Chantelle Cameron, Natasha Jonas Force Movement: Women’s Competition Index Update

The first big result of 2023 is in.

On Friday, Jessica Nery Plata defeated Kim Clavel in a Jr. flyweight unification. GivenYokasta Valle’s decision to remain unified at strawweight instead of 108 pounds, it left Plata as the lone major titlist at Jr. flyweight. A case can be made for Plata as the new lineal queen of her class.

There will be more fights between 105 and 112 in the year to come as this has become an intriguing hot spot in women’s boxing. It’s not the only one. 

Far from it.

The final quarter of 2022 gave us several more big results in what was arguably the biggest year in women’s boxing history. Some of the movement from the first index to this first update, including a slight change in the scoring mirroring the men’s index, include:

• Plata enters the top ten on the strength of her win over the highly rated Clavel.
• Katie Taylor, #1 in the debut index, slips a little after facing a Karen Carbajal then-unranked by both Ring and LinealBoxingChampion.com in her last bout.
• Chantelle Cameron and Natasha Jonas both make big moves after big wins at Jr. welterweight and Jr. middleweight, respectively.
• Seniesa Estrada exits the top ten after a win over unranked Jazmin Villarino in her last bout. Estrada handed flyweight champion Marlen Esparza her only loss but that loss aged past three years for this update. Esparza moves up a hair.  

To see how this all works out, here is the first update for 2023.    

1) Claressa Shields (13-0, 2 KO) 

Overall Points Rank: 1 (36.5 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 2 (4 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 2 (18 pts)

Average Opponent Ranking: 2 (2.7)

Age: 27

Current Lineal Titles: World Middleweight (2019-Present, 2 Defenses); World Jr. Middleweight (2021-Present, 0 Defenses)

Current Alphabet Titles: WBA/IBF Middleweight (2018-20, 5 Defenses); WBC Middleweight (2018-Present, 4 Defenses); WBO Middleweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses)

Additional Titles: Ring Magazine Middleweight (2019-Present, 2 Defenses); WBC/IBF Super Middleweight (2017-18, 1 Defense); WBO Middleweight (2019-20); WBC/WBO Super Welterweight (2020-21, 1 Defense); IBF/WBA Jr. Middleweight (2021); Ring Magazine Jr. Middleweight (2021-22)

Record in Title Fights: 10-0, 1 KO

Last Five: Savannah Marshall UD10 (Ring #1/LBC #1 – 160); Ema Kozin UD10 (#3 – 160); Marie Eve Dicaire (#2/#1 – 154); Ivana Habazin (Unrated – 154); Christina Hammer (No Ring/#2 – 160)

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: Along with Amanda Serrano, Shields has wins over four different (unique) contenders over the last three years. Shields wins the tiebreaker as all her ranked wins were in the top three of their division at the time. The two-time Olympic Gold Medalist has maintained a commendable level of competition since turning professional in 2016. Shields’ debut came against future-undisputed super middleweight champion Franchon Drews-Dezurn and she has fought almost nothing but leading contenders and current, former, or future titlists. Shields was both gritty and masterful in traveling overseas for her best professional win, reunifying the middleweight division versus Savannah Marshall to avenge her lone amateur defeat. 

2) Chantelle Cameron (17-0, 8 KO)

Overall Points Rank: 3 (28.55 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 4 (3 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 1 (19.55 pts)

Average Opponent Ranking: 5 (3.39)

Age: 31

Current Lineal Titles: World Jr. Welterweight (2021-Present, 2 Defenses)

Current Alphabet Titles: WBC Super Lightweight (2020-Present, 4 Defenses); IBF Jr. Welterweight (2021-Present, 1 Defense); WBA/WBO Jr. Welterweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses)

Additional Titles: Ring Magazine Jr. Welterweight (2021-Present, 2 Defenses) 

Record in Title Fights: 5-0, 1 KO

Last Five: Jessica McCaskill UD10 (Champion – 147[+]), Victoria Bustos UD10 (#3 – 140); Mary McGee UD10 (#2 – 140); Melissa Hernandez TKO5 (Unrated – 140); Adriana Dos Santos Araujo UD10 (Unrated – 140)

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: TBA

The Take: The UK’s Cameron entered the biggest fight of her career off two big wins over consensus top three Jr. welterweights Mary McGee and Victoria Bustos. Cameron came through big enough against welterweight queen Jessica McCaskill. Cameron built a healthy lead and withstood a late surge to retain her titles and add two more vacant titles to her mantle. For Cameron, a showdown with Katie Taylor would put plenty of butts in seats and push Cameron even farther into conversations about the best women’s boxer on the planet. 

