The FightPost Top Twenty British Female Fighters

The FightPost Top Twenty British Female Fighters

After a relatively quiet period regarding this list, there have been plenty of moves for the latest update. Established fighters were removed due to inactivity and recent defeats. This month is probably the biggest shake-up since I first started doing the Top Twenty British Female Fighters a few years ago.

Going forward, I will be classifying fighters who have not fought in a twelve-month period as being inactive and not eligible to be on this list. There will be exceptions if someone has been injured and they have a fight scheduled. Or if fights that have been scheduled fall away at the last-minute. That would indicate an active fighter in my opinion. But each case will be treated on its own merits.

Savannah Marshall and Karriss Artingstall are the big casualties in the top ten. If they were active, they would both be in the upper echelons of the list. Hopefully, both will return to action in the coming months.

As a result of Marshall and Artingstall losing their places in the top ten, it has opened the door for Shannon Ryan and Francesca Hennessy to replace them.

Ryan is coming off two really good wins over Chloe Watson and Nicola Hopewell. After recovering from her defeat to Emma Dolan a few years back, Ryan is now in the form of her life and is edging ever closer to a world title opportunity.

Hennessy is also on the brink of fighting for a world title. Unbeaten in nine fights, the 21-year-old is ever-improving. The win over Ellie Boutell in January was hard-earned, but it was a really good learning fight for her. Ryan and Hennessy are two good fighters who have their best years ahead of them.

Chantelle Cameron gets a golden opportunity to reignite her career when she takes on the three-division world champion Mikaela Mayer next month in Birmingham. There are three world super-welterweight titles on the line. It’s her first real high-profile fight since her rematch with Katie Taylor a few years back. A Cameron victory would likely propel her back to the number one position on this list.

The current top-ranked fighter is Ellie Scotney. A new journey will soon begin for her. Scotney went undisputed in April at super-bantamweight against the incredibly tough Mexican Mayelli Flores. It was one of the greatest female fights of the modern era. It was a tough night for the 28-year-old. But Scotney left that London ring with all the major world titles around her waist. A brand new division now awaits. The move up to featherweight was always inevitable. Scotney will soon be chasing undisputed status in a new weight category.

A little further down the list, five fighters make their maiden appearance, and one fighter makes a significant jump.

Megan Redstall was incredibly impressive in beating Maiseyrose Courtney at the weekend. Redstall dropped Courtney heavily in the opening round and won a lopsided decision. Redstall claimed the WBO International flyweight title. The manner of that victory indicated that Redstall could have a golden future ahead of her. As a result, Redstall improves to number twelve on this list.

Lauren Parker has also been removed because of inactivity, and Nicola Hopewell and Maiseyrose Courtney lose their places after recent defeats. All three are more than capable of returning to the top twenty.

Their removal has opened up a few spaces for some new blood on the list. To justify inclusion, I look at a combination of achievements, talent and potential. Five fighters who show real potential make their debuts in the top twenty.

Hannah Robinson is now highly-ranked at super-lightweight and is on the brink of a world title shot. Katie Taylor will bid farewell in September, and if she wins her last dance against Flora Pili, all the 140-pound baubles will suddenly become available. Robinson will surely fight for one of them. The former two-time national amateur champion looks more than capable of winning one of them.

Omarah Taylor is quietly going about her business in the pro ranks. Unbeaten in six fights, Taylor is now ready to take the next step in her career. A recent victory over Kerry Haley earned her the Commonwealth welterweight title. But the 32-year-old wants more. Hopefully, she is given the opportunities she deserves.

Jade Pearce recently won the Commonwealth super-featherweight title after a win over Kirsty Hill. Pearce has impressed in her five fights to date. A possible fight with Shona Whitwell could be in her future.

Shona Whitwell and Gemma Richardson also make the cut for the first time. The former GB teammates are both unbeaten in four fights, and I wouldn’t argue if their positions were reversed on the list. In truth, they probably should be ranked equally. They are at similar stages in their careers. But their potential is obvious.

Whitwell impressed in beating Victoria Lomax at the weekend, and should be in title contention by the end of the year. It was her third stoppage in a row. A potential fight with Jade Pearce is one of real intrigue.

Richardson fights the former two-time European welterweight champion Kirstie Bavington in August on the latest MVP card to hit the UK. That’s a real step up against a vastly more experienced fighter. Richardson is favoured to win, but it is still an educated gamble so early in her career. If Bavington wins, her argument to gatecrash the top twenty again will be too hard to ignore.

The Top Twenty British Female Fighters:

1: Ellie Scotney (12-0)
2: Chantelle Cameron (22-1)
3: Lauren Price (10-0)
4: Caroline Dubois (13-0-1)
5: Sandy Ryan (9-3-1)
6: Terri Harper (16-3-2)
7: Tysie Gallagher (10-2)
8: Emma Dolan (8-1)
9: Shannon Ryan (11-1)
10: Francesca Hennessy (9-0)
11: Tiah-Mai Ayton (6-0)
12: Megan Redstall (8-0-1)
13: Raven Chapman (10-2)
14: Chloe Watson (9-3)
15: Ellie Bouttell (7-1-1)
16: Hannah Robinson (6-0)
17: Omarah Taylor (6-0)
18: Jade Pearce (5-0)
19: Shona Whitwell (4-0)
20: Gemma Richardson (4-0)