Claressa Shields Continues to Rewrite HERstory

Claressa Shields, born on March 17, 1995, in Flint, Michigan, is the most decorated woman in the history of boxing. Known as the GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time), Shields began boxing at the age of 11 and quickly rose to prominence in the sport. She has captured multiple world titles across five different weight classes and has achieved numerous historic firsts in her career. Her combination of speed, power, and technical skill has made her seemingly unbeatable in the ring, rarely losing rounds in her fights.

As she continues to add chapters to her legacy and rewrite HERstory, let’s look at what she has accomplished so far.

Chapter 1: August 9, 2012

On August 9, 2012, Claressa Shields made history by defeating Nadezhda Torlopova in the finals to become the 2012 Olympic gold medalist at the London Olympic Games. This monumental victory made her the first American woman to win a boxing gold medal. At just 17 years old, Shields showcased her remarkable talent and determination, setting the stage for a legendary career.

Chapter 2: November 24, 2014

Shields continued her dominance on November 24, 2014, when she defeated Li Qian in the finals to become the 2014 World Championships gold medalist at the Jeju City, South Korea World Championships. Demonstrating her unparalleled skill, Shields did not lose a single round throughout the entire tournament, solidifying her reputation as a top-tier boxer.

Chapter 3: July 24, 2015

On July 24, 2015, Shields added another gold medal to her collection by defeating Yenebier Guillén in the finals of the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. Once again, Shields did not lose a round in the tournament, showcasing her dominance and consistency in the ring.

Chapter 4: May 27, 2016

Shields’ winning streak continued on May 27, 2016, when she defeated Nouchka Fontijn in the finals to become the 2016 World Championships gold medalist at the Astana, Kazakhstan World Championships. Her flawless performance, again not losing a round in the tournament, underscored her supremacy in women’s boxing.

Chapter 5: August 21, 2016

On August 21, 2016, Shields achieved another historic milestone by defeating Nouchka Fontijn in the finals to become the 2016 Olympic gold medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. This victory marked her second consecutive Olympic gold medal, making her the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic titles. Shields’ undefeated run in the tournament further cemented her status as a boxing legend.

Chapter 6: August 4, 2017

Shields transitioned to the professional ranks with equal success, defeating Nikki Adler on August 4, 2017, to become the WBC and IBF world champion at super middleweight.

Chapter 7: January 12, 2018

On January 12, 2018, Shields defeated Hanna Gabriels to become the WBA and IBF world champion at middleweight.

Chapter 8: November 17, 2018

Shields continued her winning ways on November 17, 2018, by defeating Hannah Rankin to become the WBC world champion, adding to her middleweight collection.

Chapter 9: April 13, 2019

On April 13, 2019, Shields achieved a remarkable feat by defeating Christina Hammer to become the WBO world champion. This victory made her the undisputed middleweight world champion, the youngest in the history of the four-belt era at 24 years, 31 days. Shields’ achievement surpassed the previous record held by Jermain Taylor and was later broken by Devin Haney.

Chapter 10: January 10, 2020

In just her 10th professional fight on January 10, 2020, Shields won titles in a third different weight class by defeating Ivana Habazin and claiming the WBC and WBO junior middleweight titles. This broke the boxing record held by Vasyl Lomachenko and Kosei Tanaka, showcasing Shields’ extraordinary talent and rapid rise in the sport.

Chapter 11: March 5, 2021

Shields made history again on March 5, 2021, by defeating Marie Eve Dicaire to become the undisputed junior middleweight champion. This victory made her the first boxer to become a two-weight undisputed champion in the four-belt era and the first since Evander Holyfield in any era.

Chapter 12: October 15, 2022

On October 15, 2022, Shields faced her long-time rival Savannah Marshall on the road and emerged victorious, becoming the undisputed middleweight champion once again. This win made Shields the first and only three-time undisputed champion in the four-belt era.

Chapter 13: July 27, 2024

In her latest chapter of success, Shields defeated Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse on July 27, 2024, to become the WBC heavyweight champion and WBO light heavyweight champion. This victory marked Shields’ historic achievement of holding titles in three weight classes simultaneously, further cementing her legacy as the greatest women’s boxer of all time.

Throughout her illustrious career, Shields has faced and defeated numerous top-tier opponents, including Savannah Marshall, Christina Hammer, Hanna Gabriels, Ema Kozin, Tori Nelson, Nikki Adler, and Franchon Crews. Eight of Shields’ opponents went on to become world champions after losing to her, including two undisputed champions and one heavyweight champion. Shields’ opponents have a combined win-loss record of 201-22-6, with a win percentage of 90.13%.

Claressa Shields’ journey in life and boxing is nothing short of extraordinary. Her numerous accomplishments, historic milestones, and relentless pursuit of greatness have made her a trailblazer in the sport. As she continues to rewrite HERstory, Shields’ legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time is firmly established. Her achievements inspire countless aspiring athletes, current athletes and children all over the world, proving that with talent, hard work, and determination, anything is possible.