October 2019 Ratings - Updates
Featherweight: Amanda Serrano enters at #1 after her emphatic 10 round decision over previous #1, Heather Hardy. Erika Hernandez, #5 last month, exits. Hardy drops to #3, and Jelena Mrdjenovich stays at #2. Last month’s #3 and #4 each drop one place.
Junior Lightweight: Ewa Brodnicka defeated Edith Matthsse, but struggled, winning by split decision, so drops to #5, switching places with Eva Wahlstrom.
Super Middleweight: Ema Kozin enters at #5 after a narrow points win over Maria Lindberg. Elin Cederroos exits.
Heavyweight: Last month’s #2, Geovana Peres, defeated #1 Claire Hafner, by 8th round TKO to become our inaugural Champion. Annie Mazerolle enters at #5.
Pound-For-Pound: Our overall Pound-for-Pound top 10 is now worked out by allocating points to each panelist’s top 10, and totaling the figures – so, 10 points for each panelist’s #1, 9 points for #2...1 point for #10. Under this new approach, Bopp has risen to #7. Bermudez and Juarez have each dropped a place.
P4P Summary
1 Claressa Shields - In just 9 fights Michigan’s “T-Rex” Shields has proved she is willing to face all rivals between 160-168lbs. In 2018 she defeated the experienced Tori Nelson at Super Middleweight, and then triumphed in an exciting bout with Hanna Gabriels, but it was her emphatic victory over P4P #10 and #2 rated Middleweight, Christina Hammer, in April 2019, that crowned her our first female Lineal World Champion. Shields has now set her sights on P4P #3, Cecilia Braekhus.
2 Amanda Serrano - While most boxers seem content outpointing their opposition, Serrano looks for the KO. In a 22 fight winning streak - that has seen her defeat solid opposition from as low as 114lbs, right up to Junior Welterweight – Amanda has stopped 18 women. Serrano has declared she is keen on fighting P4P #4 Katie Taylor. A victory over the talented, naturally bigger Taylor would move Serrano firmly to the top of the P4P rankings.
3 Katie Taylor - In March, the Irish super-star outclassed Brazil’s rugged, previously undefeated, Rose Volante, and then less than three months later, won a close decision at Madison Square Garden against Delfine Persoon to become the new Lineal Lightweight World Champion. A rematch with Delfine looks likely to be next.
4 Cecilia Braekhus - Cecilia made her professional debut in January 2007, and since then has been a consistent, dominating force at Welterweight. Her collection of sanctioning body belts has grown, but significant match-ups against the experienced Holly Holm and the unbeaten Tori Nelson, did not get made. A 147lbs clash with P4P veteran Layla McCarter for the vacant Lineal World Championship, or a catch-weight mega-fight with Claressa Shields would be the most formidable tests of her career.
5 Layla McCarter - In a career that has spanned over 20 years, Layla has demonstrated her prodigious skill-set and ring IQ, from Featherweight to Junior Middleweight. The American has been unbeaten for 12 years, and has frequently called out Welterweight rival, Cecilia Braekhus – frustratingly, due to boxing politics, this intriguing match-up still seems no closer to being made.
6 Delfine Persoon - Delfine, a full-time railway policewoman, used every ounce of her decade long professional career, to push the division’s star attraction, Katie Taylor, to the wire; in a terrific bout that many felt the Belgian was unfortunate to lose. As soon as the fight ended, the fans were demanding a rematch.
7 Yesica Yolanda Bopp - (Argentina) - Bopp, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the last woman to defeat Daniela Bermudez, and is our #1 rated Junior Flyweight. “La Tuti” has stopped her last three opponents, and at age 35, seems to be getting better.
8 Daniela Romina Bermudez - Since 2016 Bermudez has competed across three weight classes, including victories over #1 rated Bantamweight, Mariana Juarez, and #1 rated Junior Featherweight, Marcela Acuna. A rematch of her terrific 2016 battle with Juarez, would crown a new Lineal Bantamweight World Champion.
9 Mariana Juarez - Since her loss to Bermudez, Mariana’s record at Bantamweight has been outstanding, going 9-0 against quality opposition, earning her the #1 spot in our 118lbs rankings.
10 Kenia Enriquez - Another Mexican/Argentinean rivalry is brewing. Tijuana’s Enriquez, our #2 rated Junior Flyweight, seems destined to fight Yesica Bopp, the winner of which would become the division’s Lineal World Champion.
Ratings Panel
David Avila: 2019 Inductee IWBHF. Experienced journalist at The Sweet Science. California, USA. @AvilaBoxing
Suzy Smith: Women’s boxing historian. United Kingdom. @SuzyQSmith360
Daniel Yanofsky: Women’s boxing journalist. New York, USA. @DanYanofsky
Ireneusz Fryszkowski: Women’s Boxing Journalist. Poland. @RingBlogpl
Adam McMeeking: Editor of LinealBoxingChampion.com. United Kingdom.