Women’s Boxing: Lourdes Juárez Retains Title and Rises in the Rankings

Changes in Women’s Boxing Rankings After an Active Week

The recent week in women’s boxing was full of action, with several outstanding fights and two retirements that have caused modifications in the division rankings. The retirements of undisputed atomweight champion Tina Rupprecht and WBC and WBO super welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus have opened up new opportunities in their respective divisions.

New Positions in the Divisions

In the light flyweight category, WBC champion Lourdes Juarez secured a majority decision victory over Jessica Nery Plata in the main event of Most Valuable Prospects 16 on Saturday. This result caused a shift in the rankings, with Juarez moving up to number 2 and Nery Plata placing at number 3. Juarez demonstrated his skill with a large volume of punches, securing the victory against Nery Plata, who was returning after almost two years of inactivity. In the same event, Shurretta Metcalf, former bantamweight champion, recovered from her knockout loss to Cherneka Johnson in July, earning a unanimous decision victory over Kyrstal Rosado-Ortiz and securing fourth place in the 118-pound division. Also highlighted was the unified middleweight champion, Desley Robinson, who demonstrated her dominance by defeating Logan Holler in the second round, maintaining her number 1 position in the 160-pound division. In Germany, Sarah Bormann achieved a controversial split-decision victory over Yuko Kuroki, unifying the IBF and WBA strawweight titles. Bormann retains the second position, while Kuroki advanced to fourth place.

Rankings are updated every Tuesday, based on recent matches, head-to-head matchups, and the quality of opponents. Subjectivity is inevitable until the boxers face each other directly. Boxers without matches in the last 18 months and without scheduled fights will be removed from the ranking until they compete again.

The following are the updated rankings by division:

Heavyweight (Over 175 pounds)

• 1. Claressa Shields     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Danielle Perkins     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Minellis Blanco     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Giovanna Gonzalez     Previous ranking: 5

Light Heavyweight (Up to 175 pounds)

• 1. Lani Daniels     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Che Kenneally     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Angie Paola Rocha     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Celina Agwu     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Sarah Scheurich     Previous ranking: 5

Super Middleweight (Up to 168 pounds)

• 1. Shadasia Green     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Savannah Marshall     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Franchon Crews Dezurn     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Hanna Gabriels     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Melinda Watpool     Previous ranking: 5

Middleweight (Up to 160 pounds)

Kaye Scott, left, and Olivia Curry drew in a middleweight bout for the vacant WBA title.

• 1. Desley Robinson     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Tamm Thibeault     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Olivia Curry     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Kaye Scott     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Chloe Chaos     Previous ranking: 5

Super Welterweight (Up to 154 pounds)

• 1. Oshae Jones     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Terri Harper     Previous ranking: 3
• 3. Ema Kozin     Previous ranking: 4
• 4. Mary Spencer     Previous ranking: 5
• 5. Dilara Yucel     Previous ranking: N/R

Editor’s Note: Cecilia Braekhus has been removed due to her retirement.

Welterweight (Up to 147 pounds)

Mikaela Mayer retains the WBO junior welterweight title by unanimous decision.

• 1. Lauren Price     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Mikaela Mayer     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Sandy Ryan     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Natasha Jonas     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Layla McCarter     Previous ranking: 5

Super Lightweight (Up to 140 pounds)

• 1. Katie Taylor     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Chantelle Cameron     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Amanda Serrano     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Samantha Worthington     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Elhem Mekhaled     Previous ranking: 5

Lightweight (Up to 135 pounds)

• 1. Caroline Dubois     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Beatriz Fereira     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Terri Harper     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Stephanie Han     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Rhiannon Dixon     Previous ranking: 5

Super Lightweight (Up to 130 pounds)

• 1. Alycia Baumgardner     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Delfine Persoon     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Leila Beaudoin     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Maira Moneo     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Elif Nur Turhan     Previous ranking: 5

Peso Pluma (Up to 126 pounds)

Tiara Brown, left, defeated Skye Nicolson by split decision and won the WBC featherweight title.

• 1. Amanda Serrano     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Tiara Brown     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Nina Meinke     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Sarah Mahfoud     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Jennifer Miranda     Previous ranking: 5

Super Featherweight (Up to 122 lbs)

• 1. Ellie Scotney     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Mayelli Flores Rosquero     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Skye Nicolson     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Erika Cruz     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Jelena Mrdjenovich     Previous ranking: NR

Bantamweight (Up to 118 lbs)

• 1. Cherneka Johnson     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Dina Thorslund     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Florencia Ayelen Juarez     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Shurretta Metcalf     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Miyo Yoshida     Previous ranking: 5

Super Bantamweight (Up to 115 lbs)

Mizuki Hiruta, above, retained her number 1 super flyweight ranking after her unanimous decision victory over Carla Merino.

• 1. Mizuki Hiruta     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Asley Gonzalez Macias     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Diana Laura Fernandez     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Irma Garcia     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Jasmine Artiga     Previous ranking: 5

Flyweight (Up to 112 pounds)

Gabriela Fundora, above, defeated Alexas Kubicki by KO on September 20 and retained the undisputed flyweight championship.

• 1. Gabriela Fundora     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Kenia Enriquez     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Marilyn Badillo Amaya     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Gabriela Sanchez Saavedra     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Laura Wollenmann     Previous ranking: 5

Light Flyweight (Up to 108 pounds)

• 1. Evelin Bermudez     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Lourdes Juarez     Previous ranking: 3
• 3. Jessica Nery Plata     Previous ranking: 2
• 4. Gabriela Celeste Alaniz     Previous ranking: 4
• 5. Sara Bailey     Previous ranking: 5

Strawweight (Up to 105 lbs)

• 1. Yokasta Valle     Previous ranking: 1
• 2. Sarah Bormann     Previous ranking: 2
• 3. Kim Clavel     Previous ranking: 3
• 4. Yuko Kuroki     Previous ranking: 5
• 5. Sol Cudos     Previous ranking: 4

Atom Weight (Up to 102 pounds)

• 1. Eri Matsuda     Previous ranking: 2
• 2. Sumire Yamanaka     Previous ranking: 3
• 3. Esneidy Rodriguez Olmos     Previous ranking: 4
• 4. Camila Zamorano     Previous ranking: 5
• 5. Yenifer Leon     Previous ranking: N/R

Editor’s Note: Tina Rupprecht has been removed due to her retirement.