There’s something so classic about boxing. It’s not just men, of course. Today, the best female boxers in the world really stand up to any of the guys. So, which female boxers are currently ruling it in the ring in 2024?
Best Female Boxers in the World Today
Before we get into the best female boxers in the world right now, let’s look ahead to a major boxing event happening later this summer. The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will be a big chance to spotlight the best female and male boxers in the world. Boxing has been a part of the Olympics for more than a century. It made its debut at the modern Olympic Games in 1904, and boxing has been part of every Summer Games since, except for the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, because Swedish law banned boxing back then. At the first Olympics with boxing in 1904, the U.S.A. won it all in St. Louis, because it was the only NOC to compete in the event. Over the years, Team U.S.A. athletes have dominated in boxing, winning 117 medals overall. Other countries that have done well include Cuba with 78 medals and Great Britain with 62 medals. Women’s boxing first became part of the Olympic program at the London 2012 games.
The rules are a bit different in Olympic boxing. “Only amateur boxers are allowed to compete, which means the Olympic Games are often the starting point of a glittering career for some of the biggest names in the sport, including none other than Muhammad Ali,” the official Olympics website states. Also, “between 1984 and 2012, male boxers were required to wear protective headgear, but the rule was abandoned for the 2016 Rio Games,” although “female boxers are still required to wear head guards.” In Olympic boxing, each bout is disputed in three rounds of three minutes each for men and four rounds of two minutes each for ladies. After each round, each of the judges picks a winner based on the judging criteria. The winner of that round gets 10 points. The loser can get between seven to nine points, depending on their performance level. At the end of all the rounds, the judges do the math to see who won.
So, if you’re a boxing fan, you have the Olympics up ahead. Now, onto the best female boxers in the world in 2024, from Claressa Shields to Natasha Jonas and more. These are professional boxers, so you won’t see them in Paris. If you love boxing, send me your favorite female boxers. My dad was a boxer, so it’s in my blood.
6. Natasha Jonas (Welterweight)
Natasha Jonas recently went up against Mikaela Mayer and kept her IBF welterweight title with a split-decision win. Two judges gave the fight to Jonas 96-94 and 96-95, and the other gave it to Mayer 97-93. The former Olympian’s next fight is to be determined.
Natasha Jonas celebrates with the WBC, WBO, IBF World Super-weight belts after victory in the the WBC, WBO, IBF World Super-weight championship fight between Natasha Jonas and Marie-Eve Dicaire on the Boxxer fight night at Manchester Arena on November 12, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
5. Chantelle Cameron (Junior Welterweight)
Chantelle Cameron went up against the great Katie Taylor back in May, and although she didn’t win, she was very impressive in the ring. Many have their eyes on Cameron as the next big thing in female boxing. Her next fight is to be determined.
Chantelle Cameron looks on prior to the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO World Super Lightweight Title fight between Chantelle Cameron and Katie Taylor at The 3Arena Dublin on November 25, 2023 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
4. Amanda Serrano (Strawweight, Featherweight, Super Featherweight and more)
Amanda Serrano is currently the reigning undisputed featherweight champion, but in the past, she’s been champion in a rage of lighter weight classes. The Puerto Rican professional boxer is also versed in mixed martial arts and professional wrestling. Her next fight is to be determined.
Amanda Serrano celebrates with the WBO, WBC, IBF & IBO World Featherweight Championship belts after defeating Sarah Mahfoud in the WBO, WBC, IBF & IBO World Featherweight Championship fight between Amanda Serrano and Sarah Mahfoud at AO Arena on September 24, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
3. Seniesa Estrada (Minimumweight)
Los Angeles’ Seniesa Estrada is the WBA minimumweight champion. She’s beaten a range of big names, including Marlen Esparza and Tenkai Tsunami. Her night fight is to be determined.
Seniesa Estrada poses with referee Robert Byrd after defeating Marlen Esparza in a flyweight fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 2, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Estrada won by technical unanimous decision when the fight was stopped after the ninth round due to an accidental headbutt. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
2. Katie Taylor (Lightweight and Super Light Weight)
Irish professional boxer Katie Taylor was an Olympic gold medalist and went pro in 2016. She has beaten everyone from Jessica McCaskill to Victoria Bustos to Eva Wahlstrom. Her next fight is to be determined. She’s the undisputed lightweight champion and undisputed super lightweight champion.
Katie Taylor looks on during the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO Undisputed Lightweight World Title fight between Katie Taylor and Karen Elizabeth Carabajal at OVO Arena Wembley on October 29, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
1. Claressa Shields (Middleweight)
This Flint, Michigan, native is arguably the greatest female boxer of today. She’s the middleweight undisputed champion. Shields is also the only boxer, male or female, to hold all four major world titles, WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO, at the same time in two weight classes. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is moving up two weight classes to challenge women’s WBC heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in July at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Claressa Shields celebrates after victory in the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO World Middleweight Title fight between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall on the Shields vs Marshall Boxxer fight night which is the first women’s only boxing card in the UK at The O2 Arena on October 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
