There’s a new face atop the junior lightweight division.
Alycia Baumgardner continued her massive rise by beating Mikaela Mayer by split decision to become the unified champion at 130 pounds, now holding the IBF, WBC and WBO belts.
Baumgardner (13-1, 7 KO) jumped out early in the fight to take a lead on Mayer (17-1, 5 KO), who settled into the fight in the middle rounds. Nearly all of the later rounds were close, leading to 93-97, 96-95, 96-95 scorecards in favor of Baumgardner.
The fight, which saw Baumgardner move to No. 1 in the division with Mayer dropping only to No. 2, was the co-feature in an all-female night of boxing in London that mostly featured prospects doing what they needed to.
The main event — Claressa Shields-Savannah Marshall fighting for the undisputed middleweight championship — was a unanimous decision win for Shields (13-0, 2 KO), who remains atop the division. Marshall (12-1, 10 KO), No. 2 entering the fight, did not move either as it was clear she is the best competition Shields has faced since the first fight of her professional career, when she beat Franchon Crews-Dezurn.
In Australia, Cherneka Johnson (15-1, 6 KO), despite a nasty cut over her left eyebrow due to an accidental headbutt, beat Susie Ramadan (29-4, 12 KO) to retain her IBF junior featherweight title. Johnson endured a lot in the fight, from blood loss due to the cut to being hit in the back of the head by Ramadan. She remains No. 4 in her division.
Also in Australia, prospect Skye Nicolson (5-0) won a unanimous decision over Krystina Jacobs (6-4) in a featherweight bout. Nicolson is knocking on the door in the division and could be someone to pay attention to in 2023.
On Friday, ESPN’s No. 5 junior welterweight, Oshin Derieuw (17-0, 6 KO), beat Karina Szmalenberg (14-55-4, 3 KO) by unanimous decision. Derieuw has fought uninspiring opponents her last two bouts — Szmalenberg has now lost 17 straight fights, mostly against women far less experienced than Derieuw — and really should be stepping up in competition.
Rounding out a busy week, Heather Hardy (23-2, 4 KO) won a six-round lightweight decision over Calista Silgado (20-16-3, 15 KO). It was Silgado’s second fight in a month and fifth loss in her last six fights, although the losses have come against high-level opponents. It was Hardy’s first win since 2018, with losses to Amanda Serrano (2019) and Jessica Camara (2021) since.
This week, Hyun Mi Choi (19-0-1, 5 KO) is scheduled to face Vanessa Bradford (6-3-2) for the WBA junior lightweight championship. One can only hope that in this run of women fighting other top women, if Choi wins, she will then be willing to take on Baumgardner for the undisputed title.
On Saturday in Croatia, Ivana Habazin (20-4, 7 KO) is returning to the ring for the first time since 2020 to take on Diana Prazak (14-4, 9 KO) in an intriguing welterweight fight between two former world champions.
And in Germany on Saturday, one of ESPN’s up-and-coming fighters to watch in 2022, Lucy Wildheart (10-1, 4 KO), fights for the second time this month when she faces Angela Cannizzaro (6-17-1, 1 KO) at featherweight in Frankfurt, Germany.
Rankings will be updated every Tuesday. They’ll be based on recent bouts, head-to-head competition and the 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)
On her way to becoming the undisputed champ, Claressa Shields unleashes a flurry of punches in Round 1.
