Katie Taylor has reclaimed the number one spot in ESPN’s pound for pound rankings following her impressive recent victory over Natasha Jonas on May 1st.
The Bray woman had been leapfrogged in the rankings by two time Olympic gold medalist Clarissa Shields back in March, as the American boxer had defeated Marie-Eve Dicaire to be crowned the undisputed light middleweight champion and become just the first boxer female or male to be undisputed champion in two different divisions in the modern era.
Taylor has been reconsidered as ESPN’s the top female boxer in the world following her impressively executed victory over British boxer Natasha Jonas in Manchester two weeks ago.
18-0! Thanking God for a hard fought victory. Thank you all for the support! pic.twitter.com/c65w7vC5b6
— Katie Taylor (@KatieTaylor) May 2, 2021
In reclaiming ESPN’s number one spot, Ireland’s Taylor now finds herself ranked as the best pound for pound fighter in the world across ESPN, Ring Magazine and Boxrec – the three organisations which compile ranking lists.
The reasoning for Taylor reclaiming the number one spot in ESPN’s rankings is said to be down to the quality of opponents she has overcome. Her most recent victory over Jonas means the 18-0 fighter has defeated the fourth and fifth names on the ESPN ranking list in Delfine Parsoon and McCaskill respectively. Taylor is yet to face third ranked Amanda Seranno, but the bout against the Puerto Rican is said to be in the pipeline early 2022.
Speaking of her decision to move Taylor to number one on the list, Boxing TV presenter and founder of Behind The Gloves, Michelle Joy Phelps said:
“"My decision to move Taylor back to the No. 1 spot is simple: opposition. She continuously dominates at lightweight and proved yet again against Jonas what a talent she is.
"Taylor delivers exciting fights against opponents who continue to challenge her, making her better with each passing fight. After the Jonas fight, Taylor told me she'd love a rematch with Jessica McCaskill and/or a fight with Amanda Serrano as she's open to fighting again at 140 or making a catchweight if it means making the right fights happen."
With the Irish woman continuing to defeat everyone put in her way, news of this new ranking, along with her impressive display against Jonas still fresh in the memory of the nation – it is clear to see Taylor remains at the peak of her powers.
