On Saturday, May 20, 2023, there was a major shift in the landscape of women’s boxing. After seven years and 22 fights, undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor suffered her first lost. In her first pro fight in Dublin, Ireland, the undisputed lightweight champion unsuccessfully challenged Chantelle Cameron for the undisputed super lightweight champion. Taylor didn’t lose her lightweight titles in the process, but she did get beat to the punch through the first half of the fight. In the second half of the fight, she was able to pick things up, but it was too little too late.
In the opposite corner, Chantelle Cameron elevated her career to new heights, Not only did she dethrone Taylor during her homecoming, but she also beat welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill in her previous bout. If she is able to beat Taylor for a second time later this year, Cameron will solidify herself alongside Claressa Shields, Alycia Baumgardner, Mikaela Mayer, Seniesa Estrada and others as one of the faces of the next generation of women in boxing.
With Taylor down and Cameron up, the women’s pound-for-pound list will look a bit different than it has in past iterations.
Criteria
Performance: Some fighters reach the mountaintop and fall off immediately thereafter. However, pound-for-pound fighters are able to reach the top of the sport and maintain their spot thanks to consistently high-level performances. Past performances are great to reference, but the ability to have high-quality performances within the last 12-24 months will help solidify a fighter’s spot in the top ten.
Resumé: A fighter’s ability to move through multiple divisions and win world titles are among the first things mentioned on their Wikipedia page or in their Hall of Fame induction introduction.
Skill: Power, speed, agility and intelligence are just a few of the attributes used to define a fighter’s overall ability. A good fighter possesses expertise in one facet while a great fighter possesses expertise in multiple areas of the sweet science.
Strength of Schedule: Unlike college football in the U.S., there is no catch-all metric to determine how tough a fighter’s opposition has been throughout their career. However, it is possible for fans, journalists, trainers and fighters to look at a boxer’s list of opponents and make an honest assessment in regards to the opponents they have fought.
1. Claressa Shields
Record: 13-0 (2 KOs)
Division: Middleweight
Last Fight: (W) Savannah Marshall, UD
Next Fight: Hanna Gabriels (June 3, 2023)
2. Chantelle Cameron
Record: 18-9 (8 KOs)
Division: Super Lightweight
Last Fight: (W) Katie Taylor,
Next Fight: Katie Taylor (TBA)
3. Katie Taylor
Record: 22-1 (6 KOs)
Division: Lightweight
Last Fight: (L) Chantelle Cameron, MD
Next Fight: Chantelle Cameron (TBA)
4. Amanda Serrano
Record: 44-2-1 (30 KOs)
Division: Featherweight
Last Fight: (W) Erika Cruz, UD
Next Fight: Heather Hardy (August 5, 2023)
5. Alycia Baumgardner
Record: 14-1 (7 KOs)
Division: Super Featherweight
Last Fight: (W) Elhem Mekhaled, UD
Next Fight: Christina Linardatou (July 15, 2023)
6. Seniesa Estrada
Record: 24-0 (9 KOs)
Division: Strawweight
Last Fight: (W) Tina Rupprecht, UD
Next Fight: TBA (July 22, 2023)
7. Jessica McCaskill
Record: 12-3 (5 KOs)
Division: Welterweight
Last Fight: (L) Chantelle Cameron, UD
Next Fight: TBA
8. Franchón Crews-Dezurn
Record: 8-1 (2 KOs)
Division: Super Middleweight
Last Fight: (W) Elin Cederroos, UD
Next Fight: Savannah Marshall (July 1, 2023)
9. Savannah Marshall
Record: 12-1 (10 KOs)
Division: Super Middleweight
Last Fight: (L) Claressa Shields, UD
Next Fight: Franchon Crews-Dezurn (July 1, 2023)
10. Mikaela Mayer
Record: 18-1 (5 KOs)
Division: Lightweight
Last Fight: (W) Lucy Wildheart, UD
Next Fight: TBA
Honorable Mention(s): Ebanie Bridges, Shadasia Green, Terri Harper, Natasha Jonas, Delfine Persoon
