Claressa Shields (16-0; 3 KOs) became the undisputed women’s heavyweight champion after defeating Danielle Perkins (5-1; 0) by unanimous decision (100-89, 99-90, 97-92) in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. Although the size difference was evident, the experience of the two-time Olympic champion and the age difference (29 to 42) was more decisive.
In any case, Shields, who proclaimed herself the ‘GWOAT’ (Greatest Woman of All Time), made history by becoming the first female boxer to be crowned undisputed champion in a third weight category. Since there are four belts, in men there are three fighters who have been in two divisions: Oleksandr Usyk, Naoya Inoue and Terence Crawford. Among the girls, Katie Taylor has ruled in two weights.
From the start, it was clear that Shields was going to take advantage of her speed. She is tough and was ready to get in and out quickly. The second round was really entertaining, as Perkins realized that her opponent was extremely effective, so in the final seconds she went all out despite the risks. In the third round there was again a lot of dynamite.
Claressa continued to dominate and even attack with the jab. In the seventh, adrenaline levels rose again. Although the result did not seem to be in danger if it went to the end, the contest remained interesting because Perkins threw punches with a lot of bad temper. However, Shields shone in the ninth and in the tenth she sent her opponent to the canvas just before the end. If there is one thing about women’s 10×2, it is that the fights are very intense.
According to the champion, she fought very depleted: “I 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. I didn’t want to disappoint my city, but I really couldn’t use my jab the way I wanted to,” she said.
His triumph comes just as a biographical film about his early years in boxing, entitled ‘The Fire Inside’ has been released