Boxing pound-for-pound rankings (July 2025): Katie Taylor dethrones Claressa Shields as No. 1 girls’s boxer

Katie Taylor made it 3-0 in her historic rivalry with Amanda Serrano earlier this month at a sold-out Madison Square Garden.

Taylor and Serrano, two of Uncrowned’s high pound-for-pound boxers, had two controversial Fight of the Year contenders in 2022 and 2024. But when they met for the third time on July 11, Ireland’s Taylor outboxed the Puerto Rican for a more convincing victory to take a clean sweep in their much-hyped trilogy of fights.

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By doing so, Taylor satisfied Uncrowned’s panel of consultants — Kel Dansby, Alan Dawson, Darshan Desai, Jake Donovan, Lewis Watson and Elliot Worsell — that she was worthy of dethroning Claressa Shields for the No. 1 spot in the Women’s pound-for-pound rankings.

But that is not the only change to our checklist. The last month and a half of boxing has seen eight fighters in Uncrowned’s earlier rankings compete with combined outcomes. So we thought this was the excellent time for our up to date pound-for-pound checklist.

Uncrowned’s voters have ranked the males’s and girls’s pound-for-pound best, one through 10, utilizing a weighted factors system to decide the remaining rankings. (Being voted No. 1 equals 10 factors, No. 2 equals 9 factors, down to No. 10 equaling one level.)

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Without further ado, here are our rankings for July!

MEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND

1. Oleksandr Usyk — Unified heavyweight champion (Prev: 1)

Oleksandr Usyk brutally knocked out Daniel Dubois to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion at Wembley Stadium on Saturday — and reassert his place as pound-for-pound the best fighter in boxing.

A street warrior, Usyk has boxed in title fights in seven totally different nations, principally against fighters from those areas.

He won the World Boxing Super Series at cruiserweight by clearing out the best fighters in that division, and rivals Evander Holyfield as the best 200-pound fighter the world has ever seen. After changing into undisputed champion at cruiserweight, he then moved up to heavyweight and wasted no time defeating Anthony Joshua (twice) and Tyson Fury (twice), despite surrendering a appreciable measurement benefit to the modern-day giants. In that sense, he epitomizes what the idea of pound-for-pound is all about.

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Now, Usyk, 38, might have just one battle left in boxing. Whether it’s Joseph Parker, Moses Itauma, or even Fury for a third time, relaxation assured that Usyk will produce something particular on the night time.

2. Naoya Inoue — Undisputed tremendous bantamweight champion (Prev: 2)

Like Usyk, Naoya Inoue is a two-division undisputed world champion. The Japanese fighter has held world championships across 4 weight courses and is building a hulking résumé, with signature wins over Nonito Donaire (twice), Stephen Fulton, and Luis Nery.

Inoue was last in motion in May, where he exchanged knockdowns with Ramon Cardenas before stopping the recreation Mexican fighter in the eighth spherical of an instantaneous basic at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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Inoue will battle Matchroom’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September, before a potential all-Japanese superfight with Junto Nakatani next spring.

3. Terence Crawford — WBA tremendous welterweight champion (Prev: 3)

Terence Crawford is your favourite fighter’s favourite fighter. Even Usyk acknowledges Crawford as the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the world, over himself.

“Bud” managed to clean out tremendous light-weight without too much adversity, then dove into 147 kilos as a feared fighter. When Crawford finally landed his long-awaited superfight with Errol Spence Jr., he confirmed precisely why he was prevented for so long. A battle initially thought to be an even match on paper grew to become a complete mismatch in actuality, as Crawford pummeled Spence for a ninth-round TKO win. It was a brutally one-sided demolition job.

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More not too long ago, the Omaha native edged Israil Madrimov to become a four-division champion. He now heads toward a legacy bout with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for the undisputed tremendous middleweight world championship in September at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

4. Dmitry Bivol — Undisputed gentle heavyweight champion (Prev: 4)

Bivol held the WBA gentle heavyweight crown for seven years until falling short to Beterbiev in their undisputed title battle this previous October. During his reign, Bivol made 12 profitable defenses, which included an upset win over “Canelo” in 2022.

Bivol managed to avenge his defeat to Beterbiev earlier this yr and ascend as only the eleventh man to become undisputed champion of the four-belt period. Bivol and Beterbiev are probably to run it back later in 2025 or early 2026.

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Outside of that, there are quite a few other important fights obtainable for Bivol, including David Benavidez, a rematch with Alvarez, or the consensus No. 1 cruiserweight Jai Opetaia.

