MY 2020 TO 10 POUND FOR POUND WOMEN BOXERS
Naturally, it’s only right after I did a men’s one that I did one for the woman. Although I would say out of male and female boxing and MMA, I have the least amount of knowledge in women’s boxing, I still follow it and feel I have enough knowledge to attempt my p4p list.
As with any and all lists that come out, it’s all up for debate and discussion and you may disagree with some of my decisions, but as I always say, it’s my decisions and i’m sticking to them.
1,CECILIA BRAEKHUS – 36-0-0
No matter what you think about the validity of opponents in women’s boxing, or what level of knowledge you have, Braekhus has to be No1. A former kickboxer, she is one of only seven boxers, male or female to hold all the belts in her weight class and the first female to do it in 2014. She’s also the boxer to hold all the belts in one weight for the longest time. The world writers association of America’s inaugural female fighter of the year in 2017, she held the sport on her back for a number of years, defending her belts. She is a strong, slick boxer with a superb jab and a wide range of shots from different angles. However, she lacks a real knockout punch and often prefers to box her way to victory, rather than go for broke which has and can hurt her in the popularity and mega stardom stakes. That and the lack of any interest in moving up in weight puts a bad mark against her, so real top class opponents or a super-fight is really needed if she is to hold onto her no1 p4p status.
2.CLARESSA SHIELDS – 10-0-0
Hot on the heels of the p4p no1 spot, although still fairly inexperienced in the pro game, there is no doubting her considerable achievements already. In a short space of time she has elevated woman’s boxing to another level. Already a three weight world champion and one of the seven boxers to hold all belts in one weight class, which was at middleweight. She is currently the unified WBC & WBO light middleweight champion and if that wasn’t enough, she is a two time Olympic gold medalist. Not everyone’s cup of tea with her brash, cocky attitude, but you cannot deny that she backs up her talk with her aggressive, walk forward style. A boxer type brawler, she is improving with every fight and becoming a more patient, thoughtful fighter with a defensive astuteness and high level boxing IQ, with power and precision, it seems she really has everything in her locker. The Flint, Michigan native’s been calling out every named female fighter and at just 25, has the tools and confidence to dominant the sport for a very long time.
3.AMANDA SERRANO – 38-1-0
Amazingly, Serrano has held nine major titles in seven different weight classes, which is a Guinness world record, she is also the current WBO and WBC interim featherweight champion. A real athlete, she has also competed in mixed martial arts and professional wrestling. Some may say she has made a mockery of women’s boxing by jumping through the weight classes to obtain titles, but if it really was that easy, everyone would be doing it. Being a superb athlete, this Puerto Rican superstar naturally has great movement and agility, along with superb stamina, but what stands out is she is a tough boxer, who likes to walk down her opponents and throw a volume of punches, and is always up for a toe to toe brawl. A highly experienced fighter, who has boxed in five different countries, she is battle tested and rarely fazed. Serrano has certainly earned her superstar status, but with some mega fights on the horizon, it’s interesting to see if she has already peaked or if there is more to come.
4.KATIE TAYLOR – 15-0-0
The darling of woman’s British boxing is a two weight world champion and the most recent of the seven boxers to hold all the belts in their weight class at lightweight. She is also the current WBO light welterweight champion and is an Olympic gold medalist, add that to the fact that she is a five time world championship gold medalist and a six time European gold medalist. As a highly decorated boxer, she has that unique combination of blistering speed and explosive power, that is often hard to contain. She is also a very skilled technician who can carve open opponents at will. That said, I believe she has benefitted from home town advantage and was fortunate to squeeze past Eva Wahlstrom in December 2018 and I’m still wondering how the judges gave her the victory against Dalfine Persoon to become the undisputed lightweight champion in June 2019. She is scheduled to face Amanda Serrano in July, which will be a mouth watering and interesting bout and will probably be the biggest fight in woman’s boxing history.
