Women’s Monthly Boxing Ratings

November 5, 2024

**Serrano Vs Cruz:** Amanda Serrano and Erika Cruz - the best two featherweights in the world - go to war, for supremacy at 126lb. February 4, 2023.

Boxing is filled with a confusing array of “world title” belt holders, in which vacant titles are often decided via mediocre match-ups. When there are multiple world titlists in every division, it makes it difficult for fans to know who the best fighters are. BoxRec provides a useful reference point, but its ratings use a computer-based algorithm, so are therefore open to oddities.

Our authoritative, monthly, divisional rankings (the first long-standing, independent, non-computerized monthly rankings in women’s boxing, which began on April 6th, 2019), compiled by knowledgeable analysts, aim to provide a degree of much needed clarity. We use our ratings to identify who the top contenders in a weight class are, and as is tradition in prize fighting history, a box-off between these contenders crowns a new Lineal World Champion. Champions will only lose their Championship if they are defeated in the ring, retire or move weight divisions. In contrast to the various sanctioning bodies, our Lineal Champions will not be “stripped,” and there will only ever be one Lineal World Champion per weight division.

Divisional Ratings

Lineal Lightweight and Junior Welterweight World Champion, **Katie Taylor**

Pound-Pound Top 10

The Baddest Woman on the Planet

The best women from 154lb - heavyweight (2024)

Champion: Claressa Shields (2019 - Present).

UPDATES

Boxers are ranked according to ability and accomplishments in their respective weight classes. Fighters may be removed if they have been inactive for over 18 months and still have no fights scheduled.

Lineal Boxing Champion’s long-standing, independent, non-computerised, monthly divisional ratings, began on April 6th, 2019 – at this time, no such ratings existed in women’s professional boxing.

The international panel that produces the ratings, consists of ten boxing analysts, from nine different countries.

October - November 5th, Updates

Strawweight

Seniesa Estrada surprised boxing fans by announcing her retirement on October 23, saying (as per Sports Illustrated online), “We did everything we imagined I would do and more as a woman in a male dominated sport. It’s been one wild ride. Thank you for standing by me. I hope that my style of fighting is one that people will remember forever. Only God knows how long I’ve been contemplating this decision. Physically and mentally, I can’t continue anymore…” The strawweight championship is now vacant.

Flyweight

Gabriela Fundora spectacularly defeated Lineal Flyweight Champion, Gabriela Alaniz, on October 7, stopping in her in round seven in Las Vegas. 22-year-old Fundora is now the youngest ever women’s lineal champion. Alaniz and Esparza drop to #1 and #2 respectively.

Bantamweight

Shurretta Metcalf climbs to No.1 in the ratings following her points win over Miyo Yoshida on October 23. Luna Avila falls to #2. Yoshida falls to #3.

In mid-September, Ebanie Bridges announced that she is pregnant. The Australian has not fought since her loss in December 2023 and will now be likely out of the ring for at least another 12 months, therefore exits the ratings.

Cherneka Johnson rises to #4 and Nina Hughes renters at #5.

Junior Featherweight

Mikiah Kreps defeated Mayerin Rivas via 8-round unanimous decision on October 4, moving her to #4 in the junior lightweight ratings - Rivas exits.

Nazarena Romero enters at #5 after stopping Paulette Cuesta on August 24. Mayeli Flores exits.

P4P

Fundora replaces Gabriela Alaniz at #10 after her TKO victory over the Argentinian.

Women’s Championship Policy

Women’s Championship Policy 2021

Ratings Panel

David Avila: 2019 Inductee IWBHF. Journalist at The Sweet Science. California, USA. @AvilaBoxing

Daniel Yanofsky: Boxing journalist for The Sporting News. New York, USA. @DanYanofsky

Ireneusz Fryszkowski: Boxing Journalist. Poland. @RingBlogpl

Julian Haramoure: Boxing journalist, including articles for Argentina Amateur Deporte and ElRoundFinal.com. Argentina. @JulianFunky

Yuriko Miyata: Boxing journalist, including articles for The Ring and ThePrizeFighters.com. Japan. @Yuriyuri0803

GM Ross: Boxing journalist. Host of Pugilistically Inclined podcast. Canada. @CanadianBoxiana

Blanca Gutierrez: Creator of Beautiful Brawlers. 2019 Inductee IWBHF. 2018 Inductee WCBHOF. USA. @bbrawlersboxing

Inaky Arzate: Boxing journalist, including articles for TUDN. Mexico. @inaky_arzate

Benjamin Thomas Watt: BoxRec editor and boxing judge. New Zealand. @Bennyaha

Adam McMeeking: Member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and Editor of LinealBoxingChampion.com. United Kingdom. @TripleJabBoxing