Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields and Amanda Serrano continue to lead the way in the ESPN women’s pound-for-pound rankings. But now we have a new order.
Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs), dominated a game Miriam Gutierrez on Dec. 18 to set up a potential megafight against undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor next year, in what could be the biggest women’s boxing match of all time. The victory also earned her the No. 2 spot over Shields.
ESPN writer Michael Rothstein has Serrano ranked at No. 3 on his list, but admits any of the top three could be on the top spot on any given day.
“The top three in the pound-for-pound are getting tougher and tougher to judge,” Rothstein said. “At this point you could make a credible case for any of Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields or Amanda Serrano to be the best in the world — and a year from now this entire list could be shaken up. That’s the potential of depth women’s boxing is finally starting to show.”
Another fighter making a move is Seniesa Estrada, who defended her WBA strawweight title with an impressive fourth-round KO over Maria Santizo on Dec. 18.
Who else made the top 10? Here’s the list:
Note: Results are through Dec. 20.
1. KATIE TAYLOR Previous ranking: No. 1
RECORD: 19-0, 6 KOs
DIVISION: Lightweight undisputed champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Firuza Sharipova, Dec. 11
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
2. AMANDA SERRANO Previous ranking: No. 3
RECORD: 42-1-1, 30 KOs
DIVISION: Featherweight unified champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Miriam Gutierrez, Dec. 18
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
3. CLARESSA SHIELDS Previous ranking: No. 2
RECORD: 11-0, 2 KOs
DIVISION: Junior middleweight and middleweight undisputed champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Marie Eve Dicaire, March 5
NEXT FIGHT: Jan. 29 vs. Ema Kozin
4. JESSICA MCCASKILL Previous ranking: No. 4
RECORD: 11-2, 4 KOs
DIVISION: Welterweight undisputed champion
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO7) Kandi Wyatt, Dec. 4
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
5. MIKAELA MAYER Previous ranking: No. 5
RECORD: 16-0, 5 KOs
DIVISION: Junior lightweight unified champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Maiva Hamadouche, Nov. 5
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
6. SENIESA ESTRADA Previous ranking: 9
RECORD: 22-0, 9 KOs
DIVISION: Junior flyweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (KO4) Maria Santizo, Dec. 18
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
7. DELFINE PERSOON Previous ranking: No. 6
RECORD: 45-3, 18 KOs
DIVISION: Lightweight
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO4) Beatriz Aguilar, Nov. 1
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
8. CHRISTINA HAMMER
RECORD: 26-1, 12 KOs
DIVISION: Super middleweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO1) Daniele Bastieri, Dec. 3
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
9. SAVANNAH MARSHALL Previous ranking: 10
RECORD: 11-0, 9 KOs
DIVISION: Middleweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO2) Lolita Muzeya, Oct. 16
NEXT FIGHT: Jan. 29 vs. TBA
10. YESICA BOPP Previous ranking: N/R
RECORD: 37-2, 17 KOs
DIVISION: Junior flyweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO4) Johana Zuniga, Oct. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
The formula
The rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first-place vote receiving 10 points, a second-place vote receiving nine points and so on.
Others receiving votes: Cecilia Braekhus (5), Alycia Baumgardner (4), Chantelle Cameron (4), Hyun Choi (3), Layla McCarter (2), Jackie Nava (1).
How our experts voted
Timothy Bradley Jr.: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Estrada, 7. Bopp, 8. Hammer, 9. Marshall, 10. Baumgardner
Nick Parkinson: 1. Taylor, 2. Serrano, 3. Shields, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Estrada, 7. Persoon, 8. Cameron, 9. Marshall, 10. Bopp
Michael Rothstein: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Estrada, 7. Persoon, 8. Hammer, 9. Marshall, 10. Cameron
Salvador Rodriguez: 1. Taylor, 2. Serrano, 3. Shields, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Estrada, 7. Persoon, 8. Braekhus, 9. Baumgardner, 10. Marshall
Bernardo Pilatti: 1. Taylor, 2. Serrano, 3. Shields, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Persoon, 7. Hammer, 8. Estrada, 9. McCarter, 10. Nava
Charlie Moynihan: 1. Serrano, 2. Taylor, 3. Shields, 4. McCaskill, 5. Persoon, 6. Mayer, 7. Hammer, 8. Choi, 9. Braekhus, 10. Bopp
Kel Dansby: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Estrada, 7. Marshall, 8. Hammer, 9. Persoon, 10. Baumgardner
ESPN experts’ poll
First place: Taylor (5), Serrano (1), Shields (1)
Second place: Serrano (3), Taylor (2), Shields (2)
Third place: Shields (4), Serrano (3)
Fourth place: McCaskill (7)
Fifth place: Mayer (6), Persoon (1)
Sixth place: Estrada (5), Mayer (1), Persoon (1)
Seventh place: Persoon (3), Hammer (2), Marshall (1), Bopp (1)
Eighth place: Hammer (3), Estrada (1), Braekhus (1), Cameron (1), Choi (1),
Ninth place: Marshall (3), Persoon (1), Braekhus (1), Baumgardner (1), McCarter (1)
10th place: Bopp (2), Baumgardner (2), Marshall (1), Cameron (1), Nava (1)