The FightPost Top Twenty British Female Fighters

The FightPost Top Twenty British Female Fighters

It’s been a relatively quiet start to 2026 for women’s boxing in the UK, but the next few months should see a significant rise in meaningful fights. The vast majority of the fighters in the top ten can look forward to high-profile fights between now and April.

Ellie Scotney is part of the first Sky/MVP card in April. An Easter Sunday extravaganza live on Sky Sports that will feature five of the current top ten, including two world lightweight champions who will fight each other in a good old-fashioned grudge match.

Scotney goes for undisputed status at super-bantamweight against the tough Mexican Mayelli Flores. Chantelle Cameron will attempt to crown herself a two-weight world champion when she fights Michaela Kotaskova for the vacant WBO super-welterweight title. But the fight between Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper will attract many eyes and will likely get the majority of attention.

There is a real edge to their world lightweight title unification showdown. Dubois defends her WBC title, and Harper puts her WBO bauble on the line. The unbeaten Dubois will start a heavy favourite, but Harper has upset the odds before.

Emma Dolan will get her first world title fight on the same show. The IBF World super-flyweight champion, Irma Garcia, defends her title against the underappreciated Dolan. A win for the British and Commonwealth champion will likely move her up several places on this list.

Lauren Price will end her extended ring hiatus when she makes her return in Wales live on BBC Two. Price defends her WBC, WBA, and IBF world welterweight titles against the unbeaten Stephanie Pineiro Aquino. It might be a lot harder fight for the former Olympic champion than many might anticipate, but a victory puts her on a possible collision course with Mikaela Mayer or even Claressa Shields.

Sandy Ryan is back in action on February 21st in Nottingham. Ryan will drop down in weight to fight Karla Ramos Zamora for the vacant WBC 140-pound bauble. The Derby fighter is an overwhelming betting favourite to defeat the Mexican and crown herself a two-weight world champion.

The future of the three remaining fighters in the top ten is somewhat clouded. Natasha Jonas hasn’t fought since losing to Lauren Price in March. Jonas has several options on the table, but she will only return for a fight of real significance.

Savannah Marshall has no fight scheduled, and she was a notable absence from last week’s London press conference to announce MVP’s first entry into the UK market. At 34, Marshall can’t afford to waste too much more time in her career. Since losing to Claressa Shields in October 2022, Shields has only fought twice and is coming off a defeat to Shadasia Green last July. A rematch with Green seems the logical route, but Marshall needs to find some momentum this year.

Karriss Artingstall hasn’t been seen inside a boxing ring since she impressively beat Raven Chapman at the Royal Albert Hall in March. Like Marshall, Artingstall needs to get her career going in the right direction. A fighter who looks more than capable of winning a world featherweight title, but she needs regular activity, something that she has been starved of over the last few years.

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)

The bottom half of this list has seen a little movement. Rhiannon Dixon hasn’t fought since losing her WBO world lightweight title to Terri Harper in September 2024, and with no fights seemingly on the horizon she is removed for inactivity. A lingering foot injury has delayed her return, and it will be interesting to see what this year brings for Dixon.

Tysie Gallagher gets a real opportunity to shine at the Olympia on the big MVP card. Gallagher, like Dolan, hasn’t got the recognition her talents deserve. Don’t be surprised if Gallagher lands and wins a world title this year. If any fighter can gatecrash the top ten this year, it’s her.

But the unbeaten Francesca Hennessy could find herself inside the top ten before the end of the year. Hennessy rises to number twelve courtesy of her recent hard-fought victory over Ellie Bouttell. Hennessy is now potentially only one fight away from a crack at the undisputed world bantamweight titles currently held by Cherneka Johnson. Hennessy passed a real test against Bouttell, who makes a first appearance on this list. Bouttell has gone under the radar, but the manner of her performance, even in defeat, shows that she will come again and has plenty of high-profile fights ahead of her. I wonder if a certain Matchroom blue-chip prospect could be on her radar at some point in 2026.

The unveiled sensation Tiah-Mai Ayton has her fifth professional fight in Nottingham later this month. Ayton has a little step up against Catherine Tacone Ramos, who holds a victory over Shannon Courtenay, and could rise a place or two if she puts in another performance in the manner of the four we have already seen.

Raven Chapman returns this weekend after losing two fights on the bounce. Chapman has only lost to Skye Nicolson and Karriss Artingstall, and can still be a major player in the featherweight division.

Nicola Hopewell has teased imminent fight news, and Shannon Ryan will look to build on her win over Chloe Watson last year. Lauren Parker has only lost to Emma Dolan in over six years, and still has plenty to offer. All the fighters ranked in the bottom half of the top twenty will hope the big fights come in 2026.

11: Tysie Gallagher (10-2)
12: Francesca Hennessy (8-0)
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: Tiah-Mai Ayton (4-0)
19: Ellie Bouttell (7-1-1)
20: Lauren Parker (10-2-1)

There are some exciting prospects who could make that important breakthrough this year. The likes of Hannah Robinson, Gemma Richardson, Lillie Winch, Shona and Harli Whitwell, and Jade Pearce should all be in title contention by the close of play in 2026.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/MVP & Matchroom Boxing & GBM & Chris Dean/Boxxer