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Divisional rankings: Marlen Esparza solidifies spot at flyweight; new face at welterweight

Marlen Esparza did exactly what was expected Saturday night. She dominated another flyweight opponent.

The WBA and WBC flyweight champion beat Eva Guzman by unanimous decision in a dominant 99-91, 98-92, 98-92 performance. The victory kept Esparza (13-1, 1 KO) atop ESPN’s flyweight rankings. The options for her now are clear — either try to unify the division by fighting Leonela Paola Yudica or Gabriela Celeste Alaniz or consider a fight against ESPN’s No. 2 fighter in the division, Arely Mucino.

There’s always the possibility of a rematch against Seniesa Estrada in the future as well — and that would probably be the most lucrative option for Esparza. Right now, Esparza is among the more intriguing fighters in the lower weight divisions.

Sandy Ryan (4-1, 2 KO) isn’t in the top 5 in the junior welterweight division yet, but by avenging her prior loss to Erica Farias by unanimous decision Saturday night in Sheffield, England, the 28-year-old did keep herself in position to progress in her career.

Farias has now lost four of her last five fights — two to Jessica McCaskill, one to Mikaela Mayer and now to Ryan. That’s a tough stretch for the 38-year-old former WBC lightweight and junior welterweight champion. The loss dropped her out of the welterweight rankings (even though she fought in a different division). She’s being replaced with 21-year-old rising star Summer Lynn (7-0, 3 KO). Lynn has a ton of potential, but ranking her so early shows the questionable depth in the welterweight division.

On Friday, Melissa St. Vil (14-4, 1 KO) fights for the first time in over a year, taking on Marisa Joana Portillo (19-15-3, 4 KO) in a six-round junior welterweight bout in Queens, New York. On Saturday, ESPN’s No. 4 junior welterweight, Jessica Camara (8-3) will fight at lightweight in an eight-round bout against Kim Wabik (4-2-2) in Melrose, Massachusetts.

Rankings will be updated every Tuesday. They’ll be based on recent bouts, head-to-head competition and 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.

175+ poundsSuper middleweightMiddleweightJunior middleweightWelterweightJunior welterweightLightweightJunior lightweightFeatherweightJunior featherweightBantamweightJunior bantamweightFlyweightJunior flyweightStrawweightAtomweight


175+ POUNDS

1. Hanna Gabriels     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 21-2-1, 12 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Martha Patricia Lara Gaytan, April 17, 2021
Next: TBA


2. Danielle Perkins     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 3-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD8) Monika Harrison, March 5, 2021
Next: TBA


3. Angelica Lopez Flores     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 13-1, 7 KOs
Last: L (TKO1) Shadasia Green, Jan. 15
Next: TBA


4. Seini Draughn     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 4-0-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (MD4) Monika Harrison, May 22, 2021
Next: TBA


5. Lani Daniels     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 6-2-2, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Tinta Smith, June 24
Next: TBA


SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 168 pounds)

1. Franchon Crews Dezurn     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 8-1, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Elin Cederroos, April 30
Next: TBA


2. Christina Hammer     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 28-1, 13 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Luiza Davydova, May 7
Next: TBA


3. Ema Kozin     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 22-1-1, 12 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Szilvia Szabados, June 4
Next: TBA


4. Elin Cederroos     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 8-1, 4 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Franchon Crews Dezurn, April 30
Next: TBA


5. Shadasia Green     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 9-0, 8 KOs
Last: W (TKO1) Angelica Lopez Flores, Jan. 15
Next: TBA


MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 160 pounds)

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Check out the trailer for the ESPN+ 4-part documentary on Claressa Shields’ attempt to conquer the MMA and boxing worlds.

1. Claressa Shields     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 12-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Ema Kozin, Feb. 5
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Savannah Marshall


2. Savannah Marshall     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 12-0, 10 KOs
Last: W (KO3) Femke Hermans, April 2
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Claressa Shields


3. Marciela Cornejo     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 15-5, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Simone Aparecida da Silva, March 25
Next: TBA


4. Ema Kozin     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 22-1-1, 12 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Szilvia Szabados, June 4
Next: TBA


5. Raquel Miller     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 11-0, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD6) Sonya Dreiling, Dec. 2
Next: TBA


JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 154 pounds)

