Yamileth Mercado (21-3, 5 KO), ESPN's No. 1 junior featherweight, defeated Paulette Valenzuela (16-3, 4 KO) by unanimous decision last Saturday in Mexico to defend her WBC title. Mercado's division is an interesting one, and a fight against IBF champ Ellie Scotney or WBA titleholder Mayerlin Rivas would be a good one to make next in an attempt to unify some of the belts in the division.

In New Zealand, also on Saturday, ESPN's No. 1 heavyweight, Lani Daniels, defended her IBF title with a fourth-round stoppage of Razel Mohammed. For Daniels (9-2-2, 1 KO), it was the first stoppage win of her career. It was the first loss for Mohammed (3-1-2).

On the same card, junior featherweight Mea Motu (17-0, 6 KO) picked up a unanimous decision win over Ellen Simwaka (12-7-2, 8 KO). If Mercado doesn't unify next, Motu would be a fascinating opponent for the 25-year-old.

The first day of September brings a unification title fight in women's boxing as WBO bantamweight champion Dina Thorslund takes on WBC champion Yuliahn Luna Avila in Denmark on Friday night. It's a fight between ESPN's No. 1 bantamweight, Thorslund, and No. 2 bantamweight, Avila, in one of the sport's more spread-out divisions.

Thorslund (19-0, 8 KO) is making her eighth defense of the title and is fighting for the first time since February when she stopped Debora Anahi Lopez in the eighth round. Avila (25-3-1, 4 KO) is fighting for the first time since March when she beat Vanesa Lorena Taborda by unanimous decision. Watching with sure interest will likely be the other titleholders in the division, Ebanie Bridges (IBF) and Nina Hughes (WBA), who could be looking to take on the winner.

On Saturday in Manchester, England, Mikaela Mayer, ESPN's No. 7 pound-for-pound fighter and No. 2 lightweight, moves up in divisions again -- taking on Silvia Bortot (11-2-1, 3 KO) in a 142-pound catchweight fight on the Liam Smith-Chris Eubank Jr. undercard.

For Mayer (18-1, 5 KO), it's a chance to get used to the two weight classes she might consider fighting in next -- junior welterweight and welterweight. Also on the card, ESPN's No. 5 welterweight, Lauren Price (4-0, 1 KO) takes on an unnamed opponent.

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. For women's P4P rankings, 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. Lani Daniels Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 9-2-2, 1 KOs
Last: W (TKO4) Razel Mohammed, Aug. 26
Next: Dec. 2 vs. TBA

2. Alrie Meleisea Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 6-2-1, 0 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Lani Daniels, May 27
Next: TBA

3. Oxandia Castillo Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 19-3-3, 15 KOs
Last: W (UD4) Mery Caba Rancier, March 19, 2022
Next: TBA

4. Angie Paola Rocha Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 14-4-3, 7 KOs
Last: L (TKO1)Raquel Miller, March 10
Next: TBA

5. Bolatito Oluwole Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 6-0, 3 KO
Last: W (UD4) Abiola Olawale, March 5
Next: TBA

Editor's note: Hanna Gabriels and Danielle Perkins have been removed for inactivity.

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 168 pounds)

1. Savannah Marshall Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 13-1, 10 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Franchon Crews Dezurn, July 1
Next: TBA

2. Shadasia Green Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 13-0, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Olivia Curry, Aug. 5
Next: TBA

3. Franchon Crews Dezurn Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 8-2, 2 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Savannah Marshall, July 1
Next: TBA

4. Christina Hammer Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 28-1, 13 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Luiza Davydova, May 7, 2022
Next: TBA

5. Elin Cederroos Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 8-2, 4 KOs
Last: L (TKO6) Shadasia Green, Feb. 4
Next: TBA

MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 160 pounds)

1. Claressa Shields Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 14-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Maricela Cornejo, June 3
Next: TBA

2. Savannah Marshall Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 13-1, 10 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Franchon Crews Dezurn, July 1
Next: TBA

3. Raquel Miller Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 13-0, 6 KOs
Last: W (TKO1) Angie Paola Rocha, March 10
Next: TBA

4. Olivia Curry Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 7-2, 2 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Shadasia Green, Aug. 5
Next: TBA

