Sports

Women’s boxing divisional rankings: New No. 1 at atomweight and a debut at junior middleweight

Last week, Yamileth Mercado, ESPN’s No. 1 junior featherweight, defended her WBC title in a unanimous decision win over Kudakwashe Chiwandire in Mexico. Mercado (21-3, 5 KO) fought for the first time this year and now could be an obvious opponent for the winner of a number of fights coming up — including the Ellie Scotney-Cherneka Johnson fight on May 20. Chiwandire (6-3-1, 4 KO) had held the interim belt in 2022.

This past Friday, Yuliahn Luna Avila (25-3-1, 4 KO), ESPN’s No. 2 bantamweight, defended her WBC title with a unanimous decision win over Vanesa Lorena Taborda (11-15-3, 1 KO).

Last Thursday, Karla Ramos Zamora (10-9-1, 3 KO) upset Jessica Camara (10-4, 2 KO) at junior welterweight. The loss sent Camara, who was No. 4 in ESPN rankings in the division, out of the Top 5. Sandy Ryan moved from No. 5 to No. 4. Oshin Derieuw (19-0, 7 KO) enters the ratings at No. 5.

Looking ahead, one of the more intriguing unification fights of 2023 takes place Saturday night, as Seniesa Estrada faces Tina Rupprecht in a strawweight unification bout.

The fight, which takes place as the co-feature on the Jose Ramirez-Richard Commey card in Fresno, California (ESPN/ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET), could be a start of a massive year in the division.

Estrada (23-0, 9 KO), is the WBA champion, ESPN’s top-rated fighter in the division and the No. 8 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. She’ll make her 2023 debut against Rupprecht (12-0-1, 3 KO), the WBC champion and ESPN’s No. 3 strawweight. This is the first time Rupprecht has fought outside Europe as a professional.

The winner could be in line for an undisputed title fight against Yokasta Valle, the No. 2 fighter in the division and the WBO and IBF champion.

Valle (27-2, 9 KO) is also fighting Saturday night — defending her titles against Jessica Basulto (11-0, 3 KO) as the main event on a card in Costa Rica on BLK Prime. Valle last fought in November, when she beat Evelin Bermudez for the IBF and WBO junior flyweight titles she has since vacated.

Maricela Cornejo, ESPN’s No. 3 middleweight, is also on the Valle-Basulto card, against a yet-to-be-announced opponent. Also on Saturday, Raven Chapman (5-0, 2 KO), ESPN’s No. 5 featherweight, takes on Linda Laura Lecca (15-5-2, 3 KO) in Telford, England.

Rankings will be updated every Tuesday. They’ll be based on recent bouts, head-to-head competition and the quality of opponent. As with almost everything, until fighters square off against one another, there is a layer of subjectivity to it. Fighters who haven’t fought in 18 months and don’t have a fight scheduled will be removed from the rankings until they fight again.

For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here. For women’s P4P rankings, click here.

175+ poundsSuper middleweightMiddleweightJunior middleweightWelterweightJunior welterweightLightweightJunior lightweightFeatherweightJunior featherweightBantamweightJunior bantamweightFlyweightJunior flyweightStrawweightAtomweight


175+ POUNDS

1. Lani Daniels     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 7-2-2, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Sequita Hemingway, March 10
Next: May 27 vs. Alrie Meleisea


2. Alrie Meleisea     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 6-1-1, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Sequita Hemingway, Dec. 9
Next: May 27 vs. Lani Daniels


3. Oxandia Castillo     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 19-3-3, 15 KOs
Last: W (UD4) Mery Caba Rancier, March 19, 2022
Next: TBA


4. Angie Paola Rocha     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 14-3-3, 7 KOs
Last: W (TKO1) Paola Esther Herrera, Feb. 24
Next: TBA


5. Bolatito Oluwole     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 6-0, 3 KO
Last: W (UD4) Abiola Olawale, March 5
Next: TBA

Editor’s note: Hanna Gabriels and Danielle Perkins have been removed for inactivity.


SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 168 pounds)

1. Franchon Crews Dezurn     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 8-1, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Elin Cederroos, April 30
Next: TBA


2. Shadasia Green     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 12-0, 10 KOs
Last: W (TKO6) Elin Cederroos, Feb. 4
Next: TBA


3. Christina Hammer     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 28-1, 13 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Luiza Davydova, May 7
Next: TBA


4. Angelica Lopez Flores     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 13-1, 7 KOs
Last: L (TKO1) Shadasia Green, Jan. 15, 2021
Next: TBA


5. Elin Cederroos     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 8-1, 4 KOs
Last: L (TKO6) Shadasia Green, Feb. 4
Next: TBA


MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 160 pounds)

