2021: The Three Queens of The Ring

2021: The Three Queens of the Ring. Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor, and Jessica McCaskill [Poster Credit: DLG Image Creations @Danny17Garcia]

By Adam McMeeking.

In our 2020 write up, 12 months ago, there were true divisional champions in four divisions: At lightweight (Katie Taylor), junior welterweight (Jessica McCaskill), middleweight (Claressa Shields), and heavyweight (Geovana Peres). Since then, New Zealand’s Peres, has retired, and McCaskill has moved up to the 147lbs weight class, creating vacancies in those divisions. On the upside, McCaskill’s triumph over Cecilia Braekhus in their rematch earlier this year made her the inaugural Lineal Welterweight Champion, and Claressa Shields became the first ever two-weight Lineal Champion by out pointing Marie-Eve Dicaire at junior middleweight. Now, once again, there are four weight classes which have true divisional rulers.

Franchon Crews-Dezurn Vs Elin Cederroos recently got cancelled (for the second time), meaning the 168lbs championship remains vacant, but there are are big waves happening in other weight classes. Chantelle Cameron Vs Mary McGee on October 30th, is a “1 Vs #2” match-up at 140lbs, and there is also a strong chance Amanda Serrano Vs Erika Cruz will happen in the near future - a clash between the top two women at featherweight, in our book. 

Things are also heating up at 130lbs, where Mikaela Mayer is tentatively scheduled to take on Maiva Hamadouche in November. At present, Terri Harper is #2 in LBC’s rankings, and she is rumoured to be fighting this November against long reigning titlist, Hyun Choi. With wins over Vivian Obenauf, Eva Wahlstrom, a draw against Natasha Jonas, and a recent KO of Katarina Thanderz, an argument could be made that Terri Harper is in fact the #1 fighter at junior lightweight. After the Thanderz KO, The Ring Magazine elevated her to the top of their rankings (although now, she is #2).

Speaking in August, as per Sky Sports, Mikaela Mayer’s respect for Harper was evident: 

“I do think it will be me and Harper going into the final fight to become undisputed.” 

The competitive nature of this division means that a clash between the winners of Hamadouche/Mayer and Harper/Choi is the only way to settle who the real champion is.

Right now, however, as of September 22nd, 2021, here are THE reigning world champions:

Katie Taylor: Lightweight World Champion

Championship winning fight: Taylor/Persoon 1

A hotly disputed victory over Delfine Persoon on June 1st, 2019, at Madison Square Garden, is what crowned Ireland’s Katie Taylor as the inaugural Lineal Lightweight World Champion. 

Controversy aside, it was 2019’s Fight Of The Year.

What has she has done since?

After defeating Persoon, Taylor stepped up to 140lbs to win the WBO belt from Christina Linardatou. In 2020, she successfully defended her lightweight championship over 10 rounds in a rematch with Persoon, and then looked untouchable, flooring, and outpointing Miriam Gutierrez. In May and September this year, Taylor chalked up another two defences of her crown: An entertaining 10 rounder with Natasha Jonas, followed by a one sided shut-out against Jennifer Han.

What’s next?

The biggest fights out there for Taylor remain the same as they did a year ago: The P4P elite, Amanda Serrano and Jessica McCaskill. Serrano is the unified featherweight titlist, but is prepared to step up to lightweight for what would be a bonafide super fight with the Irish-woman. McCaskill is the Lineal Champion at 147lbs and has all the belts there too. Taylor defeated McCaskill years ago when McCaskill was still green, however, “Caskilla” has improved considerably since then. The closing chapter of Taylor’s professional career looks set to be spectacular.

Jessica McCaskill: Welterweight World Champion

Championship winning fight: McCaskill/Braekhus 2

Heading into their 2020 fight McCaskill was having her first bout at 147lbs, so was unranked at welterweight, against the division’s #1, Cecilia Braekhus. The rematch, however, was universally regarded as a clash between the top two at 147lbs, which is why it filled the lineal vacancy. Perhaps the official scorecards were a little wide,  but McCaskill’s high energy, aggressive style, clinched a definite victory for the American.

What has she has done since? 

McCaskill briefly reigned as a two-weight lineal champion, having also won the junior welterweight crown (2019), but days after the lineal championship winning rematch over Braekhus, Team McCaskill informed LinealBoxingChampion.com that Jessica would be staying at 147lbs, and was subsequently vacating her championship at 140lbs. 

What’s next?

On September 18, Mark Taffet sent this Tweet to Rick Ramos:

“Maybe after we fight Savannah Marshall we do a Battle Of The Undisputeds at 153.5lbs? Claressa Shields Vs Jessica McCaskill??”

Taffet then sent Ramos his telephone number, opening up communications for a potential McCaskill/Shields bout later down the line. While this is a possibility, it appears the fight that Ramos and McCaskill (who traveled to the UK to be ringside for Taylor’s defence against Jennifer Han) are targeting, is the rematch with Taylor.

Claressa Shields: Middleweight and Junior Middleweight World Champion

Championship winning fight (middleweight): Shields/Hammer

Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (rated #1 at 160lbs by LBC) made light work of her leading rival at middleweight, #2 rated Christina Hammer, to win the vacant Lineal Championship, on April 13th, 2019.

Championship winning fight (junior middleweight): Shields/Dicaire

Undefeated Marie-Eve Dicaire was unbeaten in 17 fights, and had held the IBF strap since 2018, beating solid fighters such as Chris Namus, Mikaela Lauren, and Maria Lindberg along the way. Shields never seriously hurt the Canadian but outscored her emphatically (100/90 x3) to become undisputed champion, and in our estimation, the first two-weight Lineal Champion in the history of women’s boxing.

What has she done since?

In 2020 Shields dropped down to 154lbs to trounce Ivana Habazin (for two vacant belts), then won all 10 rounds against #1 ranked Dicaire for junior middleweight supremacy.

What’s next?

Claressa has recently joined forces with British promotional company, Boxxer, a move which was hot on the heels of nemesis, Savannah Marshall. A Shields-Marshall mega-fight, which would likely be at 160lbs, seems imminent. Marshall has the WBO strap, but Shields is the Lineal Champion of the division, and as championship tradition goes, to be The Woman, you have to beat The Woman.

@LinealBoxChamp