Women’s boxing divisional rankings: Nicolson solidifies spot at featherweight
Skye Nicolson defeated Raven Chapman by unanimous decision Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to retain her WBC featherweight title.
Nicolson dominated the fight with her jab and slick footwork and won by a wide margin on the three judges’ scorecards (99-91, 98-92 and 98-92).
Nicolson (12-0, 1 KO), of Queensland, Australia, has been very active, with eight fights in the last two years. This was her second defense of the WBC belt since she won it back in April. Chapman (9-1, 2 KOs), of Norfolk, England, suffered the first loss of her career.
The other champions in the division are Amanda Serrano, the WBO and WBA champion, and Nina Meinke, who holds the IBF belt. With the victory, Nicolson solidifies her No. 2 spot in the 126-pound division.
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+ pounds – Super middleweight – Middleweight – Junior middleweight – Welterweight – Junior welterweight – Lightweight – Junior lightweight – Featherweight – Junior featherweight – Bantamweight – Junior bantamweight – Flyweight – Junior flyweight – Strawweight – Atomweight
175+ POUNDS
1. Claressa Shields*
Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 15-0, 3 KO
Last: W (KO2) Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, July 27
Next: TBA
2. Lani Daniels**
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 11-2-2, 1 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Bolatito Oluwole, Sept. 7
Next: TBA
3. Che Kenneally***
Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 14-4-3, 7 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Angie Paola Rocha, July 20
Next: TBA
4. Raquel Miller
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 13-0, 6 KOs
Last: W (TKO1) Angie Paola Rocha, March 10
Next: TBA
5. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 7-2, 2 KO
Last: L (KO2) Claressa Shields, July 27
Next: TBA
*Editor’s note: Claressa Shields is the WBC heavyweight champion and the WBO light heavyweight champion.
**Editor’s note: Lani Daniels is the IBF light heavyweight champion.
***Editor’s note: Che Kenneally is the WBA light heavyweight champion.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 168 pounds)
Savannah Marshall, above, became the undisputed super middleweight champion after defeating Franchon Crews Dezurn by majority decision. Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images
1. Savannah Marshall
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 13-1, 10 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Franchon Crews Dezurn, July 1
Next: TBA
2. Franchon Crews-Dezurn
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 9-2, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Shadasia Green, Dec. 15
Next: TBA
3. Shadasia Green
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 14-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Natasha Spence, July 20
Next: TBA
4. Abril Argentina Vidal
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 10-2, 4 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, March 7
Next: TBA
5. Olivia Curry
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 7-2-1, 2 KOs
Last: Draw (SD16) Melody Popravak, April 27
Next: TBA
MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 160 pounds)
Claressa Shields defended her middleweight undisputed championship with a one-sided unanimous decision over Maricela Cornejo. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
1. Claressa Shields
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 15-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (KO2) Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, July 27
Next: TBA
2. Savannah Marshall
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 13-1, 10 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Franchon Crews Dezurn, July 1
Next: TBA
3. Melinda Watpool
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 7-0, 2 KO
Last: W (UD10) Natasha Spence, Sept. 20
Next: TBA
4. Desley Robinson
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 8-3-3, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Mapule Ngubane, Aug. 23
Next: TBA
5. Olivia Curry
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 7-2-1, 2 KOs
Last: Draw (SD16) Melody Popravak, April 27
Next: TBA
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 154 pounds)
1. Terri Harper
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 15-2-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Rhiannon Dixon, Sept. 28
Next: TBA
2. Ema Kozin
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 24-1-1, 12 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Hannah Rankin, Nov. 18
Next: TBA
3. Femke Hermans
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 18-4, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD6) Ester Konecna, Jan. 13
Next: TBA
4. Cecilia Braekhus
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 38-2-1, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Maricela Cornejo, Aug. 10
Next: TBA
5. Dilara Yucel
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 16-0, 11 KOs
Last: W (KO1) Sonja Pilipovic, June 22
Next: TBA
WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 147 pounds)
1. Natasha Jonas
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 15-2-1, 9 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Mikaela Mayer, Jan. 20
Next: TBA
2. Mikaela Mayer