1. Claressa Shields Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 13-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Savannah Marshall, Oct. 15
Next: TBA
2. Savannah Marshall Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 12-1, 10 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Claressa Shields, Oct. 15
Next: TBA
3. Maricela 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: Nov. 12 vs, Natasha Jonas
2. Natasha Jonas Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 12-2-1, 8 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Patricia Berghult, Sept. 3
Next: Nov. 12 vs. Marie-Eve Dicaire
3. Terri Harper Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 13-1-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Hannah Ranking, Sept. 24
Next: TBA
4. Patricia Berghult Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 15-1, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Natasha Jonas, Sept. 3
Next: TBA
5. Hannah Rankin 
Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 12-6, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Terri Harper, Sept. 24
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: 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: 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. 4
Record: 10-3, 2 KOs
Last: W (KO1) Josefina Vega, Sept. 17
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: Oct. 29 vs. Karen Elizabeth Carabajal
2. Amanda Serrano Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 43-2-1, 30 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Sarah Mahfoud, Sept. 24
Next: TBA
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)
1. Alycia Baumgardner Previous ranking: 2
Record: 13-1, 7 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Mikaela Mayer, Oct. 15
Next: TBA
2. Mikaela Mayer Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 17-1, 5 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Alycia Baumgardner, Oct. 15
Next: TBA
3. Delfine Persoon Previous ranking: No. 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: Oct. 19 vs. Vanessa Bradford
FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 126 pounds)
1. Amanda Serrano Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 43-2-1, 30 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Sarah Mahfoud, Sept. 24
Next: TBA
2. Erika Cruz Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 15-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Jelena Mrdjenovich, Sept. 3
Next: TBA
3. 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
4. Sarah Mahfoud Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 11-1, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Amanda Serrano, Sept. 24
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: TBA
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 122 pounds)
1. Yamileth Mercado Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 19-3, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Isis Vargas Perez, April 2
Next: Oct. 15 vs. Mariana Juarez
2. Segolene Lefebvre Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 16-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Melania Sorroche, May 7
Next: TBA
3. Mayerlin Rivas Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 17-4-2, 11 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Karina Fernandez, June 10
Next: TBA
4. Cherneka Johnson Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 15-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Susie Ramadan, Oct. 15
Next: TBA
5. Mariana Juarez Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 55-11-4, 19 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Jackie Nava, Oct. 30, 2021
Next: Oct. 15 vs. Yamileth Mercado
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: No. 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: Dec. 10 vs. Ebanie Bridges
5. Ebanie Bridges Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 8-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Maria Cecilia Roman, March 26
Next: Dec. 10 vs. Shannon O’Connell
JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 115 pounds)
1. Diana Laura Fernandez Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 26-4-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Gabriela Bouvier, Aug. 27
Next: TBA
2. Yessica Chavez Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 32-5-3, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Susy Kandy Sandoval, July 17, 2021
Next: TBA
3. Micaela Lujan Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 11-1-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Irma Garcia, Aug. 20
Next: TBA
4. Asley Gonzalez Macias Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 15-2, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Lourdes Juarez, Oct. 1
Next: TBA
5. Lourdes Juarez Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 34-3, 4 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Asley Gonzalez Macias, Oct. 1
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. Gabriela Celeste Alaniz Previous ranking: No. 5
Record: 14-0, 6 KOs
Last: W (TKO9) Debora Rengifo, Sept. 24
Next: TBA
5. Ibeth Zamora Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 32-7, 12 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Marlen Esparza, June 19, 2021
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: Nov,. 12 vs. Jazmin Gala Villarino
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: No. 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: Nov. 12 vs. Jazmin Gala Villarino
2. Yokasta Valle Previous ranking: No. 3
Record: 26-2, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen, Sept. 8
Next: TBA
3. Tina Rupprecht Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 11-0-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Katia Gutierrez, July 24
Next: TBA
4. Anabel Ortiz Previous ranking: No. 4
Record: 31-5, 4 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Marlen Esparza, Dec. 18
Next: TBA
5. Sarah Bormann Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 15-0, 7 KO
Last: W (UD10) Elizabeth Lopez Corzo, Sept. 24
Next: TBA
ATOMWEIGHT (Up to 102 pounds)
1. Monserrat Alarcon Previous ranking: No. 1
Record: 18-4-2, 0 KO
Last: W (UD10) Brenda Balderas Martiinez, Sept. 30
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: No. 4
Record: 19-0-2, 5 KO
Last: D (SD10) Elizabeth Lopez Corzo, Jul. 29
Next: TBA
4. Eri Matsuda Previous ranking: No. 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
