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

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

Taylor and Serrano, two of Uncrowned’s prime pound-for-pound boxers, had two controversial Combat of the Yr contenders in 2022 and 2024. However once they met for the third time on July 11, Eire’s Taylor outboxed the Puerto Rican for a extra convincing victory to take a clear sweep of their much-hyped trilogy of fights.

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By doing so, Taylor satisfied Uncrowned’s panel of specialists — 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 within the Girls’s pound-for-pound rankings.

However that is not the solely change to our record. The final month and a half of boxing has seen eight fighters in Uncrowned’s earlier rankings compete with blended outcomes. So we thought this was the proper time for our up to date pound-for-pound record.

Uncrowned’s voters have ranked the boys’s and ladies’s pound-for-pound greatest, one by 10, utilizing a weighted factors system to find out the ultimate rankings. (Being voted No. 1 equals 10 factors, No. 2 equals 9 factors, right down to No. 10 equaling one level.)

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With out additional ado, listed below 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 turn into a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion at Wembley Stadium on Saturday — and reassert his place as pound-for-pound the most effective fighter in boxing.

A highway warrior, Usyk has boxed in title fights in seven completely different nations, largely in opposition to fighters from these areas.

He gained the World Boxing Tremendous Sequence at cruiserweight by clearing out the most effective fighters in that division, and rivals Evander Holyfield as the most effective 200-pound fighter the world has ever seen. After turning into undisputed champion at cruiserweight, he then moved as much as heavyweight and wasted no time defeating Anthony Joshua (twice) and Tyson Fury (twice), regardless of surrendering a substantial measurement benefit to the fashionable day giants. In that sense, he epitomizes what the idea of pound-for-pound is all about.

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Now, Usyk, 38, may need only one combat left in boxing. Whether or not it is Joseph Parker, Moses Itauma, and even Fury for a 3rd time, relaxation assured that Usyk will produce one thing particular on the evening.

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 throughout 4 weight lessons and is constructing a hulking résumé, with signature wins over Nonito Donaire (twice), Stephen Fulton, and Luis Nery.

Inoue was final in motion in Might, the place he exchanged knockdowns with Ramon Cardenas earlier than stopping the sport Mexican fighter within the eighth spherical of an on the spot traditional at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas.

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Inoue will combat Matchroom’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September, earlier than a possible all-Japanese superfight with Junto Nakatani subsequent spring.

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

Terence Crawford is your favourite fighter’s favourite fighter. Even Usyk acknowledges Crawford because the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter on the planet, over himself.

“Bud” managed to scrub out tremendous light-weight with out an excessive amount of adversity, then dove into 147 kilos as a feared fighter. When Crawford lastly landed his long-awaited superfight with Errol Spence Jr., he confirmed precisely why he was prevented for therefore lengthy. A combat initially considered an excellent 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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Extra not too long ago, the Omaha native edged Israil Madrimov to turn into a four-division champion. He now heads towards 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 till falling brief to Beterbiev of their undisputed title combat this previous October. Throughout 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 12 months and ascend as solely the eleventh man to turn into undisputed champion of the four-belt period. Bivol and Beterbiev are prone to run it again later in 2025 or early 2026.

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

Regardless, out of each fighter on this record, it’s Bivol who has two of essentially the most important and significant wins, contemplating his victories over each “Canelo” and Beterbiev. His ticket to the Corridor 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,” however his coach, Robert Garcia, had little question he was as much as the check.

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Rodriguez impressed to seize the WBC tremendous flyweight crown and has by no means appeared again. 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 only a combat fan’s favourite anymore. He is now a star of the game. He stopped Phumelela Cafu in a unification combat in entrance of 10,000 individuals at The Ford Heart at The Star in Frisco, Texas, this previous Saturday, and can look so as to add one other belt to his title when he faces WBA titleist Fernando “Puma” Martinez on Nov. 22.

Rodriguez even signed to combat Naktani — one other man on this record — however Akihiko Honda, who co-promotes each fighters, vetoed the combat.

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

After edging a controversial determination over Bivol in October to turn into the undisputed gentle heavyweight champion, Beterbiev fell brief within the rematch earlier within the 12 months. Now the pair seems headed towards a trilogy — arguably essentially 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 after the other previous to his first profession loss and will transfer as much as cruiserweight to turn into a two-division champion after the Bivol trilogy.

A combat between Beterbiev and Opetaia can be a sensational matchup a while within the subsequent 12 months, and there is a probability that it may very well be for all 4 cruiserweight belts — which means a win would see Beterbiev be part of the highest three names on this record as two-division undisputed champions.

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

Nakatani is probably within the place Inoue was among the many wider boxing group earlier than Inoue’s win over Fulton. As an undefeated three-division champion, however one primarily based within the decrease weights and away from the Western group, Nakatani remains to be constructing a fan base within 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 might land his massive breakout combat in opposition to Inoue within the spring of 2026. It has all of 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 game’s greatest industrial star for nearly a decade. The Mexican champion confronted the most effective opponents boxing needed to provide throughout many divisions till his Might 2022 defeat to Bivol. However since then, Alvarez has seemingly turn into extra reluctant to tackle a few of the greater challenges obtainable to him, and is arguably exhibiting his age by throwing fewer punches.

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This previous Might in Saudi Arabia, “Canelo” made his Riyadh Season debut in opposition to William Scull, trying listless all through the present however nonetheless securing a choice win. He has not knocked out anyone since 2021, and can now put his undisputed standing at 168 kilos on the road in opposition to Crawford this September in Las Vegas on the dwelling of the NFL’s Raiders.

Had that combat taken place final 12 months, few would have picked in opposition to “Canelo.” However questions at the moment are being requested about whether or not Alvarez is lastly exhibiting his age in boxing years. It could nicely turn into a extra aggressive combat than what it as soon as was.

