightweight match took place in Paris.
Germany
Tina Rupprecht (14-1-1) defeated Eri Matsuda (7-2-1) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Nov. 23. The WBC and WBO atomweight title fight took place in Heidelberg.
Japan
Hinata Takakura (2-0) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Natthanan Sangiamchit (4-2) on Sunday Nov. 24. The light flyweight fight took place in Sakai. Also, flyweights Noa Tazawa (0-0-1) and Ayumi Katayanagi (0-0-1) fought to a draw after four.
Yuna Kamura (1-0) beat Hana Tanihara (1-1) by decision after four rounds on Wednesday Nov. 20. The super flyweight fight was held in Tokyo. Also, Maiko Iwasaki (1-0) knocked out Ying Wang (0-1) in three.
South Korea
Hee Jung Yuh (28-4) defeated Praethip Pawuttinun (8-1) by knockout in the second round on Saturday Nov. 23. The super fly regional title fight was held in Gimhae.
Spain
Isabel Rivero (9-2-1) defeated Erika Bolivar (6-3-1) by decision after 10 rounds on Sunday Nov. 24. The atomweight title fight took place in Valladolid.
Switzerland
Anais Kisler (4-3) won by decision after six rounds against Jenifer Joklova (1-2) on Saturday Nov. 23. The super lightweight match was held in Carouge.
Thailand
Kanokwan Ghassemi (13-6) beat Oatthaphon Pulasaka (0-1) by knockout in the second round on Saturday Nov. 23. The middleweight fight was held in Pathum Thani. Also, bantamweight Yi-Ru Li (3-0) beat Tanwarat Saengiamjit (11-8-1) in four.
United Kingdom
Jade Grierson (5-0-1) beat Vaida Masiokaite (10-26-6) by decision after six rounds on Saturday Nov. 23. The welterweight fight took place in Newark. Also, featherweight Gabriella Strikaityte (1-0) beat Kira Carter (0-12-1) in six.
Bianca Johnson (1-0) defeated Shelley MacDonald (0-3) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Nov. 23. The featherweight match was held in Barnsley.
Shauna Browne (4-0) knocked out Bojana Libiszewska (7-68) in the second round on Friday Nov. 22. The welterweight fight was held in London.
Sophie Alisch (10-0) won by decision after six rounds versus Marina Sakharov (6-20-2) on Friday Nov. 22. The featherweight fight was held in Newcastle.
USA
Oshae Jones (8-0) won by split decision after 10 rounds versus Femke Hermans (18-5) on Friday Nov. 22. The IBF and IBO super welterweight world title match was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jaclyne McTamney (3-0) won by decision after four rounds against Ayeshia Green (0-2) on Friday Nov. 22. The featherweight match was held in Philadelphia, Pa.
(Photo by David Avila)