<
>

Women's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Did Katie Taylor do enough to take over the No. 1 spot?

Katie Taylor, above, defended all four of her major titles with a victory in a rematch against Defline Persoon. Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

Claressa Shields calls herself the boxing GWOAT (Greatest Woman Of All Time), and it's hard to argue against her. Shields has won world titles in three divisions and is the current undisputed middleweight world champion. She also has won two Olympic gold medals and is unbeaten as a professional.

Her closest GWOAT competition is Laila Ali, who has been retired for over 13 years, and Cecilia Braekhus, who after reigning as the unified welterweight champion for six years, lost a majority decision to Jessica McCaskill on Aug. 15 in a big upset.

Katie Taylor, an Olympic gold medalist, two-weight world titlist and the current undisputed lightweight champion of the world, remains Shields' toughest competition in the pound-for-pound rankings at No. 2, after a tremendous effort in a unanimous decision against Delfine Persoon in their rematch on Aug. 22. Amanda Serrano, who has won titles in seven weight classes, is hoping to get a fight against Taylor next.

Women's boxing is bigger than ever, and there's a case to make for a lot of the current top fighters.

So, who else is in the ESPN.com women's pound-for-pound rankings?

Our ESPN panel voted and here's the list.

Note: Results are through Aug, 26.

1. CLARESSA SHIELDS     Previous ranking: No. 1

RECORD: 10-0, 2 KOs
DIVISION: Middleweight (undisputed champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Ivana Habazin, Jan. 10
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


2. KATIE TAYLOR     Previous ranking: No. 2

RECORD: 16-0, 6 KOs
DIVISION: Lightweight (undisputed champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Delfine Persoon, Aug. 22
NEXT FIGHT: Nov. 14 vs. Miriam Gutierrez


3. AMANDA SERRANO     Previous ranking: No. 3

RECORD: 38-1-1, 28 KOs
DIVISION: Featherweight (titlist)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO3) Simone Aparecida Da Silva, Jan. 30
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


4. JESSICA MCCASKILL     Previous ranking: No. 4

RECORD: 9-2, 3 KOs
DIVISION: Featherweight (titlist)
LAST FIGHT: W (MD10) Cecilia Braekhus, Aug. 15
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


5. CECILIA BRAEKHUS     Previous ranking: No. 5

RECORD: 36-1, 9 KOs
DIVISION: Welterweight
LAST FIGHT: L (MD10) Jessica McCaskill, Aug. 15
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


6. DELFINE PERSOON     Previous ranking: No. 6

RECORD: 44-3, 18 KOs
DIVISION: Lightweight
LAST FIGHT: L (UD10) Katie Taylor, Aug. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


7. CHRISTINA HAMMER     Previous ranking: No. 7

RECORD: 25-1, 11 KOs
DIVISION: Middleweight
LAST FIGHT: W (UD8) Florence Muthoni, Feb. 8
NEXT FIGHT: Oct. 31 vs. TBA


8. DANIELA BERMUDEZ     Previous ranking: No. 8

RECORD: 28-3-3, 9 KOs
DIVISION: Bantamweight (titlist)
LAST FIGHT: W (KO9) Alys Sanchez, Feb. 28
NEXT FIGHT: Oct. 31 vs. Tatyana Zrazhevskaya


9. YESICA BOPP     Previous ranking: No. 9

RECORD: 36-1, 16 KOs
DIVISION: Junior flyweight (titlist)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Gabriela Sanchez Saavedra, June 15, 2019
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


T-10. MARIANA JUAREZ     Previous ranking: No. 10

RECORD: 54-9-4, 18 KOs
DIVISION: Bantamweight (titlist)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Carolina Raquel Duer, Oct. 12
NEXT FIGHT: Oct. 31 vs. Yulihan Alejandra Luna Avila


T-10. LAYLA MCCARTER     Previous ranking: No. 10

RECORD: 43-13-5, 11 KOs
DIVISION: Welterweight
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Yamila Esther Reynoso, Jan. 17, 2019
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


T-10. SENIESA ESTRADA     Previous ranking: N/A

RECORD: 19-0, 8 KOs
DIVISION: Junior flyweight
LAST FIGHT: W (KO1) Miranda Adkins, July 24
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


The formula

The rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first-place vote receiving 10 points, a second-place vote receiving nine points and so on.

Others receiving votes: Mikaela Mayer (6), Terri Harper (5), Marcela Acuna (4), Hyun Choi (3), Hanna Gabriel (3), Kenia Enriquez (1)


How our experts voted

Timothy Bradley Jr.: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Hammer, 5. Braekhus, 6. Mayer, 7. Estrada, 8. Harper, 9. McCaskill, 10. Persoon

Nick Parkinson: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Braekhus, 6. Persoon, 7. Acuna, 8. Juarez, 9. Bopp, 10. Harper

Salvador Rodriguez: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. McCaskill, 4. Braekhus, 5. Serrano, 6. Persoon, 7. Juarez, 8. Bermudez, 9. Bopp, 10. Harper

Bernardo Pilatti: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. McCarter, 4. Serrano, 5. McCaskill, 6. Hammer, 7. Persoon, 8. Braekhus, 9. Bermudez, 10. Enriquez

Charlie Moynihan: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Bermudez, 5. McCaskill, 6. Hammer, 7. Braekhus, 8. Choi, 9. Persoon, 10. Juarez

Kel Dansby: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. McCaskill, 4. Serrano, 5. Braekhus, 6. Bopp, 7. Estrada, 8. Gabriel, 9. Persoon, 10. Mayer


ESPN experts' poll

First place: Shields (4), Taylor (2)

Second place: Taylor (4), Shields (2)

Third place: Serrano (3), McCaskill (2), McCarter (1)

Fourth place: Serrano (2), McCaskill (1), Braekhus (1), Bermudez (1), Hammer (1)

Fifth place: Braekhus (3), McCaskill (2), Serrano (1)

Sixth place: Hammer (2), Persoon (2) Bopp (1), Mayer (1)

Seventh place: Estrada (2), Braekhus (1), Persoon (1), Juarez (1), Acuna (1)

Eighth place: Braekhus (1), Bermudez (1), Estrada (1), Harper (1), Juarez (1), Choi (1)

Ninth place: Persoon (2), Bopp (2), Mccaskill (1) Bermudez (1)

10th place: Harper (2), Persoon (1), Mayer (1), Juarez (1), Enriquez (1)