Best Pound for Pound in Women’s Boxing Jan. 2022

By Uppercutmagazine.com staff

The year 2021 was the most productive in the history of women’s prizefighting. Here are the top 12 female fighters in the world pound-for-pound.

Our ratings are based simply on who would beat who if they were all the same weight. It is not based on popularity or who looked better in their last fight. We also do not computerize data and evaluate on their opposition. Our suggestions are based on our knowledge of the fight game and evaluating talent.

We fancy ourselves the best at judging talent.

Here are the fighters we consider the best in female boxing pound for pound:

Pound for Pound Top 12

1. Claressa Shields USA (11-0) – Though Shields only fought once last year, she unified the super welterweight division with an emphatic win over Canada’s Marie Eve Dicaire. She also previously held the mantle of undisputed middleweight champion. A showdown with Savannah Marshall seems eminent this year. Shields keeps improving.

2. Katie Taylor Ireland (20-0) – The speedy Irish fighter fought three times in 2021 and eased by her opponents. Each time she fights Taylor shows added fighting skills and experience in handling various styles. She also continues to bring exposure to the women’s fight game. Taylor has been undisputed lightweight champion since 2019.

3. Amanda Serrano USA (42-1-1) – Three big wins last year pushed Serrano back to the top in terms of visibility. It also convinced many that the Brooklyn fighter with seven-division world titles is the sport’s most dangerous fighter. Wins over Daniela Bermudez, Yamileth Mercado and Miriam Gutierrez proved she is ready for a showdown with Katie Taylor.

4. Jessica McCaskill USA (11-2) – The undisputed welterweight world champion soundly defeated Cecilia Braekhus in the rematch to prove her first win was not a fluke. A battering of Kandi Wyatt showed the world the fighter from Chicago has no problem fighting in the welterweight division. Few can handle her withering assaults.

5. Layla McCarter USA (44-13-5) – Only hardcore boxing fans know McCarter, but she can probably beat almost everyone on this list. Now 42, how much of her physical abilities remain? She fought once in Dubai in 2021 but was forced to fight a light heavyweight. McCarter stopped the much bigger and taller Georgian fighter by technical knockout. Few can equal her skills. McCarter has not lost a fight since 2007.

6. Seniesa Estrada USA (22-0) – The speedy fighter from East L.A. picked up world titles in the minimumweight and light flyweight division with solid wins over stalwart opposition in 2021. First, she defeated longtime champ Anabel Ortiz of Mexico. Then she out-battled Japan’s Tsunami Tenkai by decision. To cap off the year she knocked out Maria Santizo. Her three wins convinced this publication to vote her Fighter of the Year in 2021.

7. Naoko Fujioka Japan (19-2-1) – After two years of inactivity due to the pandemic, the five-division world titlist Fujioka fought in the USA for the first time and won a close battle against Sulem Urbina. It was a dream come true for the Japanese fighter considered her countries best ever. Look for Fujioka to meet Marlen Esparza in a match between flyweight world titlists this year. She is very strong.

8. Mikaela Mayer USA (16-0) – The tall blonde Southern California fighter proved her grit and determination with two big wins in 2021. First, she soundly defeated former pound for pound fighter Erica Farias of Argentina. Then she met IBF super featherweight titlist Maiva Hamadouche in a unification match and pounded out a victory against the super tough French woman in the Fight of the Year. Mayer now holds the WBO and IBF world titles and seeks to meet the other titlists Hyun Mi Choi or fellow American Alycia Baumgardner this year.

9. Chantelle Cameron UK (15-0) – The British fighter had been fed lukewarm competition for most of her pro career. This year she stepped up and dominated with a stoppage win over veteran Melissa Hernandez. Then she met IBF super lightweight titlist Mary McGee in a unification clash and outfought the American fighter in the super lightweight tourney to decide the undisputed champion. Cameron next will face Kali Reis in the tournament’s final.

10. Daniela Bermudez Argentina (29-4-3) – Though Bermudez lost in her only fight in 2021, there’s no shame losing to the great Amanda Serrano. Before losing this past March, the super bantamweight champion had not suffered a defeat in seven years. Don’t expect her to lose any more unless she meets Serrano again.

11. Dina Thorslund Denmark (17-0) – The blonde Danish bantamweight Thorslund can do it all. She plowed through two consecutive Mexican fighters and they are never easy. A sensational knockout win via body shot of former champion Zulina Munoz proved how good Thorslund truly is. Expect a showdown with Mexico’s Yulihan Luna who holds the WBC bantamweight title this year. Unification is in the air. Thorslund recently signed with an American promoter.

12. Lourdes Juarez Mexico (33-2) – After living in the shadow of her sister Mariana Juarez, the fighter known as “Little Lulu” broke out when given the opportunity to fight for the super flyweight world title two years ago. Juarez gave two clinics on how to box with combinations and angles with wins over Diana Fernandez and Luz Aguilar.

Honorable Mention

Alycia Baumgardner, Savannah Marshall, Kali Reis, Yulihan Luna, Terri Harper, Tsunami Tenkai, Evelyn Bermudez, Yokasta Valle, Franchon Crews-Dezurn, Jamie Mitchell, Kim Clavel, Maiva Hamadouche, Delfine Persoon, Yesica Bopp