2021 has been another exciting year for the female side of the sport, with several stand-out stars.
Claressa Shields made yet more history in becoming a two-weight undisputed champion, Chantelle Cameron and Mikaela Mayer firmly established themselves by becoming unified titlists, whilst Alycia Baumgardner and Jamie Mitchell both took home world titles from the UK back home to the USA.
With plenty of healthy competition, here we select the top five female fighters from the last 12 months.
5. Jessica McCaskill
2021 Record: 2-0 (1 KO)
Fighters Faced in 2021: Cecilia Braekhus (UD10), Kandi Wyatt (TKO7)
In the summer of 2020, Jessica McCaskill jumped up to welterweight to take on the seemingly unbeatable Cecilia Braekhus in Tulsa, and the Chicago-based ‘CasKILLA’ did the unthinkable to take a majority decision win, to become undisputed world champion.
McCaskill (11-2, 4 KOs) proved that win was no fluke, as she opened 2021 with a more convincing wide victory on the cards against Braekhus in a rematch.
The 37-year-old was out again in December in Las Vegas, and she showed her maturity as a dominant champion by stopping Kandi Wyatt in seven rounds.
4. Katie Taylor
2021 Record: 3-0
Fighters Faced in 2021: Natasha Jonas (UD10), Jennifer Han (UD10), Firuza Sharipova (UD10)
Although her incredibly high standards slipped ever so slightly in 2021, Katie Taylor remains one of the premier females in world boxing.
The Bray native had three contests this year, beginning by edging past Natasha Jonas on the cards in May to defend her undisputed lightweight world title. Jennifer Han was then floored and routed on the cards in September, and Firuza Sharipova was clearly outscored in December.
2022 should see Taylor (20-0, 6 KOs) tested, as Amanda Serrano is due to move up in weight to face her.
3. Savannah Marshall
2021 Record: 2-0 (2 KOs)
Fighters Faced in 2021: Maria Landberg (KO3), Lolita Muzeya (TKO2)
Hartlepool-based, Savannah Marshall saw her stock rise further and further in 2021, as she followed up becoming a world champion at the back end of 2020, by defending twice in 2021 in emphatic fashion.
Marshall (11-0, 9 KOs) faced late notice substitute Maria Landberg in April, and the Swede was stopped for the first time in her career as Marshall scored a third round knockout win to defend her WBO middleweight crown.
October saw the 30-year-old again superbly defend, this time overwhelming Lolita Muzeya in a two round stoppage win.
The back end of this year was due to see Marshall take on her old amateur rival Claressa Shields, but that is now likely to take place in 2022.
2. Seniesa Estrada
2021 Record: 3-0 (1 KO)
Fighters Faced in 2021: Anabel Ortiz (UD10), Tenkai Tsunami (UD10), Maria Micheo Santizo (KO4)
Los Angeles-based, Seniesa Estrada had a real breakthrough year in 2021, as she became a world champion, and then doubled up to become a two-weight world champion in the summer.
In March, Estrada (22-0, 9 KOs) became WBA champion at minimumweight, outscoring Anabel Ortiz and then secured the WBO strap at light flyweight, taking a points win against Tenkai Tsunami.
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’Super Bad’ rounded off the year in style, returning to minimumweight to knock out Maria Santizo earlier this month.
A big 2022 is expected from the 29-year-old with potential unifications on the horizon.
1. Amanda Serrano
2021 Record: 3-0 (1 KO)
Fighters Faced in 2021: Daniela Romina Bermudez (KO09), Yamileth Mercado (UD10), Miriam Gutierrez (UD10)
Puerto Rico’s, Amanda Serrano has been in superb form this year, and ‘The Real Deal’ has been on a winning streak stretching back to 2012, since a sole defeat in Sweden.
Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs), who is promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, has held world titles in seven different weight classes, but has mainly campaigned at featherweight in recent times, with that subject to change in 2022.
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2021 began with a ninth round knockout of Daniela Romina Bermudez in defence of her WBC and WBO belts at featherweight, whilst she added the vacant IBO title.
A wide unanimous decision defence against Yamileth Mercado followed, and, with talk of her moving up to challenge undisputed world lightweight champion, Katie Taylor, the 33-year-old rounded off the year by moving up to 135 pounds and routing former Taylor foe, Miriam Gutierrez over ten rounds.
Taylor vs Serrano will be one of the mega fights of the new year.