Regardless, out of every fighter on this checklist, it is Bivol who has two of the most important and significant wins, contemplating his victories over both “Canelo” and Beterbiev. His ticket to the Hall of Fame in Canastota has already been punched.

5. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez — WBC & WBO tremendous flyweight champion (Prev: 5)

Rodriguez stepped in to face Carlos Cuadras on 5 days’ discover for his first world title in 2022. It was a two-division leap for “Bam,” but his coach, Robert Garcia, had no doubt he was up to the check.

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Rodriguez impressed to seize the WBC tremendous flyweight crown and has never appeared back. The 24-year-old has taken out three of the 4 kings at tremendous flyweight and now chases undisputed standing at 115 kilos.

“Bam” is not just a battle fan’s favourite anymore. He’s now a star of the sport. He stopped Phumelela Cafu in a unification battle in entrance of 10,000 people at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, this previous Saturday, and will look to add another belt to his title when he faces WBA titleist Fernando “Puma” Martinez on Nov. 22.

Rodriguez even signed to battle Naktani — another man on this checklist — but Akihiko Honda, who co-promotes both fighters, vetoed the battle.

6. Artur Beterbiev — Former undisputed gentle heavyweight champion (Prev: 6)

After edging a controversial choice over Bivol in October to become the undisputed gentle heavyweight champion, Beterbiev fell short in the rematch earlier in the yr. Now the pair appears headed toward a trilogy — arguably the most important three-fight collection since Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury.

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Beterbiev, 40, picked up boxing’s 175-pound titles one by one prior to his first profession loss and could transfer up to cruiserweight to become a two-division champion after the Bivol trilogy.

A battle between Beterbiev and Opetaia would be a sensational matchup some time in the next 12 months, and there’s a probability that it could be for all 4 cruiserweight belts — which means a win would see Beterbiev be a part of the high three names on this checklist as two-division undisputed champions.

7. Junto Nakatani — WBC & IBF bantamweight champion (Prev: 8)

Nakatani is perhaps in the place Inoue was among the wider boxing group before Inoue’s win over Fulton. As an undefeated three-division champion, but one primarily based in the decrease weights and away from the Western group, Nakatani is still building a fan base in the U.S.

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Nakatani knocked out David Cuellar in Tokyo on Feb. 24 to make the third protection of his WBC bantamweight title. He then added the IBF championship to his WBC crown with a sixth-round TKO win over Ryosuke Nishida in June.

Nakatani could land his huge breakout battle against Inoue in the spring of 2026. It has all the makings to be the Japanese equal of Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns.

8. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez — Undisputed tremendous middleweight champion (Prev: 7)

Alvarez has been the sport’s largest business star for nearly a decade. The Mexican champion confronted the best opponents boxing had to offer across many divisions until his May 2022 defeat to Bivol. But since then, Alvarez has seemingly become more reluctant to take on some of the larger challenges obtainable to him, and is arguably exhibiting his age by throwing fewer punches.

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This previous May in Saudi Arabia, “Canelo” made his Riyadh Season debut against William Scull, wanting listless all through the show but still securing a choice win. He has not knocked out anybody since 2021, and will now put his undisputed standing at 168 kilos on the line against Crawford this September in Las Vegas at the home of the NFL’s Raiders.

Had that battle taken place last yr, few would have picked against “Canelo.” But questions are now being requested about whether Alvarez is finally exhibiting his age in boxing years. It may properly become a more aggressive battle than what it once was.

9T. Shakur Stevenson — WBC light-weight champion (Prev: 10T)

Shakur Stevenson produced the most thrilling efficiency of his profession when he outclassed William Zepeda earlier this month in New York. Not only was it compelling tv, it also showcased the totally different aspects of Stevenson’s recreation. The three-division world champion is not just a mover, but he can maintain his toes and land the tougher punches.

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For many years, battle followers have been calling for Stevenson to entertain them and show that there is more to his recreation than merely dominating boring, low-output contests against overmatched, befuddled opposition.

He has now completed that, but he is still crying out for a huge title to share the ring with him. With Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ newest points outside the ring, Vasiliy Lomachenko not too long ago retiring, and Keyshawn Davis set to transfer up to tremendous light-weight, Stevenson might have to leap two divisions to welterweight and face Conor Benn for that huge battle.

