In truth, 2024 was a year of both triumph and tribulation for women’s boxing. On the one hand, we saw Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano make headlines with record-breaking purses for their highly anticipated rematch, while Skye Nicolson and Raven Chapman created history when they met in the first-ever women’s world title fight in Saudi Arabia.
Yet, Saudi Arabia’s increasing interest in boxing, and its unprecedented financial investment, has led to a noticeable lack of female fights on the biggest stages. Nicolson vs Chapman was a step forward, but it’s clear that more needs to be done in 2025 and beyond.
In light of both the achievements and challenges faced by women in boxing in 2024, SHE BOXES is delighted to share its inaugural boxing award winners.
Professional Boxer of the Year: Gabriela Fundora
Gabriela Fundora kicked off 2024 with two successful defences of her IBF World flyweight title, first against an undefeated challenger in Christina Cruz and then against former super flyweight World Champion, Daniela Asenjo.
In November, Fundora made history at just 22, when she defeated Gabriela Celeste Alaniz via Round 7 stoppage to become the youngest ever undisputed World Champion (male or female) in the four-belt era.
Amateur Boxer of the Year: Imane Khelif
During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, everyone, whether they’d watched a boxing match before or not, felt entitled to an opinion on Imane Khelif’s eligibility to compete in the pinnacle competition of amateur boxing.
Despite facing intense scrutiny and abuse whilst already under immense pressure, including from some high profile celebrities, Khelif managed to go on to become an Olympic gold medallist at 66kg.
Prospect of the Year: Tamm Thibeault
After representing Canada in her second Olympic Games over the summer, Tamm Thibeault wasted no time making her professional debut in December 2024. She moved to 1-0 in style, beating former world title challenger Natasha Spence over 4×3 minute rounds.
Thibeault is Most Valuable Promotions‘ newest signing, and with her skill, charisma, and the backing of Jake Paul and Amanda Serrano, she is one of the most exciting prospects to follow in 2025.
Fight of the Year: Sandy Ryan vs Mikaela Mayer
A case for Fight of the Year could be made for several events in 2024: Natasha Jonas vs Mikaela Mayer, Sandy Ryan vs Mikaela Mayer, and Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 2, to name a few, are all worthy recipients of this award.
However, due to their fiery personalities building pre-fight excitement, incredible resilience shown by Ryan who chose to still fight despite being attacked with paint only hours earlier, and two fantastic, clinical performances which showed the levels in the sport, Sandy Ryan and Mikaela Mayer earn the award from SHE BOXES.
Performance of the Year: Skye Nicolson (vs Raven Chapman)
Skye Nicolson has been subject to a lot of criticism throughout her career, often being labelled as ‘boring’ due to her calm, controlled style, one that hasn’t yet put her in a dangerous spot during a fight.
Despite having already faced high-level opposition like Dyana Vargas, who’s only other loss is to Amanda Serrano, critics were silenced when the highly anticipated Skye Nicolson vs Raven Chapman world title fight was announced. Fans were eager to see how Nicolson would handle a pressure fighter like Chapman. And the answer was comfortably. Nicolson quickly found her rhythm in the fight, forcing Chapman to engage in her rangy, hit-and-move style.
Now, Nicolson has set her sights on a unification fight with Serrano, and after her dominant performance against Chapman, it’s clear that Nicolson might just have the perfect style to pose problems for the reigning champion.
Comeback of the Year: Kirstie Bavington
After finishing 2022 on a career high as EBU European Welterweight Champion and a successful title defence, 2023 proved turbulent for Kirstie Bavington. Despite the opportunity to fight for the first ever female British title against now unified World Champion Lauren Price, Bavington ended 2023 with three losses dampening her record.
In 2024, Bavington got off to a good start with a win against the durable Tereza Dvorakova. Then, when an opportunity arose to reclaim her European bauble, Bavington took the risk of fighting out of the away corner and flew out to France where she managed to secure an impressive win against the home favourite.
Trailblazer of the Year: Cindy Ngamba
Originally from Cameroon, Cindy Ngamba moved to the UK at 11, unable to return home due to its criminalisation of her sexuality.
Adjusting to life in a new country, Ngamba found a sense of belonging at a boxing gym in Bolton. Three national titles later, she earned the opportunity to train with the GB Boxing team, but her asylum seeker status prevented her from being able to represent Team GB on the international stage. Undeterred, Ngamba made history in 2024 as the first-ever refugee boxer to qualify for an Olympic Games—and the first Refugee Olympic Team member to win an Olympic medal.
Fan Favourite Fighter of the Year: Taylah Gentzen
Boxing fans had the opportunity to nominate and vote for their favourite fighter of the year on SHE BOXES’ Instagram, the ultimate winner of the poll was Taylah Gentzen.
Gentzen is a professional boxer from Victoria, Australia, currently living in New South Wales. She ended 2024 undefeated in six fights as well as WBA Oceania and two-time Australian Champion.
Knockout of the Year: Claressa Shields (vs Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse)
2024 saw Claressa Shields make her first campaign at heavyweight against a naturally bigger fighter in Canada’s Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for the WBO light heavyweight and WBC heavyweight titles.
It was an early night for Shields, who’s already a three-time undisputed World Champion, as she proved too skillful and too powerful for Lepage-Joanisse at the new weight. The self-proclaimed ‘Greatest Woman of All Time’ (GWOAT) dominated the first round before brutally flooring Lepage-Joanisse three times in the second to become a four and five weight World Champion.
Trainer of the Year: Lynne McEnery
Over the summer, Lynne McEnery made history as Team Ireland’s first ever female Olympic boxing coach.
McEnery played a key role in preparing Ireland’s largest boxing squad since 1960 for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She helped 10 boxers secure their qualification, including Kellie Harrington, who became a two-time Olympic gold medallist.
Promoter of the Year: Johnny Clark of Top Tier
Johnny Clark earns this award for his commitment to elevating female fighters in the sport. Despite being a self-described small hall promotional company, Top Tier featured a women’s bout, oftentimes more than one, on every one of their shows in 2024—a standard that many larger promoters still haven’t achieved.
In 2024, Clark has provided a regular platform to up-and-coming talent like Lillie Winch and Harli Whitwell, while also securing a Commonwealth title opportunity for Amy Andrew and Linzi Buczynskyj.
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