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

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

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For a few years, combat followers have been calling for Stevenson to entertain them and present that there’s extra to his recreation than merely dominating boring, low-output contests in opposition to overmatched, befuddled opposition.

He has now accomplished that, however he’s nonetheless crying out for an enormous title to share the ring with him. With Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ newest points outdoors the ring, Vasiliy Lomachenko not too long ago retiring, and Keyshawn Davis set to maneuver as much as tremendous light-weight, Stevenson may need to leap two divisions to welterweight and face Conor Benn for that massive combat.

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 combating type.

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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 one other prime contender, Anthony Yarde, on Nov. 22 earlier than setting his sights on the Bivol vs. Beterbiev 3 winner in 2026.

Exterior of that, Benavidez might leap as much as 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 ought to turn into 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 incorporates wins over Serrano, Delfine Persoon and Chantelle Cameron, wasn’t sufficient to crown her because the No. 1 pound-for-pound ladies’s boxer as a result of closeness of her fights and the controversy stemming from a number of of them. However along with her extra convincing victory over Serrano, the time is now for Taylor to put on her crown as the most effective on the planet.

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

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

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

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She gained undisputed gold at middleweight in 2019 (the place there are solely 37 lively contributors on the planet), at tremendous welterweight in 2021 (which has 63 registered boxers), and most not too long ago at heavyweight, (dwelling to simply 18 fighters).

With 118 fighters competing within the three divisions she’s gained the undisputed championships in, it is comprehensible why the two-time Olympic champion has struggled to seek out big-name dance companions. Regardless, she’s crushed each contender put in entrance of her, and that is all that anybody can ask of any pugilist.

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

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

Fundora stopped Gabriela Alaniz in spectacular style 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 present in Oceanside, California, in April.

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At simply 22 years outdated, she is the youngest undisputed champion of the four-belt period — and he or she might very nicely be the face of girls’s boxing within the years to return.

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

Puerto Rico’s Serrano was defeated for a 3rd time by Taylor of their undisputed title combat earlier in July. This time, nonetheless, there was no controversy on the evening — Serrano was merely crushed by the higher lady. No matter popping out 0-3 within the historic collection, Serrano will at all times be capable of say that she took half within the first main trilogy of fights in ladies’s boxing.

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It’s unclear what the long run holds for Serrano, however fights with Chantelle Cameron or Alycia Baumgardner — each 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, however her greatest triumph undoubtedly got here when she upset Taylor in her homecoming bout at a packed 3 Area in Dublin the next 12 months.

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

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The Brit needs one other shot at Taylor, however the combat might show tough to make after the Irishwoman, uncharacteristically, fired photographs at Cameron’s industrial standing within the post-fight press convention after her third win over Serrano.

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

Baumgardner introduced 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, however her profession was halted for a while after failing an anti-doping check within the lead-up to her title protection in opposition to Christina Linardatou. The American fought to a no-contest in opposition to Delfine Persoon in her return combat this previous September.

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Baumgardner has since made massive strikes within the ladies’s recreation, signing with Jake Paul and Nikisa Bidarian’s Most Worthwhile Promotions. She made her debut for the corporate on the Taylor vs. Serrano undercard, defeating Jennifer Miranda. Baumgardner now hopes to land a combat with Taylor for all the marbles at 140.

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

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

Thorslund was scheduled to tackle Shurretta Metcalf in a three-belt unification bout on the Taylor vs. Serrano 3 undercard, however the Danish lady withdrew one month out resulting from an impending being pregnant.

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Thorslund ended up relinquishing her WBC and WBO titles resulting from her prolonged interval 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 might see her get a straight shot on the undisputed crown in opposition to Johnson.

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

There are few lively fighters who’re extra adorned than burgeoning Welsh fighter Lauren Worth, who gained the gold medal for Britain on the 2020 Olympic Video games, and has parlayed that success into the professional recreation. She’s unified three main world championships, in addition to The Ring Journal title, after solely 9 bouts.

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In that brief area of time, she’s already defeated McCaskill and Natasha Jonas. At simply 30 years outdated, the southpaw’s greatest years should be forward of her. Worth hoped to unify her three titles with WBO champion Mayer in an undisputed bout, however the boxer’s respective groups have been unable to achieve an settlement. Neither fighter’s promoters, High Rank or BOXXER, have a community deal at the moment, so the combat might show tough to prepare.

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

Ellie Scotney debuts on Uncrowned’s ladies’s pound-for-pound record at No. 9.

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

Nonetheless, Scotney has struggled to realize recognition outdoors of the boxing group. To additional her trigger, she penned with Paul’s Most Worthwhile Promotions earlier this 12 months and added the WBC strap with a convincing win over Yamileth Mercado on the Netflix-streamed Taylor vs. Serrano 3 present, which was seen by an viewers of 6 million.

Now Scotney has only one belt remaining to turn into undisputed champion — the WBA title at the moment held by the little-known Mexican Mayelli Flores. Exterior Flores, Scotney might face the previous WBC featherweight champion Skye Nicolson in a brilliant bantamweight title protection after Nicolson moved right 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 flawed finish of two disputed selections. In 2022, she was thought-about unfortunate to not get her hand raised after 10 good rounds with Baumgardner, and in 2024, she got here away second-best once more within the eyes of the judges in opposition to Natasha Jonas.

The rub of the inexperienced lastly favored Mayer in September, although, when she edged Sandy Ryan to win the WBO welterweight title. Mayer vs. Ryan, alongside Taylor vs. Serrano 2, was the frontrunner for combat of the 12 months 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 moderately than revenge as Mayer, once more, gained by way of determination.

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

Right here is how Uncrowned’s boxing crew 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