The Top Twenty British Female Fighters: July 2024

The Top Twenty British Female Fighters: July 2024

The July edition of this list offers no movement in the top ten from the last offering in May. But some of the fighters bubbling under the upper echelons are now beginning to make significant waves and will undoubtedly be pushing for more within the next twelve months.

The Top Ten British Female Fighters:

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

It is as ever a subjective list that others will have varying views on. It is extremely difficult to formulate a list of who sits in what position, trying to juggle what a fighter has achieved against their potential and talent. I’m still of the old-school belief that winning titles of significance means something. Talent is one thing, but it has to be backed up by achieving something of merit. I don’t include many of the meaningless baubles that litter the sport. Caroline Dubois is the obvious example. Dubois could be the most talented fighter on the list, but without a major world title to her name, she sits lower than she would if she had one. It seems inevitable that Dubois will win one of the big four versions of the world title in the very near future, and she will likely win world titles at multiple weights. The 8th position on my list will undoubtedly be much higher in the not-too-distant future.

Despite little activity of late, many of the current top ten will be returning to action in the next few months.

Chantelle Cameron will launch the next stage of her career later this month. A new trainer. A new promoter. Cameron is in a good place, and while Katie Taylor is an obvious target, Cameron has other options available to her. Don’t rule out fights with either Natasha Jonas or Mikaela Mayer.

Jonas, Lauren Price, and Sandy Ryan all hold various versions of the world welterweight title. Jonas and Price will soon be announcing their next fights. One of them will almost certainly face Ivana Habazin to further unify their division. Ryan is seeking unification fights herself, but she might need a little patience until the in-house Boxxer series of unification fights have run its course.

The inclusion of Savannah Marshall in the top ten is now hanging by a thread. A year of inactivity needs to end soon. Marshall is still a world super-middleweight champion, but with a PFL MMA career now up and running and with no fight inside a boxing ring on the horizon, it will be difficult to justify keeping Marshall on the list for much longer.

Rhiannon Dixon and Terri Harper will do battle for Dixon’s recently won WBO world lightweight title next month in Manchester. Harper is a two-weight world champion, and despite her recent loss to Sandy Ryan, she will offer Dixon the toughest test of her career to date. The winner could be decided by which fighter is catching the other at the right time.

Dixon vs. Harper is a very good fight, but like a lot of fights in the female ranks, it will take place a few fights away from the main event status, leaving only the travelling faithful showing any real interest in the fight. Imagine Rhiannon Dixon and Terri Harper fighting in the Doncaster Dome with a few thousand fans roaring them on. Same fight. Different atmosphere. Totally different perception. Trust me, that matters. In the right arena, Dixon and Harper could and should headline.

Outside of the top ten, some of the fighters who sit below the more established names are now pushing on to the next stage of their careers.

11: Raven Chapman
12: Karriss Artingstall
13: Chloe Watson
14: Emma Dolan
15: Lauren Parker
16: Tysie Gallagher
17: Dee Allen
18: Ramla Ali
19: Nicola Hopewell
20: Amy Andrew

Raven Chapman returns from injury later this month and is one fight away from a shot at the WBC world featherweight title. Karriss Artingstall is probably going under the radar somewhat, but she seems ready to push her world title claims in the coming months. If as expected, the world featherweight baubles splinter in 2025, Artingstall will surely then get her chance.

Chloe Watson, the European flyweight champion, was due to defend her title against Maisey Rose Courtney in September. But the upset loss Courtney recently suffered to Jasmina Zapotoczna probably scuppers those plans. Watson could do worse than face the Commonwealth Champion Nicola Hopewell instead. Add the inaugural British title to the mix, and you have a very enticing triple-title showdown.

Tysie Gallagher recently won the inaugural British super-bantamweight title, and she might have a big domestic clash with the unbeaten Tori-Ellis Willetts ahead of her. Gallagher has fought for a world title, but Willetts is a fighter in a hurry and wants Gallagher next. Gallagher also holds the Commonwealth title. It is very much the sort of fight their side of the sport needs.

Dee Allen, the European welterweight champion as talented as she is, needs activity and far more visibility. Allen is seriously good and could be a real sleeper in her division. But she could be too dangerous a proposition for her own good.

Emma Dolan recently upset Shannon Ryan, and after her win over Hopewell last year, the British and Commonwealth super-flyweight champion will hopefully now get an opportunity on the world stage. The European super-flyweight champion Lauren Parker is one fighter who gets a little lost in the mix. An all-British showdown with Dolan with three titles up for grabs surely must be of interest to all parties.

But there is ever-increasing depth elsewhere. It is far too early to write off Maisey Rose Courtney after just one defeat. With lessons learned, Courtney will return a better fighter. That same narrative applies to Shannon Ryan also.

Harli Whitwell is a fighter who could develop into a serious talent. Already after a handful of fights, the signs are incredibly encouraging. Her sister, Shona, could be joining her in the professional ranks very soon. Shona Whitwell was treated shamefully in this observer’s opinion when her Olympic dreams were cruelly taken away from her in controversial circumstances. Both seem destined for the very top of their craft.

Another interesting addition to the professional ranks is Ruth Huntley. Highly touted to be a future star of the sport, Huntley will make her maiden professional ring walk before the year ends. Another former amateur star Jade Pearce will also be joining Huntley in the professional ranks.

But there is blossoming talent already coming through the ranks. The two-time National Champion Hannah Robinson made her professional debut a few months ago. Fight number two will be announced imminently. Robinson wants world titles. They may well come. Her former GB Boxing teammate, Omarah Taylor, is progressing nicely. Expect a big 2025 for both.

Nicola Barke and Sian O’Toole are two more unbeaten prospects who could have a very good 2025. Louise Orton has finally found some semblance of activity. Boxing hasn’t been kind to her, but the super-featherweight hopeful has bundles of talent. If she finally finds what she needs, Orton could go far. But time is running out. It really is a case of now or never for her. It might not be of interest to either fighter for varying reasons, but Orton and Harli Whitwell with a British title on the line, works in many ways.

The female side of the sport is in a good place. The depth and talent are improving, and in truth, there are many more fighters that I haven’t mentioned in this article. But there are concerns. The lack of Saudi interest is a major worry going forward, especially if the ‘super league’ idea that is floating around eventually gets off the ground. What interest the major promoters still have will then become apparent.

Fight dates on the big stage already seem to be dwindling, with even current and former world champions struggling to get fights. If the Saudi money wheel doesn’t come the way of the women, that will surely only get worse. Significant progress has been made within the last decade. That can’t be lost now.