1. Claressa Shields     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 13-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Savannah Marshall, Oct. 15
Next: TBA


2. Savannah Marshall     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 12-1, 10 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Claressa Shields, Oct. 15
Next: TBA


3. Maricela Cornejo     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 15-5, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Simone Aparecida da Silva, March 25, 2022
Next: March 25 vs. TBA


4. Ema Kozin     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 22-1-1, 12 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Szilvia Szabados, June 4
Next: TBA


5. Raquel Miller     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 12-0, 5 KOs
Last: W (TKO1) Sheila Cunha, Sept. 8
Next: TBA


JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 154 pounds)

1. Natasha Jonas     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 13-2-1, 8 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Marie-Eve Dicaire, Nov. 12
Next: TBA


2. Terri Harper     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 13-1-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Hannah Ranking, Sept. 24
Next: May 20 vs. Cecilia Braekhus


3. Marie-Eve Dicaire     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 18-2, 1 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Natasha Jonas, Nov. 12
Next: TBA


4. Cecilia Braekhus     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 37-2, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD6) Marisa Joana Portillo, Dec. 17
Next: May 20 vs. Terri Harper


5. Patricia Berghult     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 15-1, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Natasha Jonas, Sept. 3
Next: TBA


WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 147 pounds)

1. Jessica McCaskill     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 12-3, 5 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Chantelle Cameron, Nov. 5
Next: TBA


2. Layla McCarter     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 45-13-5, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Halanna dos Santos, March 25, 2022
Next: TBA


3. Summer Lynn     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 7-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD6) Jaica Pavilus, April 2
Next: TBA


4. Ivana Habazin     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 21-4, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Diana Prazak, Oct. 22
Next: TBA


5. Marie Pier Houle     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 8-0-1, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Marisol Moreno, Jan. 13
Next: April 22 vs. Sandy Ryan


JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 140 pounds)

1. Chantelle Cameron     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 17-0, 8 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Jessica McCaskill, Nov. 5
Next: May 20 vs. Katie Taylor


2. Jessica McCaskill     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 12-3, 5 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Chantelle Cameron, Nov. 5
Next: TBA


3. Kali Reis     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 19-7-1, 5 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Jessica Camara, Nov. 19, 2021
Next: TBA


4. Sandy Ryan     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 5-1, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Anahi Ester Sanchez, Nov. 26
Next: April 22 vs. Marie-Pier Houle


5. Oshin Derieuw     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 19-0, 7 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Francia Elena Bravo, Feb. 4
Next: TBA


LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 135 pounds)

1. Katie Taylor     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 22-0, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Karen Elizabeth Carabajal, Oct. 29
Next: May 20 vs. Chantelle Cameron


2. Amanda Serrano     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 44-2-1, 30 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Erika Cruz, Feb. 4
Next: TBA


3. Estelle Yoka Mossely     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 11-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Anisha Basheel, Feb. 17
Next: TBA


4. Delfine Persoon     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 47-3-1NC, 19 KOs
Last: NC (No contest) Ikram Kerwat, Nov. 13
Next: TBA


5. Yanina del Carmen Lescano     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 12-2, 3 KO
Last: W (UD10) Lizbeth Crespo, Oct, 14
Next: TBA


JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 130 pounds)

1. Alycia Baumgardner     Previous ranking: 2

Record: 14-1, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Elhem Mekhaled, Feb. 4
Next: TBA


2. Mikaela Mayer     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 17-1, 5 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Alycia Baumgardner, Oct. 15
Next: April 15 vs. Christina Linardatou


3. Maiva Hamadouche     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 22-2, 18 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Mikaela Mayer, Nov. 5, 2021
Next: TBA


4. Delfine Persoon     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 47-3-1NC, 19 KOs
Last: NC (No contest) Ikram Kerwat, Nov. 13
Next: TBA


5. Elhem Mekhaled     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 15-2, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Alycia Baumgardner, Feb. 4
Next: TBA


FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 126 pounds)

1. Amanda Serrano     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 44-2-1, 30 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Erika Cruz, Feb. 4
Next: TBA


2. Erika Cruz     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 15-2, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Amanda Serrano,Feb. 4
Next: TBA


3. Sarah Mahfoud     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 12-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Lara Ochmann, March 4
Next: TBA


4. Brenda Karen Carabajal     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 18-5-1, 9 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Debora Anahi Dionicius, May 13
Next: TBA


5. Raven Chapman     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 5-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD6) Fatuma Yazidu, Nov. 12
Next: March 25 vs. Linda Laura Lecca


JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 122 pounds)

1. Yamileth Mercado     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 21-3, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Kudakwashe Chiwandire, March 18
Next: TBA


2. Segolene Lefebvre     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 16-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Melania Sorroche, May 7
Next: TBA


3. Mayerlin Rivas     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 17-4-2, 11 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Karina Fernandez, June 10
Next: TBA


4. Cherneka Johnson     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 15-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Susie Ramadan, Oct. 15
Next: May 20 vs. Ellie Scotney


5. Ellie Scotney     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 6-0, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Mary Romero, Oct. 29
Next: May 20 vs. Cherneka Johnson

Dina Thorslund, Daniela Bermudez and Yazmin Rivas have been removed due to inactivity in the division.


BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 118 pounds)

1. Dina Thorslund     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 19-0, 8 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Debora Anahi Lopez, Feb. 25
Next: TBA


2. Yuliahn Luna Avila     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 25-3-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Vanesa Lorena Taborda, March 17
Next: TBA


3. Ebanie Bridges     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 9-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Shannon O’Connell, Dec. 10
Next: TBA


4. Nina Hughes     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 5-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Jamie Mitchell, Nov. 26
Next: TBA


5. Diana Laura Fernandez     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 26-4-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Gabriela Bouvier, Aug. 27
Next: TBA


JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 115 pounds)

1. Diana Laura Fernandez     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 26-4-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Gabriela Bouvier, Aug. 27
Next: TBA


2. Asley Gonzalez Macias     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 15-2, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Lourdes Juarez, Oct. 1
Next: TBA


3. Micaela Lujan     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 11-1-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Irma Garcia, Aug. 20
Next: TBA


4. Clara Lescurat     Previous ranking: N. 5

Record: 8-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Naylea Gil Sanabia, Oct. 28
Next: TBA


5. Lourdes Juarez     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 34-3, 4 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Asley Gonzalez Macias, Oct. 1
Next: TBA

Note: Guadalupe Martinez Guzman has been removed for inactivity in the division.


FLYWEIGHT (Up to 112 pounds)

1. Marlen Esparza     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 13-1, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Eva Guzman, Aug. 6
Next: TBA


2. Arely Mucino     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 32-3-2, 11 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Leonela Paola Yudica, Oct. 29
Next: TBA


3. Gabriela Celeste Alaniz     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 14-0, 6 KOs
Last: W (TKO9) Debora Rengifo, Sept. 24
Next: TBA


4. Ibeth Zamora     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 33-7, 12 KOs
Last: W (TKO4) Jessica Martinez Castillo, Oct. 29
Next: TBA


5. Gabriela Fundora     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 10-0, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Tania Garcia, Feb. 23
Next: TBA


JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (Up to 108 pounds)

1. Jessica Nery Plata     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 29-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Kim Clavel, Jan. 13
Next: TBA


2. Evelin Bermudez     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 18-0-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Tania Enriquez, March 10
Next: TBA


3. Kim Clavel     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 16-1, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Jessica Nery Plata, Jan. 13
Next: TBA


4. Anabel Ortiz     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 33-5, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Maria Micheo Santizo, Oct. 20
Next: TBA


5. Tania Enriquez     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 20-1, 9 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Evelin Bermudez, March 10
Next: TBA

Note: Seniesa Estrada has been removed for inactivity in the division. Yakasta Valle vacated her IBF and WBO titles to compete at strawweight and was removed from junior flyweight.


STRAWWEIGHT (Up to 105 pounds)

1. Seniesa Estrada     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 23-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Jazmin Gala Villarino, Nov. 12
Next: March 25 vs. Tina Rupprecht


2. Yokasta Valle     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 27-2, 9 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Evelin Bermudez, Nov. 26
Next: March 25 vs. Jessica Basulto


3. Tina Rupprecht     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 12-0-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Rocio Gaspar, Dec. 10
Next: March 25 vs. Seniesa Estrada


4. Sarah Bormann     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 15-0, 7 KO
Last: W (UD10) Elizabeth Lopez Corzo, Sept. 24
Next: TBA


5. Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 5-1, 1 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Yokasta Valle, Sept. 8
Next: TBA


ATOMWEIGHT (Up to 102 pounds)

1. Monserrat Alarcon     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 18-4-2, 0 KO
Last: W (UD10) Brenda Balderas Martiinez, Sept. 30
Next: TBA


2. Mika Iwakawa     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 12-6-1, 4 KO
Last: W (TKO3) Ploypailin Palatsrichuai, Feb. 26
Next: TBA


3. Fabiana Bytyqi     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 19-0-2, 5 KO
Last: D (SD10) Elizabeth Lopez Corzo, Jul. 29
Next: TBA


4. Ayaka Miyao     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 25-10-2, 6 KO
Last: L (UD10) Mika Iwakawa, Sept. 1
Next: TBA


5. Eri Matsuda     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 5-1-1, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Kaori Nagai, Sept. 1
Next: TBA

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