10 COUNT

GIRL POWER

As women’s boxing goes from strength to strength, we rank 10 famous and important faces

1. LAILA ALI

With a name like Ali, it’s fair to say Laila Ali didn’t have to do much to garner attention en route to supermiddleweight and light-heavyweight titles. But she proved she was more than just Muhammad Ali’s daughter.

2. LUCIA RIJKER

Technically superb, super-lightweight champ Lucia Rijker had 17 fights and never lost a single one. Held in the highest regard by all who saw her.

3. MIA ST JOHN

Mia St John fought 65 times and was known as “The Knockout”. She won belts at lightweight and welter, and faced a who’s who of women’s boxing.

4. CHRISTY MARTIN

Christy Martin had 59 fights and lost only seven. A staple of Don King’s Vegas undercards, Martin had a fan– friendly style and KO power.

5. ANN WOLFE

A powerful and spiteful champion at middleweight, super-middle and light-heavy, Ann Wolfe lost only once in a 25-bout career, and famously flattened Vonda Ward.

6. HOLLY HOLM

Holly Holm, also a kickboxer and mixed martial artist, went 33-2 as a pro boxer and held titles as a superlightweight, welter and super-welter.

7. CECILIA BRAEKHUS

One of the few boxers, male or female, to hold all four world titles (WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO) simultaneously, Cecilia Braekhus is undefeated in 32 fights and considered the best female boxer on the planet. She has been the welterweight ruler since 2009.

8. REGINA HALMICH

Regina Halmich was the flyweight champ for 12 years, adding the lightfly and super-fly belts along the way.

9. MARY JO SANDERS

Mary Jo Sanders, daughter of NFL Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders, won titles at welter, super-welter and middle.

10. JANE COUCH

Something of a trailblazer, Jane Couch fought for the right of females to box professionally and paved the way for those who now represent the UK at the amateur and pro level.