The Top Ten British Female Fighters

The Top Ten British Female Fighters

In December, when virtually every outlet compiled their end-of-year articles comprising their favourite moments and fighters of the year, I decided to join the Christmas party. One of my articles around that time was my top twenty British female fighters. But just a few months on, with many on that list having further fights, the top ten on that list already needs a little adjustment.

Here are my top ten from December:

1: Chantelle Cameron
2: Natasha Jonas
3: Savannah Marshall
4: Ellie Scotney
5: Sandy Ryan
6: Nina Hughes
7: Terri Harper
8: Caroline Dubois
9: Rhiannon Dixon
10: Lauren Price

Chantelle Cameron:

Despite not fighting since her second titanic fight with Katie Taylor last November, Chantelle Cameron still deserves her place at the top of the list. Her win over Taylor last May is by far the greatest performance and victory any of her contemporaries have yet managed. A win that sadly hasn’t got the recognition or the rewards it deserved. Cameron will return later this year with a renewed motivation to get back her undisputed 140 baubles she lost against Taylor in their incredible rematch in Dublin late last year. Taylor or not, she has many more big nights ahead. Chantelle Cameron remains at number one.

Natasha Jonas:

The IBF  welterweight champion Natasha Jonas got the best win of her career when she edged past the former unified world super-featherweight champion in January in one of the best fights that you could wish to see. A hometown win, that was another little chapter in her incredible story. Jonas and Mayer look set to rematch in the coming months. They are so evenly matched. Expect more of the same in the return meeting. Natasha Jonas stays at number two.

Savannah Marshall:

Savannah Marshall hasn’t fought since last July, and with her currently on a PFL MMA-related hiatus from boxing, it’s difficult to justify keeping her in third position. As talented as she is, outside of a rematch with Claressa Shields, who took away her unbeaten record and so much more in 2022, Marshall just hasn’t got a deserving dance partner. Ben Shalom expects Marshall to return to boxing before the year ends. But it is difficult to see a big enough fight for her if she does indeed return to the sport where she made her name. Shields and Marshall simply need each other. As a result of inactivity and an uncertain future, Savannah drops from three to number five.

Ellie Scotney:

Ellie Scotney is now the unified world super-bantamweight champion courtesy of an impressive and emphatic victory over the previously unbeaten Segolene Lefebvre in Manchester on April 13th. Scotney is undoubtedly one of the most talented fighters in her sport, and it is difficult to see anyone around her weight beating her. Probably a fighter who doesn’t get the credit that she deserves. All Ellie Scotney lacks is a signature win over a fighter who is more well-known to the masses. I have a feeling that will soon come. Scotney rises one place to number three.

Sandy Ryan:

Sandy Ryan is the first big mover on the list. Her dominant victory over Terri Harper in defence of her WBO welterweight title was thoroughly impressive. While most thought Ryan would beat Harper, nobody thought she would win in the manner that she did. Ryan resides in a red-hot welterweight division and has a plethora of big-name opponents to target in the next twelve months. Sandy Ryan moves up to number four.

Nina Hughes:

Now, free from all her promotional frustrations from last year, the WBA bantamweight champion can now get her career back up and running. 2023 only brought Nina Hughes one fight. Hughes will hope that 2024 will bring more far more activity. A return to action next month will see Hughes defending her WBA bauble against Cherneka Johnson in Australia. A win over the former world champion should give Hughes the big fights that she deserves. But Nina Hughes drops one place to number seven.

Terri Harper:

Her one-sided defeat in March to Sandy Ryan was deeply worrying for Ryan and her loyal and vocal supporters. In truth, Harper was never in it. Ryan simply walked right through her. Boxing News said Harper looked like a fighter at the end of her career. While I don’t necessarily subscribe to that viewpoint, the lack of resistance Harper offered leaves her fighting future at the top level looking extremely fragile. It would be a little harsh to completely write her off, but she badly needs a big win to convince that she still belongs on the big stage. Terri Harper drops to number ten on the list.

Caroline Dubois:

Caroline Dubois is only 23 and could quite easily be the future of her sport. A former Olympian, now an unbeaten lightweight prospect of the very highest quality. Dubois (9-0) already holds the IBO lightweight bauble, but she will undoubtedly hold belts of a more prestigious status in the years to come. Ideally, Dubois should be fighting for one of the more recognised world titles that Katie Taylor has now vacated. Why she isn’t, only those in her inner circle will truly know. In many ways, a mystery of boxing politics. But in time, those big fights for the bigger belts will surely come. Dubois is far too talented a fighter to be in the shadows for long. She stays at number eight, but she is sure to rise the next time this list is compiled.

Rhiannon Dixon:

Rhiannon Dixon is now 10-0 and the new WBO world lightweight champion. A tough but extremely vital points victory over the tough Argentinian Karen Elizabeth Carabajal earned her that WBO bauble on April 13th. That victory showed her potential, but also what is still to come. Still fighting somewhat in learning mode, but Dixon has done incredibly well to reach this far from her humble white-collar beginnings. I come from an era where a world title should mean something, if not everything, hence her being just above Caroline Dubois and Lauren Price on this list. That win over Carabajal improves her position to number six.

Lauren Price:

The Olympic gold medallist will fight for her maiden world title next month. A hometown gig in Wales against Jessica McCaskill that could crown her a world welterweight champion. A win will propel her into potential fights with the likes of Natasha Jonas, Sandy Ryan, Mikaela Mayer, and others in that red-hot 147 division. Price has breezed through her six fights as a professional. On ability Price probably deserves a much higher place on this list. If as expected, she beats McCaskill, that will come. But for now, Price moves up one place to number nine.

Revised Top 10 for April 2024:

1: Chantelle Cameron
2: Natasha Jonas
3: Ellie Scotney
4: Sandy Ryan
5: Savannah Marshall
6: Rhiannon Dixon
7: Nina Hughes
8: Caroline Dubois
9: Lauren Price
10: Terri Harper

The list is obviously incredibly subjective, and strong arguments can legitimately be made for many of the fighters to be ranked higher or lower.

But there will be strong contenders from the names below who will be pushing to be included in the top ten before the year is out, especially Raven Chapman and Karriss Artingstall, among others.

Raven Chapman
Karriss Artingstall
Hannah Rankin
Chloe Watson
Shannon Ryan
Maisey Rose Courtney
Lauren Parker
Emma Dolan
Dee Allen
Tysie Gallagher

But all the differences of opinion about who is ranked where just indicate where the women’s side of the sport is right now. And it will only get even better.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing & Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer