Mikaela Mayer and Seniesa Estrada shined in decision wins and both climbed higher in ESPN’s women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Mayer (15-0, 5 KOs), 31, of Woodland Hills, California, defended her WBO junior lightweight world title with a victory over Erica Farias on June 19. The scores of 97-93, 98-92 and 98-92 were representative of her dominance during the bout.
ESPN’s Kel Dansby decided to move Mayer up due to both her performance and her activity.
“The difference between No. 6 and No. 10 on the women’s pound-for-pound list is razor thin,” Dansby said. “Mayer has three wins in the past calendar year, including her WBO junior lightweight title victory over Ewa Brodnicka and a successful title defense against Farias. Her activity and growing status could see her in position to chase a ‘super-fight’ against lightweight undisputed champion Katie Taylor if/when she decides to move up a division.”
For now, Mayer is scheduled to fight IBF champ Maiva Hamadouch later this year in a title unification fight.
“I was just waiting to get through this fight to get to Maiva,” Mayer sad after defeating Farias. “Remind her that I’ll see her soon.”
Nick Parkinson says Mayer’s rise is deserved and given her background, expected.
“Mayer showed her quality in a comfortable points win over Erica Farias, a seasoned professional who had won world titles at two weight classes above junior lightweight,” he said. “The American finished strong against an opponent with a lot more experience in world title fights to ensure her first defense of the WBO junior lightweight title ended successfully. It was a good fight to measure Mayer’s quality and ability to control a fight against a more experienced opponent, but we shouldn’t be surprised by the Colorado Springs native’s rise to the top — she was a US Olympian in 2016 and has looked sharp in recent fights.”
Estrada (21-0, 8 KOs), 29, of Los Angeles, dominated Tenkai Tsunami on July 9 to win the WBO junior flyweight world title to make her P4P debut. Estrada, who also owns the WBA strawweight belt, is already a two-division champion who has also won an interim belt at flyweight.
“Estrada picked up the WBO title against Tsunami in dominant fashion, and that deserves a nod on the list,” said TV presenter and founder of Behind The Gloves, Michelle Joy Phelps.
Who else made the top 10? Here’s the list:
Note: Results are through July 14.
1. KATIE TAYLOR 
Previous ranking: No. 2
RECORD: 18-0, 6 KOs
DIVISION: Lightweight (undisputed champion)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Natasha Jonas, May 1
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
2. CLARESSA SHIELDS Previous ranking: No. 1
RECORD: 11-0, 2 KOs
DIVISION: Junior middleweight and middleweight undisputed champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Marie Eve Dicaire, March 5
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
3. AMANDA SERRANO Previous ranking: No. 4
RECORD: 40-1-1, 30 KOs
DIVISION: Featherweight (titlist)
LAST FIGHT: W (KO9) Daniela Bermudez, March 25
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
4. JESSICA MCCASKILL Previous ranking: No. 3
RECORD: 10-2, 3 KOs
DIVISION: Welterweight undisputed champion
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Cecilia Braekhus, March 13
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
5. MIKAELA MAYER 
Previous ranking: No. 6
RECORD: 15-0, 5 KOs
DIVISION: Junior lightweight (titlist)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Erica Farias, June 19
NEXT FIGHT: Date TBD vs. Maiva Hamadouche
6. DELFINE PERSOON 
Previous ranking: No. 5
RECORD: 44-3, 18 KOs
DIVISION: Lightweight
LAST FIGHT: L (UD10) Katie Taylor, Aug. 22
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
7. CHRISTINA HAMMER Previous ranking: No. 6
RECORD: 26-1, 12 KOs
DIVISION: Middleweight
LAST FIGHT: W (KO7) Sanna Turunen, Dec. 20
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
8. CECILIA BRAEKHUS Previous ranking: No. 8
RECORD: 36-2, 9 KOs
DIVISION: Welterweight
LAST FIGHT: L (UD10) Jessica McCaskill, March 13
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
T-8. TERRI HARPER Previous ranking: 10
RECORD: 11-0-1, 6 KOs
DIVISION: Junior lightweight (titlist)
LAST FIGHT: W (TKO9) Katharina Thanderz, Nov. 14
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
10. SENIESA ESTRADA Previous ranking: No. N/R
RECORD: 21-0, 8 KOs
DIVISION: Strawweight, junior flyweight (titlist)
LAST FIGHT: W (UD10) Tenkai Tsunami, July 9
NEXT FIGHT: TBA
The formula
The rankings are based on a descending points system, with a first-place vote receiving 10 points, a second-place vote receiving nine points and so on.
Others receiving votes: Savannah Marshall (6), Yamileth Mercado (5), Chantelle Cameron (5), Layla McCarter (5), Hyun Choi (3), Yesica Bopp (1).
How our experts voted
Timothy Bradley Jr.: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Hammer, 6. Mayer, 7. Harper, 8. Estrada, 9. Braekhus, 10. Persoon
Nick Parkinson: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Braekhus, 6. Mayer, 7. Braekhus, 8. Cameron, 9. Mercado, 10. Harper
Michelle Joy Phelps: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. McCaskill, 4. Serrano, 5. Mayer, 6. Braekhus, 7. Persoon, 8. Harper, 9. Marshall, 10. Estrada
Salvador Rodriguez: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. McCaskill, 4. Serrano, 5. Persoon, 6. Estrada, 7. Harper, 8. Mayer, 9. Braekhus, 10. Cameron
Bernardo Pilatti: 1. Taylor, 2. Shields, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Hammer, 6. McCarter, 7. Mayer, 8. Mercado, 9. Persoon, 10. Cameron
Charlie Moynihan: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Hammer, 6. Persoon, 7. Mayer, 8. Choi, 9. Braekhus, 10. Bopp
Kel Dansby: 1. Shields, 2. Taylor, 3. Serrano, 4. McCaskill, 5. Persoon, 6. Mayer, 7. Marshall, 8. Harper, 9. Hammer, 10. Estrada
ESPN experts’ poll
First place: Taylor (4), Shields (3)
Second place: Shields (4), Taylor (3)
Third place: Serrano (5), McCaskill (2)
Fourth place: McCaskill (5), Serrano (2)
Fifth place: Persoon (3), Hammer (3), Mayer (1)
Sixth place: Mayer (3), Persoon (1), Braekhus (1), Estrada (1), McCarter (1)
Seventh place: Mayer (2), Harper (2), Persoon (1), Braekhus (1), Marshall (1),
Eighth place: Harper (2), Mayer (1), Estrada (1), Mercado (1), Marshall (1), Choi (1)
Ninth place: Braekhus (3), Persoon (1), Harper (1), Mercado (1), Marshall (1)
10th place: Estrada (2), Cameron (2), Persoon (1), Harper (1), Bopp (1)