Claressa Shields is ready to get back in the ring
Matchroom Boxing’s longtime promoter, Eddie Hearn spoke excitedly during a recent interview about a title unification fight. He was referring to the Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 135-pound showdown scheduled for April 2022. Hearn said “We’re on the brink now.”
Although women’s boxing is not a new sport, it’s been around for many years, its top fighters, Christy Martin and Laila Ali weren’t always able to find opponents that could offer compelling fights. But thankfully that is now a thing of the past.
In the lower weight classes, we have Seniesa Estrada who has literally blasted her way through three divisions. In the heavier ones, Claressa Shields who proved herself in the amateur ranks has now built on that success. Women’s boxing is going from strength to strength and a number of important fights are already in the process of being scheduled for 2022.
You can notch the excitement up a bit this year by joining a Jackpot Casino login. But the year also looks to be an exciting one if you are interested in women’s boxing. Let’s take a look at women’s boxing pound-for-pound rankings:
Record: 20-0- Last fight: UD win against Firuza Sharipova- Next fight: TBD
Taylor is 35 years old and since turning pro following the 2016 Olympics has made an impressive rise. In her seventh fight she won a world title, and in her ninth became a unified champion and needed only 14 fights in order to be marked as the undisputed champion at 135 pounds. In 2019 Taylor received a title at 140 pounds and is a major draw in the UK and also Stateside. Negotiations are progressing for a fight between her and Amanda Serrano which is expected to be the biggest fight in women’s boxing yet.
Record: 11-0 – Last fight: UD win against Marie Eve Dicaire – Next fight: Ema Kozin
Shields turned pro in 2016. Since then, Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has been granted undisputed status in two weight divisions – 154 and 160 pounds, and collected two titles in a third weight division – 168. Unfortunately, the lack of significant opponents has not been good for Shields making it necessary for her to take part in mixed martial arts. This year looks like being different. Following a fight in February, the 26- year- old is scheduled for a middleweight face-off against Savannah Marshall, who was the only fighter to win against Shields in the amateur ranks.
Record: 41-1-1 – Last fight: UD win against Miriam Gutierrez – Next fight: TBD
Serrano has an impressive resume, being a seven-division world champion who moves easily between the 115 to 140- pound weight classes. Serano defeated Yamila Esther Reynosa in 1918 and won a vacant title at junior welterweight. She dropped down to super flyweight some 4 months later to win against Eva Voraberger and collect another belt. The anticipated fight against Katie Taylor will give the 33- year- old the chance to outdo the current number one and become one of the best women boxers of all time.
Record: 22-0 – Last fight: UD win against Maria Michelo Santizo – Next fight: TBD
We have seen Estrada rise meteorically in the last three years. She beat ex-US Olympian, Marlen Esparza, in 2019. Esparza women’s boxing’s best 112- pounder! In March last year, Estrada dropped to 105 pounds to beat longtime titleholder, Anabel Ortiz. Moving up to 108 pounds in July she took a second title from Tsunami Tenkai and then, in December, she concluded a three-fight year by defeating Maria Micheo Santizo, and holding on to her 105- pound belt.
Add to this that Estrada logged the quickest knockout in the history of women’s boxing, 7 seconds when she obliterated Miranda Adkins. The 29- year- old, has plans to unify the 105 – pound titles this year with a fight that’s in the works against IBF champion, Yokasta Valle. After that Estrada is planning to go up in weight for a follow-up fight with Esparza.
Record: 11-2 – Last fight: TKO win against Kandi Wyatt – Next fight: TBD
In 2020 Jessica McCaskill was recognized as a solid fighter having defeated ex-titleholder Erica Farias and a competitive loss to Katie Taylor. She had a close win over Cecilia Braekhus, the longtime reigning welterweight champion and this earned her four 147- pound belts and a win in the rematch. This marked her as up there with the best of them in women’s boxing. The 37- year- old has big opportunities to look forward to in 2022. She is slated to face the winner of the planned face-off between Chantelle Cameron and Kali Reiss, junior welterweight titleholders. This fight will set two champions from two weight divisions against one another.
Record: 16-0 – Last fight: Maiva Hamadouche – Next fight TBD
Mayer is a 2016 US Olympian and continues with much drive. In 2020 she won a vacant 130-pound title and gained another one in 2021 when she defeated Maiva Hamadouche. The 31- year- old is looking to collect all four belts this year before moving up to perhaps fighting Katie Taylor.
Record fight: 46-3 – Last fight: RTD win again Beatriz Aguilar – Next fight: TBD
Persoon has an outstanding record. She has reigned for 5 years as a 135-pound titleholder which accounts for her world-class status. However, she has had two losses that really stand out. Persoon fought with Katie Taylor in 2019. She threw 586 punches in a narrow majority decision defeat. Then in 2020 she was defeated in a competitive rematch. But she did bounce back with back-to-back wins in 2021. Persoon is 27 and at 130-135 pounds she is still one of the very best.
Record: 11-0 – Last fight: TKO win against Lolita Muzeya – Next fight: TBD
In 2017 Marshall turned pro and at that time had a significant tag on her amateur resume. Marshall outpointed Claressa Shields in 2012 at the Amateur Boxing Championships. This was the only blemish on Shield’s boxing record. Marshall has proved to be a crushing power as a pro, defeating nine out of her first 11 opponents. In 2020 she won a middleweight title over Hannah Rankin. She is looking to pick up another title in the first part of 2022 before she fights Shields in what is expected to be a real showdown for women’s boxing.
Record: 27-1 – Last fight: TKO vs Daniele Bastieri – Next fight: TBD
2019 saw the end of Hammer’s run as unified middleweight champion – losing against Claressa Shields. Since then, she has won three straight, which includes two knockouts at super middleweight. Hammer, now 31 recently connected with Wasserman Boxing and is preparing for another world title run in 2022.
Record: 11-1 – Last fight: TKO win against Terri Harper – Next fight: TBD
Last November we saw Baumgardner blast into everyone’s sight when she defeated Terri Harper with a one-punch knockout. With two belts at 130-pounds, the 27- year -old is heading for a fight with Hyun Mi Choi. If she wins this, it could mean a showdown with Mikaela Mayer, to claim the undisputed super featherweight championship.
