Black Women in Sports Day – Claressa Shields

July 7th in Black Women in Sports Day – Claressa Shields

Let’s talk about Claressa Shields. Originally from Flint, Michigan, Claressa Shields is an absolute powerhouse.

In October she was ranked the world’s best active female middleweight by BoxRec, as well as the best active female boxer, pound for pound, by ESPN and The Ring.

Shields is one of only three boxers in history, female or male, to hold all four major world titles in boxing—WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO, in two weight classes. In 2017, Shields won the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Award for “Biggest Powerhouse.”

In 2018, Shields was inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame. The Boxing Writers Association of America gave her the 2018 Christy Martin Award – Female Fighter of the Year.

Claressa Shields, an American professional boxer and mixed martial artist, has an impressive list of accomplishments:

Amateur Career

1. Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist:
   • 2012 London Olympics (Middleweight)
   • 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics (Middleweight)
2. World Championships:
   • Gold Medal in 2014 and 2016
3. Pan American Games:
   • Gold Medal in 2015
4. Youth Olympic Games:
   • Gold Medal in 2010

Professional Boxing Career

1. World Titles in Multiple Weight Classes:
   • WBC and IBF Super Middleweight titles in 2017
   • WBA and IBF Middleweight titles in 2018
   • WBC, WBA, IBF, and The Ring Middleweight titles in 2019
   • WBC and WBO Light Middleweight titles in 2020
   • Undisputed Light Middleweight Champion in 2021
2. First Boxer to Hold All Major Titles in Two Weight Classes:
   • Super Middleweight (WBC, IBF)
   • Middleweight (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO)
   • Light Middleweight (WBC, WBO, IBF)
3. Fastest Boxer to Win World Titles in Three Weight Classes:
   • Accomplished in 10 fights

Mixed Martial Arts Career

1. Professional MMA Debut:
   • June 2021, won by TKO

Awards and Honors

1. ESPY Award:
   • Best Female Athlete in 2017
2. Sports Illustrated:
   • Included in the 2020 list of the top 100 most influential figures in sports
3. Time 100 Next List:
   • Featured in 2021

Records

1. Professional Record:
   • As of now, undefeated in professional boxing

Claressa Shields is widely regarded as one of the greatest female boxers of all time due to her outstanding achievements and trailblazing career in both boxing and mixed martial arts.

Get started on your own journey to becoming a champion? Start training today.