Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano produced another epic for the ages in their rematch at AT&T Stadium on November 15.
The masses were drawn to Arlington, Texas by the absurd spectacle of Jake Paul boxing a 58-year-old Mike Tyson and all the morbid curiosity and novelty value that entailed.
But as most true boxing fans hoped and expected, Taylor-Serrano 2 stole the show.
As was the case in their original April 2022 barnburner at New York's Madison Square Garden, 10 rounds of furious back-and-forth trading ended with Taylor as a narrow and disputed winner. Trilogy, anyone?
Claressa Shields was in attendance and gave both fighters their props, stating she felt Taylor deserved the win. Right now, that indisputably great trio remain the leading operators their sport.
Had Taylor produced something more emphatic and decisive you could have built a case for her unseating Shields at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. Perhaps that comes in a third act in Dublin next year?
Women's pound-for-pound rankings: The Sporting News' top 12
| Rank | Fighter | Record | Movement (Nov. 7, 2024) |
| 1 | Claressa Shields | 15-0 (3 KOs) | - |
| 2 | Katie Taylor | 24-1 (6 KOs) | - |
| 3 | Amanda Serrano | 47-3-1 (31 KOs) | - |
| 4 | Chantelle Cameron | 20-1 (8 KOs) | - |
| 5 | Natasha Jonas | 15-2-1 (9 KOs) | - |
| 6 | Gabriela Fundora | 15-0 (7 KOs) | - |
| 7 | Mikaela Mayer | 20-2 (5 KOs) | - |
| 8 | Yakosta Valle | 31-3 (10 KOs) | - |
| 9 | Dina Thorslund | 22-0 (9 KOs) | - |
| 10 | Sandy Ryan | 7-2-1 (3 KOs) | - |
| 11 | Delfine Persoon | 49-3 (19 KOs) | - |
| 12 | Gabriela Celeste Alaniz | 15-1 (6 KOs) | - |
The best in the world pound-for-pound: Claressa Shields
Claressa Shields, a.k.a. the GWOAT, reigns supreme following her successful July mission for heavyweight glory against the overmatched Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.
The undisputed middleweight champ also fully unified at super welterweight and once held a pair of titles at super middleweight.
A native of Flint, Michigan, Shields has terrific technique, blazing hand speed and she's bursting with energy and fighting heart.
Signature wins have come against Savannah Marshall, Marie-Eve Dicaire and Christina Hammer.
The Sporting News' Boxing Ratings
Men's P4P | Women's P4P | Men's Heavyweight | Men's YouTube P4P | Women's YouTube P4P
