Undefeated, undisputed world lightweight champion, Katie Taylor, has been near flawless since she traded the amateur ranks for an assault on the professional game in late 2016, and that has been reflected by her position in the Ring Magazine’s first-ever female pound-for-pound rankings.
Taylor, who defeated Delfine Persoon by a close but unanimous decision in Eddie Hearn’s back garden last Saturday night to improve her record to 16-0, comes in second place in the P4P rankings behind three-weight world champion Claressa Shields and ahead of rivals Cecilia Braekhus, Jessica McCaskill and Amanda Serrano who place in 3rd, 4th and 5th positions respectively.
The defeated Persoon, meanwhile, slots in at sixth position. McCaskill surged in the rankings thanks to an underdog win against Braekhus recently.
Taylor had been widely expected to face the 38-1-1 Serrano in May before the fight was postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions. She already holds a win over the Puerto Rican fighter’s sister, Cindy Serrano.
Ring Magazine is widely considered to be the definitive word when it comes to boxing rankings, with Taylor’s position locked in due to her flawless professional career to date. The fighter in the top spot, the 10-0 Claressa Shields, is one of only seven boxers in history to hold all four major boxing world titles — WBO, IBF, WBA, WBC — simultaneously.
Fittingly for the two women at the top of the sport, Katie Taylor is another who can claim a spot on that exclusive list — as can Cecilia Braekhus.
Attention will now turn to Taylor’s next opponent, the identify of which has yet to be decided. Logic dictates that a showdown with Amanda Serrano will now be pursued — and another win there for the Bray native could well see her move up to the top spot in these rankings in a future update.