9T. David Benavidez — WBC gentle heavyweight champion (Prev: 9)

A two-weight world champion, David Benavidez is proving to be a BMF for boxing as he seeks out the hardest fights and over-delivers with a relentless and grueling preventing fashion.

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With wins over Caleb Plant, Demetrius Andrade, Oleksandr Gvozdyk and David Morrell, Benavidez has regularly delivered in elite fights. He has struggled to get Alvarez and Bivol to step into the ring with him, and so will return to face another high contender, Anthony Yarde, on Nov. 22 before setting his sights on the Bivol vs. Beterbiev 3 winner in 2026.

Outside of that, Benavidez could leap up to cruiserweight and share the ring with Opetaia or “Zurdo” Ramirez. The hard-hitting champion definitely has the body to compete at cruiserweight, and now that he options on Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season playing cards, it should become simpler for “The Monster” to land the larger fights.

(Others receiving votes: Kenshiro Teraji, Lamont Roach.)

WOMEN’S POUND-FOR-POUND

1. Katie Taylor — Undisputed tremendous light-weight champion (Prev: 2)

Taylor’s elegant boxing skill was obtainable for all to see when she comfortably outboxed Serrano for a choice win earlier this month.

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Some believed that Taylor’s good résumé, which consists of wins over Serrano, Delfine Persoon and Chantelle Cameron, wasn’t enough to crown her as the No. 1 pound-for-pound girls’s boxer due to the closeness of her fights and the controversy stemming from several of them. But with her more convincing victory over Serrano, the time is now for Taylor to put on her crown as the best in the world.

The Irishwoman is nearing the finish of her professional profession and could have just one bout left. Taylor hopes for a grand send-off at her dream venue, the 80,000-capacity Croke Park Stadium in Ireland, in 2026.

2. Claressa Shields — Undisputed heavyweight champion and WBO gentle heavyweight champion (Prev: 1)

Shields is a five-division world champion and the only boxer, male or feminine, to have held undisputed titles in three totally different weight divisions of the four-belt period.

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She won undisputed gold at middleweight in 2019 (where there are only 37 energetic members in the world), at tremendous welterweight in 2021 (which has 63 registered boxers), and most not too long ago at heavyweight, (home to just 18 fighters).

With 118 fighters competing in the three divisions she’s won the undisputed championships in, it’s comprehensible why the two-time Olympic champion has struggled to discover big-name dance companions. Regardless, she’s overwhelmed every contender put in entrance of her, and that’s all that anyone can ask of any pugilist.

Shields returns Saturday to defend her undisputed heavyweight crown against New Zealand’s IBF gentle heavyweight champion Lani Daniels.

3. Gabriela Fundora — Undisputed flyweight champion (Prev: 4)

Fundora stopped Gabriela Alaniz in spectacular fashion to unify the flyweight division this previous November in Las Vegas. She then adopted up that win with a seventh-round knockout over Marilyn Badillo Amaya at a Golden Boy show in Oceanside, California, in April.

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At just 22 years previous, she is the youngest undisputed champion of the four-belt period — and she could very properly be the face of girls’s boxing in the years to come.

4. Amanda Serrano — Unified featherweight champion (Prev: 3)

Puerto Rico’s Serrano was defeated for a third time by Taylor in their undisputed title battle earlier in July. This time, however, there was no controversy on the night time — Serrano was merely overwhelmed by the higher girl. Regardless of coming out 0-3 in the historic collection, Serrano will always be ready to say that she took half in the first main trilogy of fights in girls’s boxing.

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It is unclear what the future holds for Serrano, but fights with Chantelle Cameron or Alycia Baumgardner — both of whom share a promoter with Serrano — would make for compelling viewing.

5. Chantelle Cameron — WBC interim tremendous light-weight champion (Prev: 5)

Chantelle Cameron captured the undisputed tremendous light-weight title with victory over Jessica McCaskill in 2022, but her largest triumph undoubtedly came when she upset Taylor in her homecoming bout at a packed 3 Arena in Dublin the following yr.

Taylor would produce a incredible efficiency against all odds to defeat Cameron in the rematch and become a two-division undisputed champion. Cameron has since recorded three wins on the trot, including a choice over Jessica Camara on the Taylor vs. Serrano 3 undercard.

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The Brit desires another shot at Taylor, but the battle could show troublesome to make after the Irishwoman, uncharacteristically, fired pictures at Cameron’s business standing in the post-fight press convention after her third win over Serrano.