5. Mapule Ngubane Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 10-8-3, 2 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Emily Kabwalo, Nov. 13
Next: TBA

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 154 pounds)

1. Natasha Jonas Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 14-2-1, 8 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Kandi Wyatt, July 1
Next: TBA

2. Terri Harper Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 14-1-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Ivana Habazin, May 27
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Cecilia Braekhus

3. Marie-Eve Dicaire Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 18-2, 1 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Natasha Jonas, Nov. 12
Next: TBA

4. Cecilia Braekhus Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 37-2, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD6) Marisa Joana Portillo, Dec. 17
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Terri Harper

5. Patricia Berghult Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 16-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Maria Elena Maderna, March 4
Next: TBA

WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 147 pounds)

1. Jessica McCaskill Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 12-3, 5 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Chantelle Cameron, Nov. 5
Next: TBA

2. Natasha Jonas Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 14-2-1, 8 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Kandi Wyatt, July 1
Next: TBA

3. Sandy Ryan Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 6-1, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Marie-Pier Houle, April 22
Next: TBA

4. Marie Pier Houle Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 8-1-1, 2 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Sandy Ryan, April 22
Next: TBA

5. Lauren Price Previous ranking: NR

Record: 5-0, 1 KO
Last: W (TD6) Lolita Muzeya, Sept. 2
Next: TBA

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 140 pounds)

1. Chantelle Cameron Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 18-0, 8 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Katie Taylor, May 20
Next: Nov. 25 vs. Katie Taylor

2. Katie Taylor Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 22-1, 6 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Chantelle Cameron, May 20
Next: Nov. 25 vs. Chantelle Cameron

3. Jessica McCaskill Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 12-3, 5 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Chantelle Cameron, Nov. 5
Next: TBA

4. Sandy Ryan Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 6-1, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Marie-Pier Houle, April 22
Next: TBA

5. Oshin Derieuw Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 19-0, 7 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Francia Elena Bravo, Feb. 4
Next: TBA

Kali Reis has been removed due to inactivity.

LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 135 pounds)

1. Katie Taylor Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 22-1, 6 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Chantelle Cameron, May 20
Next: Nov. 25 vs. Chantelle Cameron

2. Mikaela Mayer Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 19-1, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Silvia Bortot, Sept. 2
Next: TBA

3. Estelle Mossely Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 11-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Anisha Basheel, Feb. 17
Next: TBA

4. Caroline Dubois Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 7-0, 5 KO
Last: W (Points decision 8) Yanina del Carmen Lescano, June 16
Next: Sept. 30 vs. Magali Rodriguez

5. Maira Moneo Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 13-1, 3 KO
Last: W (TKO8) Alys Sanchez, July 1
Next: TBA

Editor's note: Amanda Serrano has been removed due to inactivity in this division.

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 130 pounds)

1. Alycia Baumgardner Previous ranking: 1

Record: 15-1, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Christina Linardatou, July 15
Next: TBA

2. Delfine Persoon Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 48-3-1 NC, 19 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Bo Mi Re Shin, May 28
Next: TBA

3. Elhem Mekhaled Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 16-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Yuliia Kutsenko, May 28
Next: TBA

4. Bo Mi Re Shin Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 15-2-3, 8 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Delfine Persoon, May 28
Next: TBA

5. Hyun Mi Choi Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 20-0-1, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Vanessa Bradford, Oct. 19
Next: TBA

FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 126 pounds)

1. Amanda Serrano Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 45-2-1, 30 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Heather Hardy, Aug. 5
Next: TBA

2. Erika Cruz Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 15-2, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Amanda Serrano,Feb. 4
Next: TBA

3. Sarah Mahfoud Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 13-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Veronica Tosi, May 26
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Marcela Eliana Acuna

4. Raven Chapman Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 6-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Linda Laura Lecca, March 25
Next: TBA

5. Daniela Romina Bermudez Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 31-4-3, 11 KOs
Last: W (TKO5) Daniela Barbara Rivero, April 22
Next: TBA

JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 122 pounds)

1. Yamileth Mercado Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 22-3, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Paulette Valenzuela, Aug. 26
Next: TBA

2. Ellie Scotney Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 7-0, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Cherneka Johnson, June 10
Next: Sept. 30 vs. Laura Soledad Griffa

