Women's Pound for Pound Best 2026

Pound for Pound Best in Women’s Boxing 2026

By Uppercut Magazine staff

Unlike the men’s version, the female rankings of the best fighter’s pound for pound does not radically change.

Claressa Shields is like death and taxes and remains at the top whether as a welterweight, super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, cruiserweight or heavyweight she rules them all.

Don’t even argue the point.

While experts and fans can argue who ranks second, third or etc. you cannot argue about where Shields fits because the double Olympic gold medalist rarely loses a round. Yes, she was knocked down so she barely lost that round. But other than that, it is difficult to find any more blemishes on Shields skills.

After Shields entered the professional boxing world, women’s boxing quickly began to improve due to the contributions of the amateur world. Shields, Katie Taylor and Mikaela Mayer are excellent examples of the contributions from the women’s amateur boxing world. More are coming like Lauren Price, Reina Tellez and Caroline DuBois.

Here is our list of the top 12 female fighters pound for pound:

Pound for Pound 2026

1.    Claressa Shields (18-0) – once again Shields fought Franchon Crews-Dezurn and once again they lit up the arena with fiery exchanges. These two female fighters are made for each other. Still, Shields emerged victorious and this time at 175 pounds. Doesn’t matter. Shields has the ability to fight outside, inside or upside down. She just wins and continues to develop her skills.

2.    Katie Taylor (25-1) the Irish fighter was a major contributor to the women’s boxing game but has decided to hang up her gloves. Who will she fight next. Three battles against Amanda Serrano set records that proved to the sports and entertainment world that women’s boxing does sell. Boxing will miss her.

3.    Amanda Serrano (48-4-1) – the seven-division world champion kept women’s boxing relevant and her fights with Katie Taylor boosted the sport to mercurial levels. Without Amanda Serrano women’s boxing might have disappeared altogether. She has hinted that the final lap may be near but she will continue to help Most Valuable Promotions remain the spearhead for the sport.

4.    Chantelle Cameron (21-1) – The British fighter is very good and recently fought a three-minute round fight. A showdown with Mikaela Mayer will be a big splash with these two welterweights seeking to continue the momentum that Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano built for the sport. Cameron is a handful for anybody.

5.    Mikaela Mayer (22-2) – Now based in Las Vegas the former Olympian is a gunslinger for the sport. She doesn’t care who is in the other corner or how good their record is, if there is a fight to be made and people want to see it, color Mikaela Mayer there and ready. Boxing always needs fighters like Mayer. She has a mercenary spirit.

6.    Alycia Baumgardner (17-1) – The “Bomb” recently defeated Korea’s Bo Mi Re Shin and could be facing Caroline DuBois, Lauren Price or even Tiara Brown. Openly she’s mentioned preference to face Amanda Serrano or Katie Taylor. We shall see who she is offered.

7.    Dina Thorslund (24-0) – Denmark’s best fighter seeks a big fight. But the other’s are skipping around the blonde buzzsaw. Thorslund took time off due to pregnancy and looked good in her return fight. Who wants a piece of Thorslund?

8.    Ellie Scotney (11-0) – The London=based fighter had a Fight of the Year candidate against Mexico’s Mayelli Flores. Scotney proved she could deal with the hurricane forces of Flores and remains undefeated. Will she remain at super bantamweight and fight Skye Nicolson or Dina Thorslund is the question?

9.    Lauren Price (9-0) – She got plastered in her fight against Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Pineiro but hung in there despite the blows to the head she absorbed from the big hitter. Price used all her skills to pull out the win. It also proved she needs more experience before facing opposition like Mikaela Mayer or Chantelle Cameron.

10. Gabriela Fundora (17-0) – Based in Southern California she seems unbeatable as a flyweight for obvious reasons. Should she move up in weight or move down and look even more unbeatable? Fundora could possibly win five weight divisions with no sweat.

11. Franchon Crews-Dezurn (10-3) – No matter how you look at Crews-Dezurn she can fight. She doesn’t dazzle with speed or power she simply knows how to battle and win. If not for Claressa Shields in the boxing world, Crews could

12. Yokasta Valle (34-3) – The Costa Rican-based fighter has plenty of speed and experience and she will need all that when she faces Mexico’s Lourdes “Lulu” Juarez on May 30 in El Paso, Texas. Both are quick fighters and both are champions.

Honorable Mention

Mizuki Hiruta, Tiara Brown, Caroline DuBois, Adelaida Ruiz, Elif Nur Turhan, Reina Tellez, Danielle Perkins, Cherneka Johnson, Caroline Dubois, Lourdes Juarez, Lani Daniels.