Women's boxing divisional rankings: Brown enters featherweight rankings with win over Nicolson

Tiara Brown is the new WBC women's featherweight champion following a split-decision victory over Skye Nicolson on Saturday's George Kambosos Jr.-Jake Wyllie junior welterweight card, in Sydney, Australia.

Brown (19-0, 11 KOs), a former U.S. police officer, won by scorecards of 96-94, 97-93 and 94-96. This was Brown's first world title fight. Nicolson (12-1, 1 KO) had won the title with a unanimous decision over Sarah Mahfoud in April 2024, and made two successfully defenses before losing to Brown.

With the victory, Brown enters the 126-pound rankings at No. 2, and Nicolson falls two spots to No. 4.

Also on the card, Cherneka Johnson defended her WBA women's bantamweight title with a seventh-round TKO win over Nina Hughes. Johnson (17-2, 7 KOs) overwhelmed Hughes (6-2, 2 KOs) until her corner decided to stop the fight 46 seconds into the round. At the time of the stoppage, Johnson was ahead on all three scorecards, 60-53, 60-53 and 58-55.

With the win, Johnson retains her No. 2 spot in the 118-pound division.

Rankings are updated every Tuesday. They're 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: No. 1

Record: 16-0, 3 KO
Last: W (UD10) Danielle Perkins, Feb. 2
Next: TBA

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

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

3. Che Kenneally***       Previous ranking: No. 3

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. 5

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

*Editor's note: Claressa Shields is the undisputed 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, 2023
Next: TBA

2. Shadasia Green       Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 15-1, 11 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Melinda Watpool, Nov. 15
Next: TBA

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

Record: 9-2, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Shadasia Green, Dec. 15, 2023
Next: TBA

4. Olivia Curry       Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 7-2-1, 2 KOs
Last: Draw (SD6) Melody Popravak, April 27
Next: TBA

5. Nisa Rodriguez       Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 3-0, 1 KO
Last: W (TKO2) Melody Popravak, April 27
Next: TBA

MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 160 pounds)

1. Claressa Shields       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 16-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Danielle Perkins, Feb. 2
Next: TBA

2. Savannah Marshall       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 13-1, 10 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Franchon Crews Dezurn, July 1, 2023
Next: TBA

3. Desley Robinson       Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 9-3, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Kaye Scott, Dec. 13
Next: TBA

4. Olivia Curry       Previous ranking: No. 5

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

5. Mary Casamassa       Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 6-0, 1 KO
Last: W (UD8) Adriana Dos Santos Araujo, Nov. 15
Next: TBA

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (Up to 154 pounds)

1. Ema Kozin       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 24-1-1, 12 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Hannah Rankin, Nov. 18, 2023
Next: TBA

2. Cecilia Braekhus       Previous ranking: No. 3

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

3. Oshae Jones       Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 8-0, 3 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Femke Hermans, Nov. 22
Next: TBA

4. Femke Hermans       Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 18-5, 7 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Oshae Jones, Nov. 22
Next: TBA

5. Mary Spencer       Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 9-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Naomi Mannes, Nov. 5
Next: March 14 vs. Ogleidis Suarez

WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 147 pounds)

1. Lauren Price       Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 9-0, 2 KO
Last: W (UD10) Natasha Jonas, March 7
Next: TBA

2. Mikaela Mayer       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 21-2, 5 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Sandy Ryan, March 29
Next: TBA

3. Sandy Ryan       Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 7-3-1, 3 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Mikaela Mayer, March 29
Next: TBA

4. Natasha Jonas       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 16-3-1, 9 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Lauren Price, March 7
Next: TBA

5. Ivana Habazin       Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 23-6, 7 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Natasha Jonas, Dec. 14
Next: TBA

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (Up to 140 pounds)

1. Katie Taylor       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 24-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Amanda Serrano, Nov. 15
Next: July 11 vs. Amanda Serrano

2. Amanda Serrano       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 47-3-1, 31 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Katie Taylor, Nov. 15
Next: July 11 vs. Amanda Serrano

3. Chantelle Cameron     <   Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 20-1, 8 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Patricia Berghult, Nov. 2
Next: TBA

4. Elhem Mekhaled       Previous ranking: No. 4

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

5. Jessica McCaskill       Previous ranking: No. 5

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

LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 135 pounds)

1. Katie Taylor       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 24-1, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Amanda Serrano, Nov. 15
Next: July 11 vs. Amanda Serrano

2. Caroline Dubois       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 11-0-1, 5 KO
Last: W (MD10) Bo Mi Re Shin, March 7
Next: TBA

3. Terri Harper       Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 15-2-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Rhiannon Dixon, Sept. 28
Next: May 23 vs. Natalie Zimmermann

4. Beatriz Fereira       Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 6-0, 2 KO
Last: W (UD10) Licia Boudersa, Dec. 14
Next: TBA

5. Rhiannon Dixon       Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 10-1, 1 KO
Last: L (UD10) Terri Harper, Sept. 28
Next: TBA

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (Up to 130 pounds)

1. Alycia Baumgardner       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 15-1, 1 NC, 19 KOs
Last: No contest (NC4) Delfine Persoon, Sept. 27
Next: July 11 vs. Jennifer Miranda

2. Delfine Persoon       Previous ranking: No. 2

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

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

Record: 18-3-3, 10 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Caroline Dubois, March 7
Next: TBA

