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Women's boxing divisional rankings: Nicolson solidifies spot at featherweight

Skye Nicolson, above, celebrates her victory over Raven Chapman to retain the WBC women's featherweight title. Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Skye Nicolson defeated Raven Chapman by unanimous decision Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to retain her WBC featherweight title.

Nicolson dominated the fight with her jab and slick footwork and won by a wide margin on the three judges' scorecards (99-91, 98-92 and 98-92).

Nicolson (12-0, 1 KO), of Queensland, Australia, has been very active, with eight fights in the last two years. This was her second defense of the WBC belt since she won it back in April. Chapman (9-1, 2 KOs), of Norfolk, England, suffered the first loss of her career.

The other champions in the division are Amanda Serrano, the WBO and WBA champion, and Nina Meinke, who holds the IBF belt. With the victory, Nicolson solidifies her No. 2 spot in the 126-pound division.

Rankings will be updated every Tuesday. They'll be based on recent bouts, head-to-head competition and the quality of opponent. As with almost everything, until fighters square off against one another, there is a layer of subjectivity to it. Fighters who haven't fought in 18 months and don't have a fight scheduled will be removed from the rankings until they fight again.

For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here. For women's P4P rankings, click here.

175+ pounds - Super middleweight - Middleweight - Junior middleweight - Welterweight - Junior welterweight - Lightweight - Junior lightweight - Featherweight - Junior featherweight - Bantamweight - Junior bantamweight - Flyweight - Junior flyweight - Strawweight - Atomweight


175+ POUNDS

1. Claressa Shields*     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 15-0, 3 KO
Last: W (KO2) Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, July 27
Next: TBA


2. Lani Daniels**     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 11-2-2, 1 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Bolatito Oluwole, Sept. 7
Next: TBA


3. Che Kenneally***     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 14-4-3, 7 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Angie Paola Rocha, July 20
Next: TBA


4. Raquel Miller     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 13-0, 6 KOs
Last: W (TKO1) Angie Paola Rocha, March 10
Next: TBA


5. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 7-2, 2 KO
Last: L (KO2) Claressa Shields, July 27
Next: TBA

*Editor's note: Claressa Shields is the WBC heavyweight champion and the WBO light heavyweight champion.

**Editor's note: Lani Daniels is the IBF light heavyweight champion.

***Editor's note: Che Kenneally is the WBA light heavyweight champion.


SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 168 pounds)

1. Savannah Marshall     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 13-1, 10 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Franchon Crews Dezurn, July 1
Next: TBA


2. Franchon Crews-Dezurn     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 9-2, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Shadasia Green, Dec. 15
Next: TBA


3. Shadasia Green     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 14-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Natasha Spence, July 20
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Melinda Watpool


4. Abril Argentina Vidal     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 10-2, 4 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, March 7
Next: TBA


5. Olivia Curry     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 7-2-1, 2 KOs
Last: Draw (SD16) Melody Popravak, April 27
Next: TBA


MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 160 pounds)

1. Claressa Shields     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 15-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (KO2) Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, July 27
Next: TBA


2. Savannah Marshall     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 13-1, 10 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Franchon Crews Dezurn, July 1
Next: TBA


3. Melinda Watpool     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 7-0, 2 KO
Last: W (UD10) Natasha Spence, Sept. 20
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Shadasia Green


4. Desley Robinson     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 8-3-3, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Mapule Ngubane, Aug. 23
Next: TBA


5. Olivia Curry     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 7-2-1, 2 KOs
Last: Draw (SD16) Melody Popravak, April 27
Next: TBA


JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 154 pounds)

1. Terri Harper     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 15-2-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Rhiannon Dixon, Sept. 28
Next: TBA


2. Ema Kozin     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 24-1-1, 12 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Hannah Rankin, Nov. 18
Next: TBA


3. Femke Hermans     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 18-4, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD6) Ester Konecna, Jan. 13
Next: TBA


4. Cecilia Braekhus     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 38-2-1, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Maricela Cornejo, Aug. 10
Next: TBA