5.DELFINE PERSOON – 44-2-0
She is only placed fifth as I am abiding by the official results and records, Persoon should really be one place higher, as stated previously, she was extremely unlucky not to win the undisputed lightweight titles against Katie Taylor, as home town advantage really went against her. However, she brushed off that disappointment and in her next/most recent fight, won the interim super featherweight title. This Belgian boxer is a really strong, walk forward fighter, who can tough it out and go toe to toe with the best of them. A tough brawler, who is capable of putting some eye catching combinations together, she has great cardio, a good chin and hardly takes a back step. Often in exciting fights, her toughness may go against her, as at 35, I am not sure how many more gruelling toe to toe battles she can endure.
6.YESICA YOLANDA BOPP – 36-1-0
Small in stature, even at flyweight, a veteran at 36, Bopp is a two weight world champion and the current WBA light flyweight champion. Highly experienced, she’s had title fights in five different countries and made over 20 title defences. This Argentinian native is no stranger to digging deep and toughing it out, a boxer type brawler, she is equally adept at getting up close and making it a dog fight, as she is fighting at range and putting her combinations together with power. Lightning quick, sharp and agile, she has a style that is hard to pin down and can be frustrating for opponents, who just cant catch her, but she is entertaining to watch. However, although she is a current world champion, she has not fought since 2017 and its possible she could have had her last fight.
7.MAIVA HAMADOUCHE – 21-1-0
With 17 knockouts in 21 fights, Hamadouche is heavy handed and probably has the highest knockout percentage in women’s world championship boxing. She is the current IBF super featherweight holder and was due to fight for the unified title in February 2020 against WBA title holder Hyun Mi Choi, but the bout was postponed. A french native and an avid sportswoman, she naturally has great strength, she is a walk forward, bruising type fighter who throws straight, heavy punches but can mix it up with some devastating body shots. There is an issue of her being slightly one tracked and pedestrian in her plodding forward type of style, but with only one defeat, a very close, points loss to Dalfine Persoon in their brutal 2015 fight, it proves only the very best can compete with it. She has aspirations of unifying the super featherweight division, which will bring some very interesting fights in the future.
8.DANIELA ROMINA BERMUDEZ – 27-3-3
A three weight world champion and the current WBO bantamweight title holder, Bermudez comes from a fighting family, she has three sisters who are also boxers and her sister Evelyn, currently holds the IBF light flyweight belt. She is unbeaten since 2014 and has reeled off 11 wins and 1 draw against some decent opponents. There is talk that she is looking to unify, having already beaten the WBC title holder Mariana Juarez in a barnstorming non title fight in Mexico back in 2016. This Argentinian is a tough, plucky walk forward fighter, who likes to put combinations together and throw volumes of punches, naturally with that style, she has great cardio and is known to push the pace. The one sour point is she has lost two hard fought, close fights to Yesica Bopp in 2012 & 2014, which is something she will always rue and will want to rectify if Bopp returns.
9.LAYLA MCCATER – 43-13-5
A real American boxing veteran, McCarter has been boxing since the late 90’s and is still going strong at the ripe old age of 41. She has held titles in five weight classes and currently holds the WIBF and GBU welterweight title belts. Currently signed to Mayweather promotions, she has fought in seven different countries and is unbeaten since 2007. Naturally with the amount of fights on her record, she has beaten some real reputable names. Smart and gritty, she has honed her skills in her formative years and is now a thoughtful, intelligent boxer, who likes to pick off her opponents at range. Being the plucky veteran she that she is, she knows how to get through fights to outwork and outscore her opponents, using her fight IQ and experience. With that said, she is not getting any younger and obviously in the twilight of her career, so could be ripe for the picking.
10.KENIA ENRIQUEZ – 23-1-0
I have been really impressed with this tough but smart Mexican boxer. A two weight world champion, she is the current interim WBC light flyweight champion and is due to fight the current WBC title holder, fellow Mexican Yesenia Gomez. Enriquez is a true stick and move merchant, with an impressive range of punches, from the jab to hooks, to effective body shots, to straight right hands, it seems she has every shot in her locker. Though she seems a natural boxer, she can also brawl when needs be and has power, she is also an imposing figure at light flyweight since moving down from flyweight. The only negative is she does fight a little upright, so can leave herself open to be hit, she will need to improve that for her upcoming title fight, but from what I have seen, I am confident in her abilities and believe there is more to come from her.
