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Women’s boxing rankings per pound: unanimous choice for first place

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2 months ago

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Claressa Shields solidified her position atop the ESPN women’s pound-for-pound rankings with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Franchon Crews-Dezurn on Feb. 22 in Detroit. She was equally decisive in the voting, earning every first-place vote from the ESPN panel.

Shields is one of only two boxers in the four-belt era to become undisputed in three weight classes – the other being Terence Crawford. She unified all four major women’s heavyweight titles on February 2, 2025, with a victory over Danielle Perkins and has since successfully defended them twice.

Shields (15-0, 3 KO) won world titles in five weight classes, as well as Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016, representing the U.S.

Katie Taylor announced on Wednesday that she would like to fight one more time – preferably in Dublin – before she retires. For now, it remains in second place in the rankings.

While the top ten remains unchanged, several talented fighters are closing in and receiving votes, including unified junior featherweight champion Ellie Scotney, unified super middleweight champion Shadasia Green and undisputed bantamweight champion Cherneka Johnson.

Here are the current top 10.

1. CLARESSA TRICKSPrevious ranking: 1

RECORD: 18-0, 3 KOs
DEPARTMENT: The undisputed heavyweight champion
LAST FIGHT: In (UD10) Franchon Crews-Dezurn, February 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

2. KATIE TAYLORPrevious ranking: 2

RECORD: 25-1, 6 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Unified junior welterweight champion
LAST FIGHT: In (MD10) Amanda Serrano, July 11, 2025
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

3. AMANDA SERRANOPrevious ranking: 3

RECORD: 48-4-1, 31 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Unified featherweight champion
LAST FIGHT: In (UD10) Reina Tellez, January 3
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

4. GABRIELA FUNDORAPrevious ranking: 4

RECORD: 17-0, 9 KOs
DEPARTMENT: The undisputed flyweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (KO7) Alex Kubicki, September 20
NEXT FIGHT: March 14 vs. Viviana Ruiz Corredor

5. CHANTELLE CAMERONPrevious ranking: 5

RECORD: 21-1, 8 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Junior welterweight
LAST FIGHT: In (UD10) Jessica Camara, July 11
NEXT FIGHT: April 5 vs. Michaela Kotaskova

6. MIKAELA MAYERPrevious ranking: 6

RECORD: 22-2, 5 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Welterweight champion and unified junior middleweight champion
LAST FIGHT: In (UD10) Mary Spencer, October 30
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

7. ALICE BAUMGARDNERPrevious ranking: 7

RECORD: 17-1, 7 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Unified junior lightweight champion
LAST FIGHT: In (UD12) Leila Beaudoin, December 19
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

8. LAUREN PRICEPrevious ranking: 8

RECORD: 9-0, 2 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Unified welterweight champion
LAST FIGHT: In (UD10) Natasha Jonas, March 7
NEXT FIGHT: April 4 vs. Stephanie Pineiro Aquino

9. FROM YOKA TO THE VALLEYPrevious ranking: 9

RECORD: 34-3, 10 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Strawweight champion
LAST FIGHT: In (MD10) Yadira Bustillos, December 19
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

10. ELIF NUR TURHANPrevious ranking: 10

RECORD: 13-0, 8 KOs
DEPARTMENT: Lightweight champion
LAST FIGHT: In (SD10) Taylah Gentzen, January 31
NEXT FIGHT: TBA

Formula

The rankings are based on a descending points system, where a first-place vote receives 10 points, a second-place vote receives 9 points, and so on.

Others who received votes: Ellie Scotney (7), Shadasia Green (4), Cherneka Johnson (3), Hyun Choi (2), Jessica Nery Plata (1), Caroline Dubois (1).

How our experts voted

Andreas Hale: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Fundora, 4. Serrano, 5. Cameron, 6. Baumgardner, 7. Mayer, 8. Price, 9. Green, 10. Scotney

Nick Parkinson: 1. Shields, 2. Fundora, 3. Taylor, 4. Serrano, 5. Mayer, 6. unnecessarily, 7. Cameron, 8. Price, 9. Baumgardner, 10. Scotney

Salvador Rodriguez: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Fundora, 5. Mayer, 6. Baumgardner, 7. Price, 8. Johnson, 9. Valley, 10. Dubois

James Regan: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Fundora, 5. Mayer, 6. Cameron, 7. Baumgardner, 8. unnecessarily, 9. Price, 10. Scotney

Bernardo Pilate: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Cameron, 4. Serrano, 5. Fundora, 6. Baumgardner, 7. Mayer, 8. Price, 9. Valley, 10. Scotney

Andres Ferrari: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Fundora, 4. Serrano, 5. Cameron, 6. Baumgardner, 7. Mayer, 8. Price, 9. Scotney, 10. Unnecessarily

Charlie Moynihan: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Cameron, 5. Funodra, 6. Mayer, 7. Baumgardner, 8. Valley, 9. Choi, 10. Nery Silver

Damian Delgado Averhoff: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Cameron, 4. Serrano, 5. Fundora, 6. Baumgardner, 7. Mayer, 8. Valley, 9. Green, 10. Scotney

ESPN expert poll

First place: Shields (8)

Second place: Taylor (7), Fundora (1)

Third place: Serrano (3), Fundora (2), Cameron (2), Taylor (1)

Fourth place: Serrano (5), Fundora (2), Cameron (1)

Fifth place: Fundora (3), Mayer (3), Cameron (2)

Sixth place: Baumgardner (5), Cameron (1), Mayer (1), Turhan (1)

Seventh place: Mayer (4), Baumgardner (2), Cameron (1), Price (1)

Eighth place: Price (4), Valle (2), Turhan (1), Johnson (1)

Ninth place: Valle (2), Green (2), Baumgardner (1), Price (1), Scotney (1), Choi (1)

10th place: Scotney (5), Turhan (1), Dubois (1), Nery Plata (1)

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Boxing

Adam Smith reveals Ben Whittaker’s summer fight plan

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45 minutes ago

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April 24, 2026

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Image: Adam Smith reveals Ben Whittaker summer fight plan

Ben Whittaker’s next few months are already taking shape following his quick knockout victory in Liverpool, and Adam Smith outlines a busy summer schedule that should finally see the delicate heavyweight fighter face stronger tests

Smith said Whittaker is expected to return to the United States in overdue June on the Jaron “Boots” Ennis card, then return to the UK in the summer for a major date in his hometown of Birmingham.