5. Dilara Yucel     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 16-0, 11 KOs
Last: W (KO1) Sonja Pilipovic, June 22
Next: TBA


WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 147 pounds)

1. Natasha Jonas     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 15-2-1, 9 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Mikaela Mayer, Jan. 20
Next: TBA


2. Mikaela Mayer     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 20-2, 5 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Sandy Ryan, Sept. 27
Next: TBA


3. Sandy Ryan     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 7-2-1, 3 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Mikaela Mayer, Sept. 27
Next: TBA


4. Lauren Price     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 7-0, 1 KO
Last: W (TD9) Jessica McCaskill, May 11
Next: TBA


5. Ivana Habazin     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 23-5, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Kinga Magyar, April 20
Next: TBA


JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 140 pounds)

1. Katie Taylor     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 23-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Chantelle Cameron, Nov. 25
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Amanda Serrano


2. Chantelle Cameron     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 19-1, 8 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Elhem Mekhaled, July 20
Next: TBA


3. Amanda Serrano     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 47-2-1, 31 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Stevie Morgan, July 20
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Katie Taylor


4. Jessica McCaskill     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 12-4-1, 5 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Lauren Price, May 11
Next: TBA


5. Elhem Mekhaled     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 17-3, 3 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Chantelle Cameron, July 20
Next: TBA


LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 135 pounds)

1. Katie Taylor     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 23-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Chantelle Cameron, Nov. 25
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Amanda Serrano


2. Caroline Dubois     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 10-0, 5 KO
Last: W (UD10) Maria Moneo, Aug. 3
Next: TBA


3. Terri Harper     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 15-2-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Rhiannon Dixon, Sept. 28
Next: TBA


4. Rhiannon Dixon     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 10-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Karen Elizabeth Carabajal, April 13
Next: Sept. 28 vs. Terri Harper


5. Beatriz Fereira     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 5-0, 2 KO
Last: W (TUD6) Yanina del Carmen Lescano, April 27
Next: TBA


JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 130 pounds)

1. Alycia Baumgardner     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 15-1, 1 NC, 19 KOs
Last: No contest (NC4) Delfine Persoon, Sept. 27
Next: TBA


2. Delfine Persoon     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 49-3, 19 KOs
Last: No contest (NC4) Alycia Baumgardner, Sept. 27
Next: TBA


3. Bo Mi Re Shin     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 16-2-3, 9 KOs
Last: W (TKO3) Pattarawan Thaosuwan, Oct. 8
Next: TBA


4. Leila Beaudoin     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 12-1, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Lizbeth Crespo, Aug. 17
Next: Nov. 7 vs. Edith Soledad Matthysse


5. Christina Linardatou     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 14-3, 6 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Alycia Baumgardner, July 15
Next: TBA


FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 126 pounds)

1. Amanda Serrano     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 47-2-1, 31 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Stevie Morgan, July 20
Next: Nov. 15 vs. Katie Taylor


2. Skye Nicolson     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 12-0, 1 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Raven Chapman, Oct. 12
Next: TBA


3. Nina Meinke     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 19-3, 4 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Daniela Romina Bermudez, Sept. 21
Next: TBA


4. Sarah Mahfoud     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 14-2, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Skye Nicolson, April 6
Next: Oct. 12 vs. Danila Ramos


5. Daniela Romina Bermudez     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 32-5-3, 12 KOs
Last: L (MD10) Nina Meinke, Sept. 21
Next: TBA


JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 122 pounds)

1. Yamileth Mercado     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 24-3, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Ramla Ali, June 29
Next: TBA


2. Ellie Scotney     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 9-0, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Segolene Lefebvre, April 13
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Mea Motu


3. Erika Cruz     Previous ranking: No 3

Record: 17-2-1, 3 KOs
Last: Draw (SD10) Nazarena Romero, May 11
Next: TBA


4. Mea Motu     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 19-0, 7 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Noppaket Srisawas, April 26
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Ellie Scotney


5. Phannarai Netisri     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 15-0, 6 KO
Last: W (UD10) Maria Magdalena Rivera, April 13
Next: Oct. 3 vs. Shannon O'Connell


BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 118 pounds)

1. Dina Thorslund     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 22-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Seren Cetin, May 25
Next: Oct. 25 vs. Terumi Nuki


2. Diana Laura Fernandez     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 32-4-1, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Sayda Mosquera, June 7
Next: TBA


3. Cherneka Johnson     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 16-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Nina Hughes, May 11
Next: TBA


4. Yuliahn Luna Avila     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 27-4-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza, July 13
Next: TBA


5. Miyo Yoshida     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 17-4, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Ebanie Bridges, Dec. 9
Next: Oct. 23 vs. Shurretta Metcalf


JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 115 pounds)

1. Carla Ayelen Merino     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 14-2, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Micaela Milagros Lujan, April 27
Next: TBA


2. Asley Gonzalez Macias     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 16-2, 7 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Lourdes Juarez, March 25
Next: TBA


3. Irma Garcia     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 23-5-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Stephanie Silva, Nov. 11
Next: TBA


4. Mizuki Hiruta     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 6-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (TKO6) Ji Hyun Park, Jan. 12
Next: TBA


5. Clara Lescurat     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 11-0, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Linn Sandstrom, April 24
Next: TBA


FLYWEIGHT (Up to 112 pounds)

1. Gabriela Celeste Alaniz     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 15-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Marlen Esparza, April 27
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Gabriela Fundora


2. Gabriela Fundora     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 14-0, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Daniela Asenjo, Aug. 10
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Gabriela Celeste Alaniz


3. Kenia Enriquez     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 28-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Maria Salinas, Feb. 2
Next: TBA


4. Marlen Esparza     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 14-2, 1 KO
Last: L (MD10) Gabriela Celeste Alaniz, April 27
Next: TBA


5. Arely Mucino     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 32-4-2, 11 KOs
Last: L (KO5) Gabriela Fundora, Oct. 21
Next: TBA


JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (Up to 108 pounds)

1. Jessica Nery Plata     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 30-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Sarah Bormann, Dec. 16
Next: TBA


2. Evelin Bermudez     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 20-1-1, 7 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Jessica Basulto Salazar, May 4
Next: TBA


3. Yesica Yolanda Bopp     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 39-3, 17 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Roxana Maria Colmenarez, Dec. 16
Next: TBA


4. Kim Clavel     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 19-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Katherine Renee Lindenmuth, May 16
Next: Nov. 14 vs. TBA


5. Aldana Florencia Lopez     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 11-0, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Veronica Ruiz, Aug. 31
Next: TBA


STRAWWEIGHT (Up to 105 pounds)

1. Yokasta Valle     Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 31-3, 10 KOs
Last: W (TKO2) Ramandeep Kaur, July 20
Next: TBA


2. Sarah Bormann     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 18-1, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Tamara Elisabet Demarco, May 4
Next: TBA


3. Louisa Hawton     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 12-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Viviana Ruiz Corredor, Sept. 7
Next: TBA


4. Tenkai Tsunami     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 32-13-1, 19 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Siriporn Taweesuk, June 10
Next: TBA


5. Sol Cudos     Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 8-0-2, 2 KOs
Last: W (TKO8) Veronica Ruiz, June 8
Next: Oct. 26 vs. Johana Zuniga

Editor's note: Seniesa Estrada announced retirement on Oct. 23 and was removed from the rankings.


ATOMWEIGHT (Up to 102 pounds)

1. Eri Matsuda     Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 7-1-1, 1 KO
Last: W (SD10) Yuko Kuroki, Jan. 12
Next: TBA


2. Tina Rupprecht     Previous ranking: No 2

Record: 13-1-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Fabiana Bytyqi, Jan. 13
Next: TBA


3. Anabel Ortiz     Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 34-6, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Montserrat Alarcon, Aug. 31
Next: TBA


4. Sumire Yamanaka     Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 8-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Mika Iwakawa, Jan. 12
Next: TBA


5. Montserrat Alarcon     Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 19-6-2, 0 KOs
Last: L (UD8) Anabel Ortiz, Aug. 31
Next: TBA