6. Alycia Baumgardner — Undisputed tremendous featherweight champion (Prev: 7)

Baumgardner announced herself to the pugilist group when she knocked out Terri Harper on her toes to win the WBC tremendous featherweight title in November 2021.

Baumgardner finally grew to become the undisputed champion at 130 kilos, beating Mikaela Mayer, but her profession was halted for some time after failing an anti-doping check in the lead-up to her title protection against Christina Linardatou. The American fought to a no-contest against Delfine Persoon in her return battle this previous September.

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Baumgardner has since made huge strikes in the girls’s recreation, signing with Jake Paul and Nikisa Bidarian’s Most Valuable Promotions. She made her debut for the company on the Taylor vs. Serrano undercard, defeating Jennifer Miranda. Baumgardner now hopes to land a battle with Taylor for all of the marbles at 140.

7. Dina Thorslund — Former unified bantamweight champion (Prev. 6)

Thorslund has secured world titles in two weight courses: Bantamweight and tremendous bantamweight. Since unifying in 2023, she has made three profitable defenses of her bantamweight crown.

Thorslund was scheduled to take on Shurretta Metcalf in a three-belt unification bout on the Taylor vs. Serrano 3 undercard, but the Danish girl withdrew one month out due to an impending being pregnant.

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Thorslund ended up relinquishing her WBC and WBO titles due to her prolonged period out of the ring. New Zealand’s Chernkea Johnson defeated Metcalf for the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF undisputed bantamweight title on the Taylor vs. Serrano 3 invoice. Thorslund’s return could see her get a straight shot at the undisputed crown against Johnson.

8. Lauren Price — Unified welterweight champion (Prev: 10)

There are few energetic fighters who are more adorned than burgeoning Welsh fighter Lauren Price, who won the gold medal for Britain at the 2020 Olympic Games, and has parlayed that success into the professional recreation. She’s unified three main world championships, as properly as The Ring Magazine title, after only 9 bouts.

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In that short space of time, she’s already defeated McCaskill and Natasha Jonas. At just 30 years previous, the southpaw’s best years may still be forward of her. Price was hoping to unify her three titles with WBO champion Mayer in an undisputed bout, but the boxer’s respective groups were unable to attain an settlement. Neither fighter’s promoters, Top Rank or BOXXER, have a community deal at this time, so the battle could show troublesome to set up.

9. Ellie Scotney — Unified tremendous bantamweight champion (Prev: Unranked)

Ellie Scotney debuts on Uncrowned’s girls’s pound-for-pound checklist at No. 9.

She won her first world title when she outpointed New Zealand’s Johnson, the present undisputed bantamweight champion, in June 2023. The Catford girl added the WBO belt to her assortment with a dominant choice over Segolene Lefebvre in April 2024.

Still, Scotney has struggled to gain recognition outside of the boxing group. To further her cause, she penned with Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions earlier this yr and added the WBC strap with a convincing win over Yamileth Mercado on the Netflix-streamed Taylor vs. Serrano 3 show, which was considered by an viewers of 6 million.

Now Scotney has just one belt remaining to become undisputed champion — the WBA title presently held by the little-known Mexican Mayelli Flores. Outside Flores, Scotney could face the former WBC featherweight champion Skye Nicolson in a tremendous bantamweight title protection after Nicolson moved down to 122 kilos following her loss to Tiara Brown in March.

10. Mikaela Mayer — WBO welterweight champion (Prev: 8T)

Mayer has been on the mistaken finish of two disputed choices. In 2022, she was thought-about unfortunate not to get her hand raised after 10 good rounds with Baumgardner, and in 2024, she came away second-best again in the eyes of the judges against Natasha Jonas.

The rub of the inexperienced finally favored Mayer in September, though, when she edged Sandy Ryan to win the WBO welterweight title. Mayer vs. Ryan, alongside Taylor vs. Serrano 2, was the frontrunner for battle of the yr honors in 2024.

Mayer and Ryan fought a rematch on March 29, information of which was first reported by Uncrowned. It was a case of repeat rather than revenge as Mayer, again, won via choice.

(Others receiving votes: ⁠Cherneka Johnson, Caroline Dubois, Yokasta Valle, Shadasia Green.)

Here is how Uncrowned’s boxing staff voted:

Kel Dansby

MEN

WOMEN

Alan Dawson

MEN

WOMEN

Darshan Desai

MEN

WOMEN

Jake Donovan

MEN

WOMEN

Lewis Watson

MEN

WOMEN

Elliot Worsell

MEN

WOMEN