1. Marie-Eve Dicaire     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 18-1, 1 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Cynthia Lozano, Dec. 17
Next: TBA


2. Patricia Berghult     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 15-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Olivia Belkacem, Nov. 27
Next: Aug. 13 vs. Cecilia Braekhus


3. Hannah Rankin     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 12-5, 3 KOs
Last: W (TKO10) Alejandra Ayala, May 13
Next: TBA


4. Natasha Jonas     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 11-2-1, 8 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Chris Namus, Feb. 19
Next: TBA


5. Lolita Muzeya     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 17-1, 9 KOs
Last: W (KO1) Yarkor Chavez Annan, March 6
Next: TBA


WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 147 pounds)

1. Jessica McCaskill     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 12-2, 5 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Alma Ibarra, June 25
Next: TBA


2. Cecilia Braekhus     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 36-2, 9 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Jessica McCaskill, March 13
Next: Aug. 13 vs. Patricia Berghult


3. Layla McCarter     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 45-13-5, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Halanna dos Santos, March 25
Next: TBA


4. Ewa Piatkowska     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 16-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD6) Judy Waguthii, May 14, 2021
Next: TBA


5. Summer Lynn     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 7-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD6) Jaica Pavilus, April 2
Next: Sept. 10 vs. TBA


JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 140 pounds)

1. Chantelle Cameron     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 16-0, 8 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Victoria Noelia Bustos, May 21
Next: TBA


2. Kali Reis     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 19-7-1, 5 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Jessica Camara, Nov. 19
Next: TBA


3. Mary McGee     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 27-4, 15 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Chantelle Cameron, Oct. 30
Next: TBA


4. Jessica Camara     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 8-3, 0 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Kali Reis, Nov. 19
Next: TBA


5. Oshin Derieuw     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 16-0, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD6) Elsa Hemat, June 18
Next: TBA

— Anahi Ester Sanchez has been removed for inactivity.


LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 135 pounds)

1. Katie Taylor     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 21-0, 6 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Amanda Serrano, April 30
Next: TBA


2. Amanda Serrano     Previous ranking: 2

Record: 42-2-1, 30 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Katie Taylor, April 30
Next: Aug. 6 vs. Brenda Carabajal


3. Estelle Yoka Mossely     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 10-0, 1 KO
Last: W (SD10) Yanina del Carmen Lescano, March 18
Next: TBA


4. Delfine Persoon     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 47-3, 19 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Elhem Mekhaled, May 21
Next: TBA


5. Jennifer Han     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 18-5-1, 1 KO
Last: L (UD10) Mikaela Mayer, April 9
Next: TBA


JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 130 pounds)

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Mikaela Mayer retains her junior lightweight titles with a unanimous decision victory over Jennifer Han.

1. Mikaela Mayer     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 17-0, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Jennifer Han, April 9
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Alycia Baumgardner


2. Alycia Baumgardner     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 12-1, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Edith Soledad Matthysse, April 16
Next: Sept. 10 vs. Mikaela Mayer


3. Delfine Persoon     Previous ranking: 5

Record: 47-3, 19 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Elhem Mekhaled, May 21
Next: TBA


4. Maiva Hamadouche     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 22-2, 18 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Mikaela Mayer, Nov. 5
Next: TBA


5. Hyun Mi Choi     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 19-0-1, 5 KOs
Last: W (TKO9) Simone Aparecida da Silva, Sept. 18
Next: TBA


FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 126 pounds)

1. Amanda Serrano     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 42-2-1, 30 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Katie Taylor, April 30
Next: Aug. 6 vs. Brenda Carabajal


2. Erika Cruz     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 14-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Melissa Esquivel, Nov. 26
Next: TBA


3. Sarah Mahfoud     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 11-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Nina Meinke, April 21
Next: TBA


4. Yamileth Mercado     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 19-3, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Isis Vargas Perez, April 2
Next: TBA


5. Brenda Karen Carabajal     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 18-5-1, 9 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Debora Anahi Dionicius, May 13
Next: Aug. 6 vs. Amanda Serrano


JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 122 pounds)

1. Jackie Nava     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 39-4-4, 16 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Mariana Juarez, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: TBA


2. Yamileth Mercado     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 19-3, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Isis Vargas Perez, April 2
Next: TBA


3. Segolene Lefebvre     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 16-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Melania Sorroche, May 7
Next: TBA


4. Mayerlin Rivas     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 17-4-2, 11 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Karina Fernandez, June 10
Next: TBA


5. Cherneka Johnson     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 14-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Melissa Esquivel, April 20
Next: TBA

Dina Thorslund, Daniela Bermudez and Yazmin Rivas have been removed due to inactivity in the division.


BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 118 pounds)

1. Dina Thorslund     Previous ranking: 1

Record: 18-0, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Niorkis Carreno, April 9
Next: TBA


2. Yuliahn Luna Avila     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 24-3-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Jessica Gonzalez, June 17
Next: TBA


3. Jamie Mitchell     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 8-0-2, 5 KOs
Last: W (KO4) Carly Skelly, Feb. 5
Next: TBA


4. Shannon O’Connell     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 23-6-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (TKO1) Sarah Higginson, June 29
Next: TBA


5. Ebanie Bridges     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 8-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Maria Cecilia Roman, March 26
Next: TBA


JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 115 pounds)

1. Lourdes Juarez     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 34-2, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Debora Vanesa Gomez, June 4
Next: TBA


2. Yessica Chavez     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 32-5-3, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Susy Kandy Sandoval, July 17, 2021
Next: TBA


3. Diana Laura Fernandez     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 25-4-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Vanesa Lorena Taborda, March 25
Next: TBA


4. Micaela Milagros Lujan     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 10-1-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Nataly Delgado, Nov. 26
Next: TBA


5. Tamao Ozawa     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 17-5, 6 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Miyo Yoshida, May 30
Next: TBA

— Guadalupe Martinez Guzman has been remobved for inactivity.


FLYWEIGHT (Up to 112 pounds)

1. Marlen Esparza     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 13-1, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Eva Guzman, Aug. 6
Next: TBA


2. Arely Mucino     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 31-3-2, 11 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Marisol Molina Sanchez, Feb. 19
Next: TBA


3. Naoko Fujioka     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 19-3-1, 7 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Marlen Esparza, April 9
Next: TBA


4. Ibeth Zamora     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 32-7, 12 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Marlen Esparza, June 19, 2021
Next: TBA


5. Gabriela Celeste Alaniz     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 13-0, 5 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Tamara Elisabet Demarco, June 18
Next: TBA


JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (Up to 108 pounds)

1. Seniesa Estrada     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 22-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (TKO4) Maria Santizo, Dec. 18
Next: TBA


2. Kim Clavel     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 15-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (TKO4) Mariela Ribera Valverde, March 11
Next: July 29 vs. Yesenia Gomez


3. Evelin Bermudez     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 17-0-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Yairineth Altuve, July 23
Next: TBA


4. Jessica Nery Plata     Previous ranking: NR

Record: 28-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Yesica Yolanda Bopp, March 11
Next: TBA


5. Yesenia Gomez     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 19-5-3, 6 KOs
Last: W (MD8) Itzayana Cruz Delgado, Oct. 16
Next: July 29 vs. Kim Clavel


STRAWWEIGHT (Up to 105 pounds)

1. Seniesa Estrada     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 22-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (TKO4) Maria Santizo, Dec. 18
Next: TBA


2. Tina Rupprecht     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 11-0-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Katia Gutierrez, July 24
Next: TBA


3. Yokasta Valle     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 25-2, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Lorraine Villalobos, June 11
Next: TBA


4. Anabel Ortiz     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 31-5, 4 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Marlen Esparza, Dec. 18
Next: Aug. 6 vs. Seniesa Estrada


5. Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 5-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Etsuko Tada, Oct. 23
Next: TBA


ATOMWEIGHT (Up to 102 pounds)

1. Monserrat Alarcon     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 17-4-2, 0 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Silvia Torres, Dec. 4
Next: TBA


2. Saemi Hanagata     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 16-7-5, 7 KOs
Last: Draw (MD10) Eri Matsuda, March 18, 2021
Next: TBA


3. Ayaka Miyao     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 25-9-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Eri Matsuda, Feb. 25
Next: TBA


4. Nanae Suzuki     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 11-4-1, 1 KO
Last: W (SD10) Mika Iwakawa, Feb. 25
Next: TBA


5. Kaori Nagai     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 6-4-3, 2 KOs
Last: L (UD8) Mizuki Chimoto, May 15
Next: TBA

ESPN Boxing

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