4. Leila Beaudoin       Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 12-1, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Lizbeth Crespo, Aug. 17
Next: March 14 vs. TBA

5. Yuliahn Luna Avila       Previous ranking: N/R

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

FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 126 pounds)

1. Amanda Serrano       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 47-3-1, 31 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Katie Taylor, Nov. 15
Next: July 11 vs. Katie Taylor

2. Tiara Brown       Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 19-0, 11 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Skye Nicolson, March 22
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. Skye Nicolson       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 12-1, 1 KOs
Last: L (SD10) Tiara Brown, March 22
Next: TBA

5. Sarah Mahfoud       Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 15-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (MD10) Danila Ramos, Nov. 29
Next: TBA

JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (Up to 122 pounds)

1. Ellie Scotney       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 10-0, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Mea Motu, Jan. 25
Next: TBA

2. Yamileth Mercado       Previous ranking: No. 1

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

3. Erika Cruz       Previous ranking: No 3

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

4. Phannarai Netisri       Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 15-0, 6 KO
Last: W (UD10) Maria Magdalena Rivera, April 13
Next: TBA

5. Mea Motu       Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 20-1, 8 KOs
Last: L (UD10) Ellie Scotney, Jan. 25
Next: TBA

BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 118 pounds)

1. Dina Thorslund       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 23-0, 9 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Terumi Nuki, Oct. 25
Next: TBA

2. Cherneka Johnson       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 16-2, 6 KOs
Last: W (TKO7 Nina Hughes, March 22
Next: TBD

3. Shurretta Metcalf       Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 14-4-1, 2 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Shurretta Metcalf, Oct. 23
Next: TBA

4. Florencia Ayelen Juarez       Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 13-1, 1 KO
Last: W (UD10) Marianela Soledad Ramirez, Oct. 5
Next: TBA

5. Miyo Yoshida       Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 18-5, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD8) Beata Dudek, Feb. 1
Next: TBA

JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (Up to 115 pounds)

1. Carla Ayelen Merino       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 16-2, 4 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Rosana Ayelen Bermudez, Nov. 16
Next: TBA

2. Asley Gonzalez Macias       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 17-2, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Mary Romero, Dec. 12
Next: TBA

3. Mizuki Hiruta       Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 7-0, 2 KOs
Last: W (TD8) Maribel Ramirez, Jan. 17
Next: May 17 vs. Carla Ayelen Merino

4. Irma Garcia       Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 24-5-1, 4 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Gloria Gallardo, Dec. 14
Next: TBA

5. Marlen Esparza       Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 15-2, 1 KO
Last: L (SD10) Yokasta Valle, March 29
Next: TBA

FLYWEIGHT (Up to 112 pounds)

1. Gabriela Fundora       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 15-0, 7 KOs
Last: W (TKO7) Gabriela Celeste Alaniz, Nov. 2
Next: TBA

2. Kenia Enriquez       Previous ranking: No. 2

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

3. Marilyn Badillo Amaya       Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 19-0-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD18) Graciela Cortes Aguilar, Dec. 13
Next: TBA

4. Gabriela Celeste Alaniz       Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 15-2, 6 KOs
Last: L (TKO7) Gabriela Fundora, Nov. 2
Next: TBA

5. Laura Wollenmann       Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 11-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Karol Mazariegos Gonzalez, Dec. 14
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, 2023
Next: TBA

2. Evelin Bermudez       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 21-1-1, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Tenkai Tsunami, March 8
Next: TBA

3. Yesica Yolanda Bopp       Previous ranking: No. 3

Record: 39-3, 17 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Roxana Maria Colmenarez, Dec. 16, 2023
Next: TBA

4. Kim Clavel       Previous ranking: No. 4

Record: 21-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Anabel Ortiz, Feb. 27
Next: TBA

5. Sara Bailey       Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 5-0, 0 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Anabel Ortiz, Dec. 12
Next: TBA

STRAWWEIGHT (Up to 105 pounds)

1. Yokasta Valle       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 33-3, 10 KOs
Last: W (SD10) Marlen Esparza, March 29
Next: TBA

2. Sarah Bormann       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 19-1, 7 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Jennifer Sabrina Meza, Dec. 14
Next: TBA

3. Louisa Hawton       Previous ranking: No. 3

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

4. Tenkai Tsunami       Previous ranking: No. 4

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

5. Sol Cudos       Previous ranking: No. 5

Record: 9-0-2, 3 KOs
Last: W (TKO5) Johana Zuniga, Oct. 26
Next: April 5 vs. Maria Sol Baumstarh

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

ATOMWEIGHT (Up to 102 pounds)

1. Tina Rupprecht       Previous ranking: No. 1

Record: 14-1-1, 3 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Eri Matsuda, Nov. 23
Next: TBA

2. Sumire Yamanaka       Previous ranking: No. 3

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

3. Eri Matsuda       Previous ranking: No. 2

Record: 7-2-1, 1 KO
Last: L (UD10) Tina Rupprecht, Nov. 23
Next: TBA

4. Esneidy Rodriguez Olmos       Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 9-0-1, 0 KOs
Last: W (1D10) Sana Hazuki, Dec. 12
Next: TBA

5. Watcharaporn Namphon       Previous ranking: N/R

Record: 10-0, 1 KOs
Last: W (UD10) Norj Guro, Oct. 12
Next: TBA