3) Natasha Jonas (13-2-1, 8 KO)

Overall Points Rank: 5 (24.53 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 5 (3 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 2 (18 pts)

Average Opponent Ranking: 1 (2.69)

Age: 38

Current Alphabet Titles: WBO Jr. Middleweight (2022-Present, 2 Defenses); WBC Super Welterweight (2022-Present, 1 Defense); IBF Jr. Middleweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses) 

Previous Titles: None

Additional Titles: Ring Magazine Jr. Middleweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses)

Record in Title Fights: 3-1-1, 1 KO

Last Five Opponents: Marie Eve Dicaire UD10 (#1/#3 – 154), Patricia Berghult UD10 (#2 – 154); Chris Namus TKO2 (#5/Unrated – 154 [+++]); Vaida Masiokaite (Unrated – 135); Katie Taylor L10 (Champion – 135); 

Three Year Activity Kicker: Terri Harper D10 (No Ring/#4)

Next Opponent: TBA 

The Take: Natasha Jonas had an unlikely 2022. After settling for a draw in a Jr. lightweight challenge of Harper in 2020, and falling short in a challenge of Taylor for the lightweight title in 2021, Jonas jumped three weight classes and went on a tear. Jonas was 3-0 and acquired three alphabet straps on the year. While Shields may still be the lineal queen at Jr. middleweight, Jonas now owns The Ring’s title as well. The lone remaining major title for Jonas’ collection belongs to Harper, who has also made the jump some twenty pounds-plus up the scale in the last couple years. A rematch seems natural. Could a major clash with Shields also be a reward in 2023?  

4) Katie Taylor (22-0, 6 KO)

Overall Points Rank: 2 (31.89 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 1 (5 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 8 (9.5 pts)

Average Opponent Ranking: 10 (4.32)

Age: 36

Current Lineal Titles: World Lightweight (2019-Present, 6 Defenses)

Current Alphabet Titles: WBA Lightweight (2017-Present, 14 Defenses); IBF Lightweight (2018-Present, 12 Defenses); WBO Lightweight (2019-Present, 8 Defenses); WBC Lightweight (2019-Present, 6 Defenses)

Additional Titles: Ring Magazine Lightweight (2019-Present, 6 Defenses); WBO Jr. Welterweight (2019) 

Record in Title Fights: 16-0, 3 KO

Last Five: Karen Carbajal UD10 (Unrated – 135); Amanda Serrano UD10 (#2/#1 – 135; #1 – 126); Firuza Sharipova UD10 (Unrated – 135); Jennifer Han UD10 (#5/Unrated – 135); Natasha Jonas (Unrated/#5 – 130[-])

Three Year Activity Kicker: Delfine Persoon UD10 (No Ring/#1); Miriam Gutierrez UD10 (#4/#5 – 135)

Next Opponent: TBA  

The Take: Taylor slips just a bit with an unranked foe in her last outing but remains the leader finishes on top as the leader in unique wins, including a win over the woman just ahead and just behind her in the top ten. Taylor’s five unique wins against ranked opposition is one more than her closest peers in Claressa Shields and Amanda Serrano and she’s had seven starts since the beginning of 2020. A five-time World Amateur champion and 2012 Olympic Gold medalist, Ireland’s Taylor won arguably the biggest fight in the history of women’s boxing when she weathered a violent mid-round assault to earn a decision over Serrano in April. Will she see Serrano again in 2023? Could Taylor venture up the scale to face the winner of Jessica McCaskill-Chantelle Cameron? There will be more big fights awaiting the lightweight queen in the year ahead.

