The FightPost Top Twenty British Female Fighters

The FightPost Top Twenty British Female Fighters

As I stated the last time I updated this list, the lack of movement since the last update is somewhat indicative of where women’s boxing is right now. Significant fights, any fights, have been hard to come by in recent months; out of the top ten fighters, only Caroline Dubois has tasted any kind of ring action in recent times. But there is every chance 2026 will be significantly better.

Most fighters in the upper reaches of the list will see fights that could elevate their careers. Ellie Scotney, who retains her top position on this list, will have the opportunity to go undisputed at super-bantamweight. Lauren Price, if she finally nails down a fight with Mikaela Mayer, will get her chance to complete the full set at welterweight. Dubois has a potential lightweight unification battle waiting for her with Terri Harper. Sandy Ryan has dropped down to super-lightweight and gets an early opportunity next year in Nottingham to crown herself a two-weight world champion.

Emma Dolan should land her maiden world title chance at super-flyweight in the opening months of the new year. Dolan has struggled for the limelight, and on talent alone, her profile should be far higher. Good wins over Nicola Hopewell, Shannon Ryan, and Lauren Parker haven’t got her the recognition they deserves. But 2026 could be the year when everything changes for her.

At 34, and coming off an extended hiatus and when she returned in July, it ended in defeat to Shadasia Green. It will be interesting to see what 2026 brings for Savannah Marshall. There are plenty of fights out there for her, but she badly needs to find some momentum.

Chantelle Cameron has been starved of another career-defining fight since losing her rematch to Katie Taylor in 2023. Now aligned with Jake Paul and MVP, Cameron hopes that the alliance changes the trajectory of her career. In truth, it should. It must. It’s somewhat forgotten now, and it even went under the radar at the time, but her victory over Katie Taylor in their first fight is by some distance the best win any British female fighter has managed. She just needs fights of that magnitude again.

Karriss Artingstall was mightily impressive in beating Raven Chapman at the Royal Albert Hall in March to win the British featherweight title. But she hasn’t fought since. With only two fights in the last two years, Artingstall is seeing some of her prime years slipping away from her. But at 31, Artingstall has time to pick up the pieces, but you sense it’s a case of now or never for a fighter who looks capable of winning a world title if ever the opportunity comes her way.

Natasha Jonas hasn’t been seen inside a boxing ring since Lauren Price beat her in March. As time goes on, it looks increasingly likely that her time in the sport is at an end.

The FightPost Top Ten British Female Fighters:

1: Ellie Scotney (11-0)
2: Chantelle Cameron (21-1)
3: Lauren Price (9-0)
4: Caroline Dubois (12-0-1)
5: Natasha Jonas (16-3-1)
6: Sandy Ryan (8-3-1)
7: Terri Harper (16-2-2)
8: Karriss Artingstall (7-0)
9: Savannah Marshall (13-2)
10: Emma Dolan (8-0)

If Jonas does officially announce her retirement, the door opens for someone else to break into the top ten. Tysie Gallagher, if the right fights come her way, looks the most likely to do exactly that. Gallagher ended her period of inactivity to defend her British and Commonwealth super-bantamweight titles and remove Ellie Hellewell from the ranks of the unbeaten in September. If a second opportunity on the world stage arrives in 2026, she looks more than ready to crown herself a world champion at the second time of asking.

Since losing her WBO world lightweight title to Terri Harper in 2024, Rhiannon Dixon has been battling a lingering foot injury, which has delayed her return to the ring. If Dixon can return next year, I wouldn’t rule out another reign on the world stage, especially if she drops down to super-featherweight as was planned before her injury.

Shannon Ryan is recovering quite nicely from her defeat to Emma Dolan. A recent victory over Chloe Watson should see her being moved into world title contention at some point in 2026.

Raven Chapman has only lost to Skye Nicolson and Karriss Artingstall, but we haven’t seen her since that defeat to Artingstall nine months ago. Chapman deserves another run at the top level. The following twelve months will be interesting for her career. You can’t write Chapman off, but she needs to get her career up and running again.

I’m not one to judge a fighter too harshly because of a defeat. Shannon Ryan and Raven Chapman are prime examples of that, and the likes of Maiseyrose Courtney, Chloe Watson, and Nicola Hopewell have moved on in different ways from losing their unbeaten records.

Like the entirety of this list, the names and positions are highly subjective, and I wouldn’t argue too strongly with differing opinions. Probably none more so than where Watson, Courtney, and Hopewell are positioned. Three good fighters who could have a nice little series of fights between them in 2026. They might well go in different directions, but when you have good fights on your own doorstep, why go further afield? Good fighters need good fights with real meaning. I have never understood the obsession with importing fighters from abroad when there are more meaningful fights far closer to home.

For the very first time, the unbeaten prospects Francesca Hennessy and Tiah-Mai Ayton make the top twenty. As with every fighter on this list, they are there as a result of a combination of talent, potential, and achievements. Hennessy and Ayton have shown they have the potential to go far. Ayton, especially, has the look of a potential superstar.

Lauren Parker was on a good winning streak before Emma Dolan ended it earlier this year. Parker is a former European super-flyweight champion and can come again. If she can make flyweight, there are some very good fights for her on the domestic scene. Bantamweight and a possible fight with Megan Redstall if she wins the Commonwealth title could be another option for her.

11: Tysie Gallagher (10-2)
12: Rhiannon Dixon (10-1)
13: Shannon Ryan (10-1)
14: Raven Chapman (9-2)
15: Chloe Watson (9-2)
16: Maiseyrose Courtney (9-1)
17: Nicola Hopewell (8-1)
18: Francesca Hennessy (7-0)
19: Tiah-Mai Ayton (4-0)
20: Lauren Parker (10-2-1)

Despite the current stagnation on the female side of the sport, the depth is most certainly there, which only adds to the frustration that certain fights are not getting made. There is a wealth of talent, experienced fighters and up and up-and-coming prospects that could force their way into the top twenty in the coming year.

April Hunter recently returned after a lengthy absence. The former world bantamweight champion Shannon Courtenay is now a part of the MVP family, and has a big fight with Ebanie Bridges seemingly ready to be made. Bridges or not, Courtenay seems in a really good place after a difficult period, and might yet return to world title contention. Ramli Ali, another MVP fighter, could have a big 2026; the former two-time European champion, Kirstie Bavington, might have another little run in her. You sense a productive year is a must for all of the above.

Megan Redstall might be ready to take her career to another level next year. A Commonwealth title opportunity awaits; a victory could put her in line for a much bigger fight down the road. Lillie Winch and Ellie Bouttell, who fights Francesca Hennessy early next year, could be real dark horses.

I do expect that the unbeaten prospects Hannah Robinson, Gemma Richardson, Jade Pearce, Harli and Shona Whitwell to be in title contention by the end of 2026. All have the potential to be challenging for major titles in the coming years. At least one of them could make the top twenty of this list by this time next year. I wouldn’t be surprised if all five reach world title level in the next few years.

I do think, with the right investment, the future of women’s boxing is secure. The talent is most certainly there. But they need the opportunity to realise it. I do think the big fights will start to materialise in the next twelve months, and 2026 will undoubtedly bring significant change to this list. I have a feeling it will look very different this time next year.