Claressa Shields becomes undisputed heavyweight champion and history maker after win over Danielle Perkins
Claressa Shields outpoints Danielle Perkins to become first undisputed heavyweight champion in women's boxing; 29-year-old only boxer, female or male, to achieve undisputed status across three different divisions in four-belt era; Shields hindered by shoulder problem and set for surgery
Monday 3 February 2025 07:11, UK
Claressa Shields added to her glittering CV by outpointing Danielle Perkins to become female boxing's first undisputed heavyweight world champion.
Shields is also the first boxer, female or male, to achieve undisputed status across three different divisions in the four-belt era (heavyweight, middleweight, light-middleweight) after her win over the previously unbeaten Perkins.
Shields, boxing in her native Flint, took her unblemished record as a pro to 16-0 after flooring Perkins with a right hook in the 10th and final round, ahead of the judges scoring the fight 97-92, 99-90, and 100-89 in her favour.
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The 29-year-old later revealed a shoulder problem she sustained last week meant the fight almost did not take place.
"I actually think I'm going to have to have surgery on my left arm. I tore my labrum last week, so the fight almost didn't happen," Shields said.
"I didn't want to let Flint down, but I really couldn't use my jab the way that I wanted to. I iced it, I did therapy and now I think I'm going to have a shoulder surgery."
Shields stars on Flint homecoming
Perkins, who had been victorious in her first five fights, had a weight and height advantage but was second best throughout the contest despite against Shields despite absorbing numerous shots, notably being wobbled in round three.
"Danielle was strong, she was definitely a problem but my experience and my skills got me over it," added the 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medallist.
"I've been in plenty of street fights with bigger people and I had to use some of my skills in that today, too. So, when I dropped her in the last round, it's because she got greedy."
Shields said the fight could have taken place at Barclays Center in New York but she was determined to bring the first undisputed heavyweight contest in female boxing history to Michigan.
She now wants a rematch with Hanna Gabriels having beaten the Costa Rican back in 2018 to capture the IBF and WBA middleweight titles.
She added: "It ain't enough. That's how I think. I think that I didn't get my flowers for so many years so even though I'm getting them now, it's like that's not enough.
"I deserve more than that. I'm fighting for a million dollars. I'm supposed to be getting paid five. This ain't it. So, for me, that's where the fire comes from."
