Natasha Jonas (12-2-1, 8 KO) handed Patricia Berghult (15-1, 3 KO) the first defeat of her career in a junior middleweight unification bout on Saturday to add the WBC title to her WBO title. The win moved Jonas up to No. 2 in ESPN’s junior middleweight rankings.
But the biggest shakeup in the week came in Japan, where multiple atomweight titles were on the line in an all-female card in Tokyo.
Mika Iwakawa (11-6-1, 3 KO), who had lost her WBO belt the last time she fought, is a champion once again after defeating Ayaka Miyao (25-10-2, 6 KO) by unanimous decision — 96-94 on all cards — to win the IBF title. Nanae Suzuki (11-5-1, 1 KO), who had beaten Iwakawa in February for the WBO title, lost the belt in her first defense in a unanimous decision loss to Yuko Kuroki (20-7-2, 9 KO), 97-93, 98-92, 98-92.
Eri Matsuda (5-1-1, 1 KO), who had lost her IBF belt to Miyao in February, also fought on the same card and beat Kaori Nagai by unanimous decision — perhaps once again putting her in play for a title shot. This shook up the entirety of the division — at least behind top-ranked Monserrat Alarcon. Iwakawa moved to No. 2, Fabiana Bytyqi up to No. 3, Matsuda to No. 4 and Miyo down to No. 5.
ESPN’s No. 2 featherweight Erika Cruz (15-1, 3 KO) did what she needed Saturday night to keep a potential undisputed featherweight championship fight as a possibility, defending her WBA title in a unanimous decision win over Jelena Mrdjenovich (41-12-2, 19 KO). A unification fight between WBO and WBC champion Amanda Serrano and IBF champion Sarah Mahfoud is taking place later this month. Depending what happens between Serrano and Mahfoud, a Cruz matchup would make sense probably in early 2023.
This weekend, Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall headline an all-female card in an undisputed middleweight title fight at O2 Arena, that also has the junior lightweight unification bout between Mikaela Mayer and Alycia Baumgardner (ESPN+, 2:30 p.m. ET). Shields (No. 2), Mayer (No. 5) and Marshall (No. 7) are all in ESPN’s pound-for-pound top 10 and Baumgardner was the first off at No. 11. In their divisions — Shields and Marshall are No. 1 and 2, respectively, at middleweight and Mayer and Baumgardner are No. 1 and 2, respectively, at junior lightweight.
It’s also a card featuring multiple interesting prospects, including welterweight Lauren Price, featherweights Ebonie Jones and Karriss Artingstall in separate bouts, lightweight Caroline Dubois and flyweight Ginny Fuchs. Another name to watch is junior featherweight Sarah Liegmann, who at age 20 is just getting started.
On Thursday in San Jose, Costa Rica, IBF strawweight champion Yokasta Valle (25-2, 9 KO), ESPN’s No. 3 in the division, will defend her belt against Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen (5-0, 1 KO), the WBO champion and rated No. 5 by ESPN (DAZN, 9 p.m. ET). Also on the card, Sonia Osorio (15-7-2, 4 KO) puts her WBC interim junior bantamweight belt on the line against Adelaida Ruiz (11-0-1, 6 KO). Flyweight Anabel Ortiz (31-5, 4 KO), who has lost her last two fights — to Seniesa Estrada and Marlen Esparza — will fight Maria Micheo Santizo (9-1, 5 KO) in an eight-round bout. Santizo’s only loss came in her last fight, when she was knocked out by Estrada in the fourth round.
On Friday, in a non-title fight, but one with potential future implications, Mary Spencer (6-0, 4 KO) will fight Cynthia Lozano (9-1, 7 KO) in Montreal in a junior middleweight bout. Lozano’s only loss came in her last fight, to Marie-Eve Dicaire. Spencer could be putting herself in line for a future title shot with a win.
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+ 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. 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)
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. Natasha Jonas Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 12-2-1, 8 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Patricia Berghult, Sept. 3
Next: TBA
3. Hannah Rankin Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 12-5, 3 KOs
Last: W (TKO10) Alejandra Ayala, May 13
Next: Sept 24 vs. Terri Harper
4. Patricia Berghult 
Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 15-1, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Natasha Jonas, Sept. 3
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: Nov. 5 vs. Chantelle Cameron
2. Cecilia Braekhus Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 36-2, 9 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Jessica McCaskill, March 13
Next: TBA
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: Oct. 15 vs. Deborah Willies
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: Nov. 5 vs. Jessica McCaskill
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: 9-3, 0 KOs
Last: W (KO2) Simone Aparecida da Silva, Aug. 13
Next: Sept. 17 vs. 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: Sept. 24 vs. Sarah Mahfoud
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)
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: Sept. 24 vs. Sarah Mahfoud
2. Erika Cruz Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 15-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Jelena Mrdjenovich, Sept. 3
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: Oct. 15 vs. Mariana Juarez
5. Brenda Karen Carabajal Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 18-5-1, 9 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Debora Anahi Dionicius, May 13
Next: TBA
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: Oct. 15 vs. Mariana Juarez
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 Lujan Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 11-1-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Irma Garcia, Aug. 20
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: 16-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Yesenia Gomez, July 29
Next: Dec. 1 vs. Jessica Nery Plata
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: Dec. 1 vs. Kim Clavel
5. Yesenia Gomez Previous ranking: 5
Record: 19-6-3, 6 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Kim Clavel, July 29
Next: TBA
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: Sept. 8 vs. Maria Micheo Santizo
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 KO
Last: W (MD10) Silvia Torres, Dec. 4
Next: TBA
2. Mika Iwakawa Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 11-6-1, 3 KO
Last: W (UD10) Ayaka Miyao, Sept. 1
Next: TBA
3. Fabiana Bytyqi Previous ranking: 4
Record: 19-0-2, 5 KO
Last: D (SD10) Elizabeth Lopez Corzo, Jul. 29
Next: TBA
4. Eri Matsuda Previous ranking: 5
Record: 5-1-1, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Kaori Nagai, Sept. 1
Next: TBA
5. Ayaka Miyao Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 25-10-2, 6 KO
Last: L (UD10) Mika Iwakawa, Sept. 1
Next: TBA