5) Amanda Serrano (43-2-1, 30 KO)

Overall Points Rank: 4 (31.83 pts)

Unique Rated Wins Rank: 3 (4 unique wins)

Last Two Starts Rank: 14 (7 pts)

Average Opponent Ranking: 6 (3.52)

Age: 34

Current Alphabet Titles: WBC/WBO featherweight (2019-Present, 2 Defenses); IBF Featherweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses)

Previous Titles: IBF super featherweight (2011-12); WBO lightweight (2014-15); WBO featherweight (2016, 1 Defense); WBO super bantamweight (2016-18, 2 Defenses); WBO bantamweight (2017); WBO super lightweight (2018); WBO super flyweight (2019)

Additional Titles: Ring Magazine Featherweight (2022-Present, 0 Defenses)

Record in Title Fights: 14-2, 9 KO

Last Five Opponents: Sarah Mahfoud UD10 (#3 – 126); Katie Taylor L10 (Champion – 135); Miriam Gutierrez UD10 (#3/Unrated – 135); Yamileth Mercado UD10 (#3 – 122[-]); Daniela Bermudez KO9 (#3/#1 – 122[-]) 

Three Year Activity Kicker: No

Next Opponent: February 4, 2023 vs. Erika Cruz Hernandez (15-1, 3 KO, WBA, #1/

The Take: Manny Pacquiao received wide acclaim for a career that took him to belts from flyweight to Jr. middleweight. Pacquiao did it over time, continually rising through weight classes. Serrano has won titles from 115-140 pounds in a far different order, once winning belts at 140 and then 115, in consecutive bouts, in that order. Right now, Serrano is ranked at lightweight and reigns with three belts at featherweight. A competitive loss to lightweight champion Katie Taylor in their superfight cost Serrano only a little bit here. A rematch between the two would be one of the biggest fights in boxing, men or women. Serrano will attempt to become the undisputed featherweight champion in her next bout with Hernandez.   

6) Marlen Esparza (13-1, 1 KO): Overall Points Rank: 6 (16.9 pts)/Unique Rated Wins Rank: 6 (3 unique win)/Last Two Starts Rank: 8 (9.5 pts)/Average Opponent Ranking: 12 (4.56)

Last Five: Eva Guzman UD10 (Unrated – 112); Naoko Fujioka UD10 (#2/#1 – 112); Anabel Ortiz UD10 (#4/#5 – 105 [–]); Ibeth Zamora Silva UD10 (#5/#4 – 112); Shelly Barnett UD6 (Unrated – 112)

7) Alycia Baumgardner (13-1, 7 KO): Overall Points Rank: 8 (19.5 pts)/Unique Rated Wins Rank: 10 (2 unique wins)/Last Two Starts Rank: 6 (10.5 pts)/Average Opponent Ranking: 9 (4.2)

Last Five: Mikaela Mayer SD10 (Champion/#1 – 130); Edith Matthysse UD10 (Unrated – 130); Terri Harper TKO4 (#2 – 130); Vanessa Bradford UD8 (Unrated – 130); Cristina Pacheco (Unrated – 130)

8) Savannah Marshall (12-1, 10 KO): Overall Points Rank: 10 (17.75 pts)/Unique Rated Wins Rank: 7 (3 unique wins)/Last Two Starts Rank: 16 (6 pts)/Average Opponent Ranking: 7 (4.02)

Last Five: Claressa Shields L10 – (Champion – 160); Femke Hermans KO3 (#4 – 160); Lolita Muzeya TKO2 (#5/#4 – 147 [–]); Maria Lindberg KO3 (Unrated – 160); Hannah Rankin TKO7 (No Ring/#5 – 154[–])

9) Franchon Crews-Dezurn (8-1, 2 KO): Overall Points Rank: 11 (15.67 pts)/Unique Rated Wins Rank: 12 (2 unique wins)/Last Two Starts Rank: 11 (9 pts)/Average Opponent Ranking: 8 (4.04)

Last Five: Elin Cederroos UD10 (#1/#3 – 168); Ashleigh Curry UD8 (Unrated – 168); Alejandra Jimenez NC10 (No Ring/#2 – 168); Maricela Cornejo UD10 (No Ring/#4 – 160 [-])

10) Jessica Nery Plata (29-2, 3 KO): Overall Points Rank: 12 (15 pts)/Unique Rated Wins Rank: 13 (2 unique wins)/Last Two Starts Rank: 4 (15 pts)/Average Opponent Ranking: 14 (5)