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 20-2, 5 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Sandy Ryan, Sept. 27
Next: TBA
3. Sandy Ryan
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 7-2-1, 3 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Mikaela Mayer, Sept. 27
Next: TBA
4. Lauren Price
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 7-0, 1 KO
Last: W (TD9) Jessica McCaskill, May 11
Next: TBA
5. Ivana Habazin
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 23-5, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Kinga Magyar, April 20
Next: TBA
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 140 pounds)
Katie Taylor, right, defeated Chantelle Cameron by majority decision to become undisputed junior welterweight champion. Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
1. Katie Taylor
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 23-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Chantelle Cameron, Nov. 25
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Amanda Serrano
2. Chantelle Cameron
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 19-1, 8 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Elhem Mekhaled, July 20
Next: TBA
3. Amanda Serrano
Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 47-2-1, 31 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Stevie Morgan, July 20
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Katie Taylor
4. Jessica McCaskill
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 12-4-1, 5 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Lauren Price, May 11
Next: TBA
5. Elhem Mekhaled
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 17-3, 3 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Chantelle Cameron, July 20
Next: TBA
LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 135 pounds)
1. Katie Taylor
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 23-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Chantelle Cameron, Nov. 25
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Amanda Serrano
2. Caroline Dubois
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 10-0, 5 KO
Last: W (UD10) Maria Moneo, Aug. 3
Next: TBA
3. Terri Harper
Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 15-2-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Rhiannon Dixon, Sept. 28
Next: TBA
4. Rhiannon Dixon
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 10-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Karen Elizabeth Carabajal, April 13
Next: Sept. 28 vs. Terri Harper
5. Beatriz Fereira
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 5-0, 2 KO
Last: W (TUD6) Yanina del Carmen Lescano, April 27
Next: TBA
JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 130 pounds)
1. Alycia Baumgardner
Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 15-1, 1 NC, 19 KOs
Last: No contest (NC4) Delfine Persoon, Sept. 27
Next: TBA
2. Delfine Persoon
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 49-3, 19 KOs
Last: No contest (NC4) Alycia Baumgardner, Sept. 27
Next: TBA
3. Bo Mi Re Shin
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 16-2-3, 9 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Pattarawan Thaosuwan, Oct. 8
Next: TBA
4. Leila Beaudoin
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 12-1, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Lizbeth Crespo, Aug. 17
Next: Nov. 7 vs. Edith Soledad Matthysse
5. Christina Linardatou
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 14-3, 6 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Alycia Baumgardner, July 15
Next: TBA
FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 126 pounds)
Skye Nicolson, left, defeated Dyana Vargas by unanimous decision to retain her WBC featherweight world title. Melina Pizano/Matchroom
1. Amanda Serrano
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 47-2-1, 31 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Stevie Morgan, July 20
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Katie Taylor
2. Skye Nicolson
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 12-0, 1 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Raven Chapman, Oct. 12
Next: TBA
3. Nina Meinke
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 19-3, 4 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Daniela Romina Bermudez, Sept. 21
Next: TBA
4. Sarah Mahfoud
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 14-2, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Skye Nicolson, April 6
Next: Oct. 12 vs. Danila Ramos
5. Daniela Romina Bermudez
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 32-5-3, 12 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Nina Meinke, Sept. 21
Next: TBA
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 122 pounds)
1. Yamileth Mercado
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 24-3, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Ramla Ali, June 29
Next: TBA
2. Ellie Scotney
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 9-0, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Segolene Lefebvre, April 13
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Mea Motu
3. Erika Cruz
Previous ranking: No 3
Record: 17-2-1, 3 KOs
Last: Draw (SD10) Nazarena Romero, May 11
Next: TBA
4. Mea Motu
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 19-0, 7 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Noppaket Srisawas, April 26
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Ellie Scotney
