<
>

Women's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Amanda Serrano makes a big move after impressive win

Amanda Serrano, right, dominated Miriam Gutierrez to set up a potential megafight against undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor. Amanda Westcott/Showtime

Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields and Amanda Serrano continue to lead the way in the ESPN women's pound-for-pound rankings. But now we have a new order.

Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs), dominated a game Miriam Gutierrez on Dec. 18 to set up a potential megafight against undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor next year, in what could be the biggest women's boxing match of all time. The victory also earned her the No. 2 spot over Shields.

ESPN writer Michael Rothstein has Serrano ranked at No. 3 on his list, but admits any of the top three could be on the top spot on any given day.

"The top three in the pound-for-pound are getting tougher and tougher to judge," Rothstein said. "At this point you could make a credible case for any of Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields or Amanda Serrano to be the best in the world -- and a year from now this entire list could be shaken up. That's the potential of depth women's boxing is finally starting to show."

Another fighter making a move is Seniesa Estrada, who defended her WBA strawweight title with an impressive fourth-round KO over Maria Santizo on Dec. 18.

Who else made the top 10? Here's the list:

Note: Results are through Dec. 20.

1. KATIE TAYLOR     Previous ranking: No. 1

RECORD: 19-0, 6 KOs
DIVISION: Lightweight undisputed champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Firuza Sharipova, Dec. 11
NEXT FIGHT: April 30 vs. Amanda Serrano


2. AMANDA SERRANO     Previous ranking: No. 3

RECORD: 42-1-1, 30 KOs
DIVISION: Featherweight unified champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Miriam Gutierrez, Dec. 18
NEXT FIGHT: April 30 vs. Katie Taylor


3. CLARESSA SHIELDS     Previous ranking: No. 2

RECORD: 12-0, 2 KOs
DIVISION: Junior middleweight and middleweight undisputed champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Ema Kozin, Feb. 5
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


4. JESSICA MCCASKILL     Previous ranking: No. 4

RECORD: 11-2, 4 KOs
DIVISION: Welterweight undisputed champion
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO7) Kandi Wyatt, Dec. 4
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


5. MIKAELA MAYER     Previous ranking: No. 5

RECORD: 17-0, 5 KOs
DIVISION: Junior lightweight unified champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Jennifer Han, April 9
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


6. SENIESA ESTRADA     Previous ranking: 9

RECORD: 22-0, 9 KOs
DIVISION: Junior flyweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (KO4) Maria Santizo, Dec. 18
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


7. DELFINE PERSOON     Previous ranking: No. 6

RECORD: 45-3, 18 KOs
DIVISION: Lightweight
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO4) Beatriz Aguilar, Nov. 1
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


8. CHRISTINA HAMMER  

RECORD: 26-1, 12 KOs
DIVISION: Super middleweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO1) Daniele Bastieri, Dec. 3
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


9. SAVANNAH MARSHALL     Previous ranking: 10

RECORD: 11-0, 9 KOs
DIVISION: Middleweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (KO3) Femke Hermans, April 2
NEXT FIGHT: TBA


10. YESICA BOPP     Previous ranking: N/R

RECORD: 37-2, 17 KOs
DIVISION: Junior flyweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO4) Johana Zuniga, Oct. 22
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: Cecilia Braekhus (5), Alycia Baumgardner (4), Chantelle Cameron (4), Hyun Choi (3), Layla McCarter (2), Jackie Nava (1).


How our experts voted

Timothy Bradley Jr.: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Estrada, 7. Bopp, 8. Hammer, 9. Marshall, 10. Baumgardner

Nick Parkinson: 1. Taylor, 2. Serrano, 3. Shields, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Estrada, 7. Persoon, 8. Cameron, 9. Marshall, 10. Bopp

Michael Rothstein: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Estrada, 7. Persoon, 8. Hammer, 9. Marshall, 10. Cameron

Salvador Rodriguez: 1. Taylor, 2. Serrano, 3. Shields, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Estrada, 7. Persoon, 8. Braekhus, 9. Baumgardner, 10. Marshall

Bernardo Pilatti: 1. Taylor, 2. Serrano, 3. Shields, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Persoon, 7. Hammer, 8. Estrada, 9. McCarter, 10. Nava

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

Kel Dansby: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Mayer, 6. Estrada, 7. Marshall, 8. Hammer, 9. Persoon, 10. Baumgardner


ESPN experts' poll

First place: Taylor (5), Serrano (1), Shields (1)

Second place: Serrano (3), Taylor (2), Shields (2)

Third place: Shields (4), Serrano (3)

Fourth place: McCaskill (7)

Fifth place: Mayer (6), Persoon (1)

Sixth place: Estrada (5), Mayer (1), Persoon (1)

Seventh place: Persoon (3), Hammer (2), Marshall (1), Bopp (1)

Eighth place: Hammer (3), Estrada (1), Braekhus (1), Cameron (1), Choi (1),

Ninth place: Marshall (3), Persoon (1), Braekhus (1), Baumgardner (1), McCarter (1)

10th place: Bopp (2), Baumgardner (2), Marshall (1), Cameron (1), Nava (1)