Whittaker stopped Brian Suarez in two rounds last weekend and performed brilliantly throughout, adding another early finish to the stretch that helped rebuild attention around him after his first fight with Liam Cameron ended in a draw.

Smith said the June outing would support expose Whittaker to a wider audience ahead of a bigger national night later in the year.

“He will fight at the end of June in America at the Boots Ennis gala. That’s good. Show him to a global audience. Then he will come back here in overdue summer, maybe early September and fight in Birmingham in a huge fight,” Adam Smith said in an interview with Sport Boxing.

Smith also named British opponents who could be next, naming Lyndon Arthur, Brad Rea and Craig Richards as possible options once Whittaker returns home.

Smith believes that in the long term, bigger domestic fights with Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yard should come within the next year if Whittaker continues to win.

“Buatsis and Yards need to be delivered within the next 6-12 months.”

Whittaker has had a lot of notoriety since turning pro, but the activity and matchmaking are looking more grave now. The next two fights should tell more than the first ten.

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Last updated: 24/04/2026 at 17:38

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Boxing

Oscar De La Hoya admits that he would consider returning on one condition

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3 hours ago

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April 24, 2026

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Oscar De La Hoya admits he would consider comeback under one condition

Six-division world champion and Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya hasn’t fought since 2008, but revealed he would be willing to return for one fighter.

De La Hoya is a newfangled pound-for-pound legend, being one of only two six-division champions in the history of the sport – joined by Filipino fan favorite Manny Pacquiao, who has reached eighth in this ultra-elite club.

While De La Hoya has moved on to promote the sport, “Pac Man” recently returned to the pro ranks, challenging Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight world title last July in an attempt to break his own record as boxing’s oldest 147-pound ruler.

Pacquiao could only get a draw in that fight, but now he’s ready for an even bigger fight – at least financially – after signing a contract for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, who defeated him in 2015 in the “Fight of the Century.”

Time will tell whether this fight will have an impact on Mayweather’s renowned 50-0 record or not. “TBE” apparently wants to change his contract to an exhibition fight despite signing a contract for sanctioned competition.

If that fight takes place in September, Mayweather will come out on top again, De La Hoya said Fighting the noise that he would also be willing to have a rematch with Mayweather.

“I am a fighter. I will always be a fighter. If Mayweather beats Pacquiao, Floyd, you owe me a rematch! Let’s go!”

Mayweather defeated De La Hoya by split decision to win the WBC super lightweight title in 2007, and De La Hoya still maintains he deserved to win the fight.

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Boxing

The Day Wilder vs. Joshua fight died after eight years of failure

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4 hours ago

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April 24, 2026

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Wilder vs Joshua WBN

Today is April 24, 2026, and after eight arduous years of trying, the Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua fight is off the table for good, ending one of boxing’s longest-running failed negotiations.

The last window closes

Both sides had one good opportunity to get the job done and promoter Eddie Hearn now closed it down tough. The Matchroom boss has outlined the level of opponent Joshua’s next fight will be aimed at, and it won’t be thrilling for those still hoping for Wilder.

Hearn initially branded Wilder a ‘warm-up’ for Joshua after the ‘Bronze Bomber’ sent Derek Chisora ​​to the points. However, less than a few weeks later, that position appears to have evaporated.

Instead, Joshua will now likely face lower-level opponents outside the top 15 to shake off the ring rust. It is unclear whether these instructions are coming directly from Saudi Arabia or not, but the former two-time heavyweight champion is not expected to enter a potential fight with Tyson Fury this fall after beating the YouTuber over the course of five one-sided rounds.

The Path of Fury takes priority

Joshua, who recorded wins over the likes of Otto Wallin and Jermaine Franklin before suffering a devastating stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois, is currently in advanced talks with Fury following his performance on Saturday after “The Gypsy King” defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov.

Once negotiations are finalized and the fight is secured, British fans can look forward to the most crucial heavyweight battle in the British Isles since Frank Bruno vs. Lennox Lewis.

To achieve that, Joshua needs to fight a transition fight, and that means he won’t take any chances against Wilder, despite the American’s dwindling strength.

Wilder will now be forced to leave, and given his current form, he may struggle to maintain his current position until any Fury series ends.

Joshua vs. Fury could stretch into two or even three fights, while Wilder will turn 41 in October, which puts him firmly on the wrong side of the age divide.

Heavenly sports

How it all started

The attention for the former WBC ruler could instead turn to Andy Ruiz Jr., who – as WBN reported exclusively in 2020 – was once lined up for a massive pay-per-view clash with Wilder after the Fury trilogy.

It never materialized, but it remains one of the few remaining realistic options that still holds real intrigue.

The plan began with Shelly Finkel’s phone call to WBN in June 2018. It will end in a whimper as Joshua and Hearn choose their next move ahead of the Fury fight.

How it ended

Eight years later, it has only come close to reaching significance once, in 2023, and even then the Day of Reckoning plan fell through.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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