5. Phannarai Netisri
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 15-0, 6 KO
Last: W (UD10) Maria Magdalena Rivera, April 13
Next: Oct. 3 vs. Shannon O’Connell
BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 118 pounds)
1. Dina Thorslund
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 22-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Seren Cetin, May 25
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Terumi Nuki
2. Diana Laura Fernandez
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 32-4-1, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Sayda Mosquera, June 7
Next: TBA
3. Cherneka Johnson
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 16-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Nina Hughes, May 11
Next: TBA
4. Yuliahn Luna Avila
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 27-4-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza, July 13
Next: TBA
5. Miyo Yoshida
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 17-4, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Ebanie Bridges, Dec. 9
Next: TBA
JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 115 pounds)
1. Carla Ayelen Merino
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 14-2, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Micaela Milagros Lujan, April 27
Next: TBA
2. Asley Gonzalez Macias
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 16-2, 7 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Lourdes Juarez, March 25
Next: TBA
3. Irma Garcia
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 23-5-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Stephanie Silva, Nov. 11
Next: TBA
4. Mizuki Hiruta
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 6-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (TKO6) Ji Hyun Park, Jan. 12
Next: TBA
5. Clara Lescurat
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 11-0, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Linn Sandstrom, April 24
Next: TBA
FLYWEIGHT (Up to 112 pounds)
1. Gabriela Celeste Alaniz
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 15-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Marlen Esparza, April 27
Next: TBA
2. Gabriela Fundora
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 14-0, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Daniela Asenjo, Aug. 10
Next: TBA
3. Kenia Enriquez
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 28-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Maria Salinas, Feb. 2
Next: TBA
4. Marlen Esparza
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 14-2, 1 KO
Last: L (MD10) Gabriela Celeste Alaniz, April 27
Next: TBA
5. Arely Mucino
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 32-4-2, 11 KOs
Last: L (KO5) Gabriela Fundora, Oct. 21
Next: TBA
JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (Up to 108 pounds)
1. Jessica Nery Plata
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 30-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Sarah Bormann, Dec. 16
Next: TBA
2. Evelin Bermudez
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 20-1-1, 7 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Jessica Basulto Salazar, May 4
Next: TBA
3. Yesica Yolanda Bopp
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 39-3, 17 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Roxana Maria Colmenarez, Dec. 16
Next: TBA
4. Kim Clavel
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 19-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Katherine Renee Lindenmuth, May 16
Next: Nov. 14 vs. TBA
5. Aldana Florencia Lopez
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 11-0, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Veronica Ruiz, Aug. 31
Next: TBA
STRAWWEIGHT (Up to 105 pounds)
Seniesa Estrada, left, defeated Yokasta Valle by unanimous decision to become the undisputed strawweight champion. Mikey Williams/Top Rank
1. Seniesa Estrada
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 26-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Yokasta Valle, March 29
Next: TBA
2. Yokasta Valle
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 31-3, 10 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Ramandeep Kaur, July 20
Next: TBA
3. Sarah Bormann
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 18-1, 7 KO
Last: W (UD10) Tamara Elisabet Demarco, May 4
Next: TBA
4. Louisa Hawton
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 12-2, 6 KO
Last: W (UD10) Viviana Ruiz Corredor, Sept. 7
Next: TBA
5. Tenkai Tsunami
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 32-13-1, 19 KO
Last: W (UD10) Siriporn Taweesuk, June 10
Next: TBA
ATOMWEIGHT (Up to 102 pounds)
1. Eri Matsuda
Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 7-1-1, 1 KO
Last: W (SD10) Yuko Kuroki, Jan. 12
Next: TBA
2. Tina Rupprecht
Previous ranking: No 2
Record: 13-1-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Fabiana Bytyqi, Jan. 13
Next: TBA
3. Anabel Ortiz
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 34-6, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Montserrat Alarcon, Aug. 31
Next: TBA
4. Sumire Yamanaka
Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 8-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Mika Iwakawa, Jan. 12
Next: TBA
5. Montserrat Alarcon
Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 19-6-2, 0 KOs
Last: L (UD8) Anabel Ortiz, Aug. 31
Next: TBA
Source: espn.com