Women's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Shields keeps top spot, Thorslund makes top 10

Claressa Shields retained her No. 1 spot in ESPN's women's pound-for-pound boxing rankings after defeating Kaye Scott by sixth-round TKO on August 19, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, reclaiming the WBC and WBA women's middleweight titles. It was Shields' first stoppage victory since a second-round TKO of Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in July 2024, and she expressed interest in future fights against Lauren Price, Mikaela Mayer, or Tamm Thibeault. Dina Thorslund also entered the top 10 rankings following a dominant performance on August 8 in Orlando, Florida.