Mikaela Mayer continues her climb in ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings, and Lauren Price made her debut in the top 10 after impressive victories.
Mayer (21-2, 5 KOs) defeated Sandy Ryan on Saturday to retain the WBO welterweight title, a rematch of their controversial September bout that Mayer edged by majority decision. This time around, Mayer dominated most of the rounds and won by scorecards of 98-92, 97-93 and 97-93.
"I wanted to give Sandy the rematch because [the first time] it was a great fight. It warranted a rematch," Mayer said after the victory. "That's when I believe a rematch should happen is when the fans want it, when it's warranted. So, we did that, but I beat Sandy twice. Now it's time for me to move on and go for undisputed, which is Lauren Price.
Price (9-0, 2 KOs), the WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight champion, unified all three belts by demolishing former champ Natasha Jonas on March 7. Jonas had defeated Mayer by split decision in January 2024.
Price's unanimous decision win over Jonas was unquestioned, winning every round in one of the judges' scorecards (100-90, 98-92 and 98-93). A fight between Mayer and Price would crown the first undisputed welterweight champ since Jessica McCaskill in 2022.
With the victories, Mayer moves up one spot to No. 6, while Price enters the rankings at No. 7. Savannah Marshall has been removed for inactivity.
Here's the current top 10.
Note: Results are through April 3.
1. CLARESSA SHIELDS
Previous ranking: 1
RECORD: 16-0, 3 KOs
DIVISION: Unified middleweight champion; light heavyweight champion and undisputed heavyweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Danielle Perkins, Feb. 2
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
2. KATIE TAYLOR
Previous ranking: 2
RECORD: 24-1, 6 KOs
DIVISION: Undisputed junior welterweight champion, unified lightweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Amanda Serrano, Nov. 15
NEXT FIGHT: July 11 vs. Amanda Serrano
3. AMANDA SERRANO
Previous ranking: 3
RECORD: 47-3-1, 31 KOs
DIVISION: Unified featherweight champion
LAST FIGHT: L (UD10) Katie Taylor, Nov. 15
NEXT FIGHT: July 11 vs. Katie Taylor
4. CHANTELLE CAMERON
Previous ranking: 4
RECORD: 20-1, 8 KOs
DIVISION: Junior welterweight interim champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Patricia Berghult, Nov. 2
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
5. GABRIELA FUNDORA
Previous ranking: 6
RECORD: 15-0, 7 KOs
DIVISION: Undisputed flyweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO7) Gabriela Celeste Alaniz, Nov. 2
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
6. MIKAELA MAYER
Previous ranking: 7
RECORD: 21-2, 5 KOs
DIVISION: Welterweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Sandy Ryan, March 29
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
7. LAUREN PRICE
Previous ranking: N/R
RECORD: 9-0, 2 KOs
DIVISION: Unified welterweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Natasha Jonas, March 7
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
8. ALYCIA BAUMGARDNER
Previous ranking: 9
RECORD: 15-1, 7 KOs
DIVISION: Undisputed junior lightweight champion
LAST FIGHT: NC (No contest) Delfine Persoon, Sept. 27
NEXT FIGHT: July 11 vs. Jennifer Miranda
9. YOKASTA VALLE
Previous ranking: 10
RECORD: 33-3, 10 KOs
DIVISION: Strawweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (SD10) Marlen Esparza, March 29
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
10. DINA THORSLUND
Previous ranking: N/R
RECORD: 23-0, 9 KOs
DIVISION: Unified bantamweight champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Terumi Nuki, Oct. 25
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
The formula
The rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first-place vote receiving 10 points, a second-place vote receiving nine points and so on.
Others receiving votes: Jessica Nery Plata (2), Hyun Choi (2), Natasha Jonas (2), Ellie Scotney (2), Delfine Persoon (1), Franchon Crews-Dezurn (1), Tiara Brown (1), Evelin Nazarena Bermudez (1).
How our experts voted
Andreas Hale: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Cameron, 5. Baumgardner, 6. Fundora, 7. Mayer, 8. Price, 9. Jonas, 10. Brown
Nick Parkinson: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Fundora, 5. Price, 6. Cameron, 7. Mayer, 8. Baumgardner, 9. Scotney, 10. Bermudez
Salvador Rodriguez: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Mayer, 5. Cameron, 6. Fundora, 7. Baumgardner, 8. Valle, 9. Price, 10. Crews-Dezurn
Bernardo Pilatti: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. Serrano, 4. Cameron, 5. Price, 6. Fundora, 7. Mayer, 8. Baumgardner, 9. Thorslund, 10. Valle
Andres Ferrari: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Fundora, 5. Price, 6. Mayer, 7. Cameron, 8. Baumgardner, 9. Valle, 10. Dina Thorslund
Charlie Moynihan: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Cameron, 5. Mayer, 6. Fundora, 7. Valle, 8. Price, 9. Choi, 10. Persoon
Damian Delgado Averhoff: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. Cameron, 5. Fundora, 6. Mayer, 7. Baumgardner, 8. Valle, 9. Nery Plata, 10. Price
ESPN experts' poll
First place: Shields (6), Taylor (1)
Second place: Taylor (6), Shields (1)
Third place: Serrano (7)
Fourth place: Cameron (4), Fundora (2), Mayer (1)
Fifth place: Price (3), Cameron (1), Fundora (1), Mayer (1), Baumgardner (1)
Sixth place: Fundora (4), Mayer (2), Cameron (1)
Seventh place: Mayer (3), Baumgardner (2), Cameron (1), Valle (1)
Eighth place: Baumgardner (3), Price (2), Valle (2)
Ninth place: Price (1), Valle (1), Nery Plata (1), Choi (1), Jonas (1), Thorslund (1), Scotney (1)
10th place: Price (1), Valle (1), Thorslund (1), Persoon (1), Crews-Dezurn (1), Brown (1), Bermudez (1)