The goal of a fighter is to become a champion. The endgame for a lucky few is to become the undisputed champion of their division, meaning they hold all the gold.
There are nine undisputed champions in boxing today, the majority of which are women. In the past, fighters like Holly Holm (welterweight) and Jisselle Salandy (super middleweight) held gold when women’s boxing was toiling in obscurity.
Things have changed for the better.
On May 20, two of the top undisputed champions in boxing face off in a huge event at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Katie Taylor, the lightweight champ, challenges Chantelle Cameron for the latter’s undisputed super lightweight titles. The 10-round bout, plus undercard action, will air live on DAZN.
WATCH: Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron, live on DAZN
There are several leading ladies holding all the marbles in their respective divisions. Here is a list, in weight order, of current undisputed women’s champions.
Undisputed Women's Boxing Champions
Franchon Crews-Dezurn
- Division: Super Middleweight
Franchon Crews-Dezurn has had quite a journey to become undisputed. She won the WBC super middleweight title in 2018 by defeating Maricela Cornejo, and the WBO title in 2019 from the same opponent.
"The Heavy Hitting Diva" faced Alejandra Jimenez in January 2020 and initially lost via split decision. However, Jimenez failed multiple drug tests and was stripped of the titles. The bout was declared a no-contest and Crews-Dezurn got the belts back.
In 2022, the 35-year-old beat Elin Cederroos at Madison Square Garden to win the WBA and IBF titles, solidifying her position as undisputed at 168.
Claressa Shields
- Division: Middleweight
The "G.W.O.A.T.", Claressa Shields is a three-time undisputed champion.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist defeated Hanna Gabriels in 2018 for the WBA and IBF middleweight titles; the WBC belt at the expense of Hannah Rankin that same year; and Christina Hammer in 2019 for the WBO and Ring Magazine belts to become undisputed for the first time.
In 2020, Shields focused on the super welterweight division, beating Ivana Habazin in 2020 for the WBO and WBO belts, and Marie-Eve Dicaire in 2021 for the IBF, WBO, and Ring Magazine belts. With the Dicaire win, she became the undisputed champ at 154.
Back at middleweight, the Flint, Michigan native became a two-time undisputed champion at 160 when she bested Savannah Marshall in October 2022 for the WBO belt.
MORE: What is a boxing purse bid?
Chantelle Cameron
- Division: Super Lightweight
Chantelle Cameron moved up from lightweight and defeated Adriana Araujo to win the WBC belt. "Il Capo" then defeated Mary McGee for the IBF and Ring Magazine belts and conquered welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill in November 2022 for the vacant WBA and WBO super lightweight titles. By beating McCaskill, she became the undisputed champion at 140.
WATCH: Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron, live on DAZN
Katie Taylor
- Division: Lightweight
Ireland's own Katie Taylor has held gold since 2017 when she beat Anahi Ester Sanchez for the WBA lightweight title. "The Bray Bomber" then took on Victoria Bustos in 2018, beating her for the IBF lightweight belt. In 2018, Taylor beat Rose Volante for the WBO version, and, in a close bout at Madison Square Garden, edged Delfine Persoon to become the undisputed lightweight champion.
Taylor has successfully defended her status as undisputed champion seven times.
Alycia Baumgardner
- Division: Super Featherweight
After losing to Christina Linardatou in 2018, Alycia Baumgardner went on a run that saw her win eight in a row. She came out of nowhere and knocked out Terri Harper to win the WBC super featherweight title in 2021. She then bested white-hot rival Mikaela Mayer in 2022 to win the WBO, IBF, and Ring belts.
Finally, "The Bomb" turned back the challenge of Elhem Mekhaled to win the WBA super featherweight title in February 2023. The original holder of the belt, Hyun Mi Choi, was named "champion in recess." By defeating Mekhaled, Baumgardner became the undisputed champion at 130.
MORE: USA Boxing's latest move has major implications for 2024 Olympics
Amanda Serrano
- Division: Featherweight
A decorated boxer, Serrano has held titles in seven weight classes. "The Real Deal” claimed titles from bantamweight to junior welterweight, but it was at featherweight where she made history.
In 2016, Serrano beat Olivia Gerula for the WBO championship. Later, after relinquishing that title in order to claim gold in other weights, Serrano edged Heather Hardy in 2019 to regain the WBO featherweight crown and picked up the interim WBC title (she was later upgraded).
In 2022, after losing to Katie Taylor in an attempt to become undisputed lightweight champion, Serrano returned to featherweight and beat Sarah Mahfoud to become IBF and Ring champion.
In her last bout, in February 2023, the Puerto Rican star defeated Erika Cruz to win the WBA title, thus becoming the undisputed champion at 126.
