Women’s boxing continues to progress year after year: since becoming an Olympic sport, it has been expanding its audience by showcasing athletes who are increasingly skilled, fast, and powerful. Nowadays, “pink-tinged” bouts capable of keeping spectators on the edge of their seats are not uncommon, delivering thrilling moments and outstanding technical displays. While top-tier female boxers increasingly secure high-profile contracts and attract the attention of broadcasters and major promoters, we want to highlight the sheer force of their punches. Here’s our ranking of the 10 best knockouts in women’s boxing history, complete with their respective videos!
10) Lucia Rijker defeats Mary Ann Almager
If you’ve seen the movie Million Dollar Baby, you’ll remember her as the antagonist. Lucia Rijker had fighting in her blood, excelling in both kickboxing and boxing, achieving undefeated records in both sports. Her only loss came at the hands of… a man! She decided to challenge a male muay thai fighter in an exhibition and was knocked out. Today, however, we showcase her lethal left hook.
9) Christy Martin defeats Bethany Payne
One of the best female boxers of her generation, Christy Martin overcame every obstacle thrown her way. Not even the knife stabs and gunshot wound inflicted by her husband, who attempted to kill her after discovering her plans to leave him for a woman, could stop her. Christy managed to escape and survive. She’s now married to her former ring rival Lisa Holewyne. The KO we highlight is the one with which she “paralyzed” Bethany Payne in 1996.
8) Ann Sophie Mathis defeats Holly Holm
Sometimes, when a referee tries too hard to protect a fighter, they endanger their health instead. Referee Rocky Burke did everything possible to help his fellow American, Holly Holm, hear the final bell, allowing a clearly compromised fight to continue even as Holm could barely stand. A brutal right hook from the furious Ann Sophie Mathis finally forced the referee to do his job.
7) Cecilia Braekhus defeats Mikaela Lauren
Her misfortune was dominating an era relatively devoid of big stars or famous rivals. However, Cecilia Braekhus still deserves recognition as one of the most complete and talented female boxers in history. The punishment she dealt to Sweden’s Mikaela Lauren in 2010, who was undefeated at the time, was devastating. After six rounds of dominance, a seventh-round uppercut-hook combination from the Norwegian superstar sealed the deal.
6) Natalya Ragozina defeats Pamela London
A Russian residing in Germany, Natalya Ragozina dominated the super middleweight division, amassing titles and victories in German rings while endearing herself to local fans. However, she never forgot her homeland. Before retiring, she achieved two final goals: winning a heavyweight bout and doing so in front of her compatriots. Here is the devastating KO she inflicted on Pamela London, despite a 30-kilo weight difference, in Yekaterinburg.
5) Oxandia Castillo defeats Hanna Gabriels
In the classic stylistic clash, Dominican powerhouse Oxandia Castillo triumphed over elegant Costa Rican fighter Hanna Gabriels in 2013, dropping her with a brutal right hand in the second round. Gabriels managed to avenge the loss four years later. But for now, let’s enjoy that brief first encounter where Castillo found the winning punch.
4) Zulina Munoz defeats Vanesa Lorena Taborda
Knockouts are less common in women’s boxing than in men’s. However, a fighter like Mexico’s Zulina Munoz, who racked up 30 KO wins, showcases her danger from the outset. In this bout, her opponent, Argentina’s Taborda, added to the show. Both fighters scored knockdowns, but in the fourth round, the Mexican delivered the decisive right hand.
3) Ava Knight defeats Arely Mucino
Women’s boxing doesn’t yet generate much money, and American flyweight Ava Knight even had to turn to crowdfunding to finance parts of her career. Despite this, Knight is a high-level athlete, and the KO we feature proves it: a left hook loaded with all her strength, which earned her the IBF world title on foreign soil against Mexico’s Mucino.
2) Jelena Mrdjenovich defeats Olivia Gerula
When Mrdjenovich first faced Olivia Gerula, things didn’t go well for Jelena. She lost to her compatriot on points, entering a very rough phase in her career. Two and a half years later, their rematch represented a shot at redemption. This time, the Canadian derby was decided with brute force: a terrifying left hook knocked Gerula unconscious and sent her crashing to the canvas.
1) Ann Wolfe defeats Vonda Ward
Widely regarded as the most spectacular KO in women’s boxing history, Ann Wolfe’s knockout of Vonda Ward is legendary. The powerful Texan puncher gave her taller opponent no chance, stalking her from the start and exploiting Ward’s habit of keeping her chin too high with an explosive right hand. Ward had never lost before that day and would never lose again, but “Brown Sugar’s” punch left her no escape.