Best in Women’s Boxing 2021 by Uppercut Magazine

(Published Dec. 27, 2021)

By Uppercutmagazine.com staff

East L.A.’s Seniesa Estrada proved to be the best and most exciting fighter in 2021 with several performances that lit up the women’s boxing world.

Seniesa Estrada is the Fighter of the Year in 2021.

Estrada goes by the nickname “Super Bad” and proved to be all that and more by first winning the WBA minimumweight world title, then the WBO light flyweight world title, and finally capping the year with a sizzling knockout over an undefeated fighter.

All these moments took place in 2021.

By winning world titles in two different weight divisions first against Mexico’s Anabel Ortiz who had not lost in 13 title defenses in March, then following that win by moving up in weight to challenge Japan’s tough Tsunami Tenkai and out-slugging the champ in Los Angeles, it was more than enough proof that Estrada had an outstanding year.

But she was not finished.

A few weeks ago Estrada accepted a challenge from Guatemala’s undefeated Maria Santizo and showed that she just might be the most powerful hitter pound for pound in boxing today. Estrada blasted out Santizo in the fourth round with an overhand left that wowed the crowd in San Antonio, Texas.

Estrada now holds world titles in two different weight divisions and seeks more in time. She intends to unify the minimumweight titles next year with plans to meet Costa Rica’s Yokasta Valle for her IBF title and then move on to the other titleholders. Do not count her out.

Runner-up as Fighter of the Year was Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano who had nearly the same type of performances as Estrada. The Brooklyn fighter took the featherweight world title again by stopping Argentina’s Daniela Bermudez with a vicious body shot. Then she clashed with super bantamweight world titlist Yamileth Mercado of Mexico at featherweight and beat her too. A few weeks ago Serrano closed the show with a blistering performance in beating Spain’s Miriam Gutierrez. It was a sensational year for Serrano who also jumped up in pay scale.

Expect Serrano to have an even bigger year in 2022. The Puerto Rican wrecking crew expects to clash with Ireland’s great Katie Taylor.

Another who deserves recognition was England’s Chantelle Cameron who unified the super lightweight title with a solid win over America’s Mary McGee and now holds the WBC and IBF titles. She will meet Kali Reis who holds the WBA, IBO and WBO versions.

Best Fight in 2021

Mikaela Mayer vs Maiva Hamadouche

No other fight drew as much attention as the super featherweight battle between America’s Mikaela Mayer and France’s Maiva Hamadouche who met in Las Vegas to settle the two-year debate on who was better.

Mayer pit her WBO title against Hamadouche’s IBF title when they met at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas on November 5. Both had been tossing verbal grenades at each other for years on social media. Both were eager to settle their differences in the prize ring.

It was explosive.

The taller Mayer needed a little time before settling in and establishing her jab and powerful right hand against the ever-pressing style of Hamadouche. Each round was tremendous with action and the fans were awed by the violence. After 10 two-minute rounds of fury the judges decided overwhelmingly in Mayer’s favor, but each round was closely contested.

Their fight left fans breathless.

Shannon Courtenay vs Ebanie Bridges

Shannon Courtenay defended the WBA bantamweight title against little-known Ebanie Bridges of Australia in April. Most expected Courtenay to run over the pretty blonde known mostly for her social media popularity. It did not happen. Instead, the Aussie school teacher proved to be tough, skilled and willing to walk through fire against Courtenay and though she lost, she won over fans with her grit and fighting spirit.

Kali Reis vs Jessica Camara

It was a fight between two who were managed by the same company and familiar with each other. But as soon as the fight commenced, they each started with a no-prisoners attitude for 10 complete rounds.

Chantelle Cameron vs Mary McGee

In a year when many champions from United Kingdom were suffering defeats, Chantelle Cameron stopped the slide and defeated America’s Mary McGee in a spirited battle between the super lightweight world titlists. Cameron was relentless and eager to prove her mettle against McGee and did. The British fighter now holds the WBC and IBF world titles and seeks the other titles now held by Kali Reis.

Knockout of the Year

Alycia Baumgardner Kos Terri Harper

Outside of America little was known about Alycia Baumgardner who volunteered to step in as a replacement to face WBC super featherweight titlist Terri Harper on Nov. 13, in England. Most expected Harper to soundly defeat Baumgardner who predicted a knockout. “The Bomb” as she’s known delivered the knockout as promised with a right cross that paralyzed Harper standing up. The referee saw the helpless Harper and immediately stopped further injury and declared Baumgardner the victor by knockout in the fourth round. Baumgardner also picks up the WBC world title and a chance to become undisputed.

Seniesa Estrada KO Maria Santizo

Seniesa Estrada dropped Santizo several times with the last knockdown from a left cross from a southpaw stance that plopped the Guatemalan fighter to the floor like a janitor’s discarded mop in the fourth round.

Amanda Serrano KO Daniela Bermudez

Amanda Serrano sought to unify the featherweight titles but when no one accepted her offer, Argentina’s super bantamweight titlist Daniela Bermudez stepped forward. In a battle between top pound for pound fighters Serrano connected with one of her deadly body shots and stopped Bermudez in the ninth round.

Upset of the Year

Erika Cruz beats Jelena Mrdjenovich

Mexico’s Erika Cruz accepted a fight as a late replacement to meet champion Jelena Mrdjenovich on April in New York. No one had been able to defeat the Canadian in six years until the left-handed Cruz shocked the world with a convincing win by technical decision after seven bloody rounds. Almost no one expected Cruz to win.

Jessica Camara beats Heather Hardy

Although Canada’s Jessica Camara was dropping down in weight it was a surprise to see her out-fight former featherweight champion Heather Hardy who was moving up in weight. Hardy floored Camara in the first round and then the Canadian took over and won by unanimous decision.

Debora Dionicius beats Marcela Acuna

The former super flyweight world titlist Debora Dionicius had lost three of her last six fights and was not expected to beat fellow Argentine the legendary Marcela Acuna at featherweight. But the move three weight divisions higher proved beneficial and she soundly beat Acuna by unanimous decision to win the WBO interim title.