Last Five: Kim Clavel UD10 (#3/#1 – 108), Yessica Bopp SD10 (#5 – 108), Sandra Robles UD8 (Unrated – 112), Edith De Jesus Flores UD8 (Unrated – 112), Barbara Martinez Munoz UD8 (Unrated – 108) 

Rest of the Top Fifteen: Mikaela Mayer (Ranked 13 on Overall Points/8 on Unique Wins/20 on Last Two Starts/4 on Average Opponent Ranking), Seniesa Estrada (9/11/20/11), Jessica McCaskill (7/9/37/3), Yokasta Valle (15/14/5/22), Erika Cruz Hernandez (14/16/17/14), Terri Harper (19/15/10/20), Dina Thorslund (17/18/11/19), Asley Gonzalez Macias (21/21/7/17), Yulihan Luna Avila (16/17/20/17), Yamileth Mercado (18/19/20/13)

Previous Competition Index Updates

October 2022

Most Recent Men’s Index

January 2023

Here’s how it works.

Using the most recent ratings available in a print issue of Ring or monthly sample of selected online rankings, and the most recent archived LBC ratings prior to a fight:

• Every primary WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titlist, some select recent former titlists, and fighters who appeared in either the Ring or LBC pound for pound top ten in the last year or so were evaluated based on the official results against their last five opponents and/or last three years of activity and what those opponents were rated heading into the fight.
• Wins over rated opponents started at 11 points for a recognized LBC or Ring champion down to six points for defeating a number five contender. Draws got half credit. No points were given for a No Contest or No Decision but the result is noted.
• Fighters who have produced a higher activity level were given a kicker score for any wins over rated opposition in the last three years no later than January 15, 2023. Everyone evaluated was scored for their last five opponents even if that was past the three year mark.
• Losses to rated opponents were given an inverse score, beginning with -1 for a champion down to -6.
• Losses to unrated opponents received a universal score of -7.
• Wins over unrated opponents were worth nothing.
• If there is a difference between a fighter’s Ring and LBC rankings, the average of the two numbers was used (i.e. a win over a fighter rated second by one body and fifth by the other would be worth 7.5 pts).
• If a fighter was rated by only Ring or LBC, half credit was given for a win based on the single rating. A loss total would come from an average of -7 and the point loss that would apply to the rating that was in place. 
• Moves between weight classes were adjusted for by taking into consideration the body weight shift between weight classes. In other words, if a rated Jr. welterweight jumped up to beat a rated welterweight, the math would work like this: 147/140 multiplied by the divisional rating score. It works in reverse for a win over a fighter rated lower (i.e. 160/168 multiplied by the smaller man’s rating in his class). In an over the weight class fight, the divisions the women were rated in were used.
• Fighters from a higher class are noted with a [+], from a lower [-], after the weight limit of their respective weight class. 
• The totals generated result in a rating. 
• Each fighter evaluated is given a score for how many unique wins they have against rated opponents; beating the same opponent twice counts for only one unique win. They are then rated based on unique wins with tiebreakers decided by whoever holds higher total points. 
• A rating is generated for the point total for each fighter’s last two wins.  
• The Ring/LBC rankings for each fighter’s qualified opponents is generated on a scale of 0-6 (0 for champion/6 for unranked). Adjustments are made for weight classes. As an example, on the men’s side, super middleweight champion Saul Alvarez’s 2022 loss at light heavyweight to Dmitri Bivol came with Bivol ranked #2 by Ring and #1 by TBRB at light heavyweight. That’s an average ranking of 1.5. Adjusting for the move up in weight, 168 is divided by 175 and multiplied by 1.5 for a 1.44. Conversely, Alvarez’s defense at super middleweight against #1 ranked middleweight Gennadiy Golovkin would result in a 1.5 for Golovkin. The opponent rankings are combined and divided by total qualified fights for an average opponent ranking. Those averages were ordered lowest to highest and assigned a rating. 
• The rating in each scoring category (Total/Unique Wins/Last Two Bouts/Average Opponent Ranking) were averaged against each other for a final score.   
• All divisions were treated equally based on the idea fighters can only face the women in their division while they are there and all point totals were applied based on official results.

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com