3. Segolene Lefebvre Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 17-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Debora Anahi Dionicius, April 29
Next: TBA

4. Cherneka Johnson Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 15-2, 6 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Ellie Scotney, June 10
Next: TBA

5. Mayerlin Rivas Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 17-4-3, 11 KOs
Last: TD (Draw 5) Nazarena Romero, June 10
Next: TBA

BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 118 pounds)

1. Dina Thorslund Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 19-0, 8 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Debora Anahi Lopez, Feb. 25
Next: Sept. 1 vs. Yuliahn Luna Avila

2. Yuliahn Luna Avila Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 25-3-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Vanesa Lorena Taborda, March 17
Next: Sept. 1 vs. Dina Thorslund

3. Ebanie Bridges Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 9-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Shannon O'Connell, Dec. 10
Next: TBA

4. Nina Hughes Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 6-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Katie Healy, June 10
Next: TBA

5. Diana Laura Fernandez Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 27-4-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Nataly Delgado, Dec. 15
Next: TBA

JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 115 pounds)

1. Diana Laura Fernandez Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 27-4-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Nataly Delgado, Dec. 15
Next: TBA

2. Asley Gonzalez Macias Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 16-2, 7 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Lourdes Juarez, March 25
Next: TBA

3. Micaela Lujan Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 11-1-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Irma Garcia, Aug. 20
Next: TBA

4. Clara Lescurat Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 9-0, 4 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Daniela De Jesus Aguiar, May 20
Next: TBA

5. Lourdes Juarez Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 34-4, 4 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Asley Gonzalez Macias, March 25
Next: TBA

FLYWEIGHT (Up to 112 pounds)

1. Marlen Esparza Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 14-1, 1 KO
Last: W (MD10) Gabriela Celeste Alaniz, July 8
Next: TBA

2. Arely Mucino Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 32-3-2, 11 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Leonela Paola Yudica, Oct. 29
Next: TBA

3. Gabriela Celeste Alaniz Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 14-1, 6 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Marlen Esparza, July 8
Next: TBA

4. Ibeth Zamora Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 33-7, 12 KOs
Last: W (TKO4) Jessica Martinez Castillo, Oct. 29
Next: TBA

5. Gabriela Fundora Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 11-0, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Maria Micheo Santizo, April 8
Next: TBA

JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (Up to 108 pounds)

1. Jessica Nery Plata Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 29-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Kim Clavel, Jan. 13
Next: TBA

2. Evelin Bermudez Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 18-0-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Tania Enriquez, March 10
Next: TBA

3. Kim Clavel Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 17-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Naomi Arellano Reyes, May 12
Next: TBA

5. Tania Enriquez Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 21-1, 10 KOs
Last: W (TKO1) Cecilia Nino Rodriguez, July 29
Next: TBA

5. Anabel Ortiz Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 33-5, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Maria Micheo Santizo, Oct. 20
Next: TBA

STRAWWEIGHT (Up to 105 pounds)

1. Seniesa Estrada Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 25-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Leonela Yudica, July 28
Next: TBA

2. Yokasta Valle Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 28-2, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Jessica Basulto, March 25
Next: TBA

3. Sarah Bormann Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 17-0, 7 KO
Last: W (UD10) Perla Perez, June 24
Next: TBA

4. Tina Rupprecht Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 12-1-1, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Seniesa Estrada, March 25
Next: TBA

5. Thi Thu Nhi Nguyen Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 5-1, 1 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Yokasta Valle, Sept. 8
Next: TBA

ATOMWEIGHT (Up to 102 pounds)

1. Yuko Kuroki Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 22-7-2, 9 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Montserrat Alarcon, Aug. 5
Next: TBA

2. Mika Iwakawa Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 12-6-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Ploypailin Palatsrichuai, Feb. 26
Next: TBA

3. Monserrat Alarcon Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 18-5-2, 0 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Yuko Kuroki, Aug. 5
Next: TBA

4. Fabiana Bytyqi Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 20-0-2, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Elizabeth Lopez Corzo, April 15
Next: TBA

5. Ayaka Miyao Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 25-10-2, 6 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Mika Iwakawa, Sept. 1
Next: TBA

Women's boxing divisional rankings: Yamileth Mercado still reigns at junior featherweight

2023-08-29 14:25:00