It ended up being the only unification title fight, but it also made clear Yokasta Valle is one of the best fighters in the world.
Valle added the IBF belt to her WBO strawweight title on Thursday night in a raucous San Jose, Costa Rica when she beat Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen by a sweeping unanimous decision — 100-90 on all cards.
The 30-year-old Valle (26-2, 9 KO) has not lost since 2018, when Tina Rupprecht defeated her in a close unanimous decision. Valle now jumps Rupprecht into No. 2 in our divisional rankings, in part because Rupprecht hasn’t fought since last July and Valle appears to continue to be improving as a fighter.
Valle — or Rupprecht, for that matter — would be an interesting near-future opponent for ESPN’s top-ranked fighter in the division, Seniesa Estrada.
For the 25-year-old Nguyen (5-1, 1 KO), there should be more opportunities down the line. Nguyen dropped out of the rankings, replaced by Sarah Bormann, who fights later this month.
On the same card, Adeladia Ruiz (12-0-1, 6 KO) beat Sonia Osorio (15-8, 4 KO) by unanimous decision to win the WBC interim junior bantamweight title.
In another compelling fight, Mary Spencer (7-0, 5 KO) beat Cynthia Lozano (9-2, 7 KO) in a junior middleweight fight in Montreal on Friday. Spencer, 37, with a decorated amateur career, is an intriguing potential opponent for fellow Canadian Marie-Eve Dicaire or any of the other top junior middleweights — Natasha Jonas, Hannah Rankin, Lolita Muzeya or even Patricia Berghult, who suffered her first career loss last month.
Debora Anahi Dionicius (33-4, 6 KO) fought Lilian Dolores Silva (4-15-1) for the second time in a year and beat Silva by unanimous decision in a big mismatch for the second time in a junior lightweight bout in Argentina on Friday. Dionicius, a former IBF junior bantamweight champion, should not be facing this type of competition.
The big card of last weekend — the Claressa Shields-Savannah Marshall all-women’s card in London — was postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The preliminary date given by the fight promoter for the reschedule is Oct. 15.
On Friday, Melissa St. Vil (14-4-4, 1 KO), a former world title challenger in two divisions, fights Calista Silgado (20-14-3, 15 KO) in a six-round lightweight fight at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple in Brooklyn, New York.
Lucy Wildheart (8-1, 4 KO), one of ESPN’s fighters to watch in 2022, returns to the ring for the first time in over a year to face Eva Cantos (4-6, 1 KO) in a six-round featherweight fight in England. Jessica Camara, ESPN’s No. 4 junior welterweight, is scheduled to fight Marie Vega (9-4, 4 KOs) on a card in Wilmington, Delaware — the second time she’s fighting in a month.
Title fights, though, return on Sept. 24 with the Amanda Serrano-Sarah Mahfoud featherweight unification bout.
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: TBA vs. Savannah Marshall
2. Savannah Marshall Previous ranking: No. 2
Record: 12-0, 10 KOs
Last: W (KO3) Femke Hermans, April 2
Next: TBA vs. Claressa Shields
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: 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. Marie Vega
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: TBA vs. Alycia Baumgardner
2. Alycia Baumgardner Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 12-1, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Edith Soledad Matthysse, April 16
Next: TBA 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: Sept. 24 vs. Amanda Serrano
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. 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: Sept. 10 vs. Cindy Corona Chavez
5. Sarah Bormann Previous ranking: N/R
Record: 14-0, 7 KO
Last: W (UD10) Ana Arrazola, May 21
Next: Sept. 24 vs. Elizabeth Lopez Corzo
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