Career Timeline of Claressa Shields: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Claressa Shields made an impact.

Claressa Shields is a highly accomplished American professional boxer and former mixed martial artist. She is a multi-division world champion, having held 18 major world titles across five weight classes. Shields achieved undisputed champion status in both the light middleweight and middleweight divisions, and has also held titles in the super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions. She holds the record for being the fastest boxer, male or female, to become a two, three, four, and five-division world champion. As of August 2025, she is considered the world's best active female light heavyweight and the best active female boxer, pound for pound, by multiple sources.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2010: Defeated Andrecia Wasson

At the 2012 Olympic Trials, she defeated the 2010 world champion, Andrecia Wasson, to win the middleweight class.

2011: National Police Athletic League Championships

In 2011, Claressa Shields competed in her first open-division tournament, the National Police Athletic League Championships. She won the middleweight title and was named top overall fighter and also qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

February 2012: U.S. Olympic Trials Winner

In February 2012, Claressa Shields was the youngest boxer at the U.S. Olympic Trials, winning the event in the 165 lb (75 kg) middleweight division.

April 2012: Won Weight Class at Women's Elite Continental Championships

In April 2012, Claressa Shields won her weight class at the Women's Elite Continental Championships in Cornwall, Ontario, defeating Mary Spencer of Canada.

May 2012: Qualified for 2012 Olympics

In May 2012, Claressa Shields qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games, marking the first year women's boxing was an Olympic event.

October 2012: National PAL Championships Gold Medal

In October 2012, Claressa Shields competed in her second National PAL Championships, beating Franchón Crews-Dezurn in the finals to win gold at middleweight in the open division.

2012: Olympic Gold Medal

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Claressa Shields, aged 17, won the gold medal in the women's middleweight division, defeating Nadezda Torlopova. This made her the first American woman to win a boxing gold medal.

2013: IBA Youth World Boxing Championships Gold Medal

In 2013, Claressa Shields defeated polish boxer Elżbieta Wójcik to win gold in the middleweight class at the IBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Bulgaria.

June 2014: Pan American Olympic Festival Gold Medal

In June 2014, Claressa Shields beat Yenebier Guillén in the finals of the Pan American Olympic Festival and took home gold at middleweight.

2015: Titles in Olympics and Pan American Games

In 2015, Claressa Shields became the first American to win titles in women's boxing at the Olympics and Pan American Games.

2015: U.S. National Championships Gold

In 2015, Claressa Shields defended her gold at the U.S. National Championships by defeating Raquel Miller in the finals.

2015: T-Rex: Her Fight for Gold Documentary

In 2015, Claressa Shields is the subject of the documentary "T-Rex: Her Fight for Gold," which follows her journey to become the first woman to win a gold medal in Olympic boxing.

May 2016: World Championships Gold Medal

In May 2016, Claressa Shields defeated Nouchka Fontijn by unanimous decision to win gold at the World Championships.

November 2016: Professional Debut

In November 2016, Claressa Shields officially turned professional and won her first match against Franchón Crews-Dezurn by unanimous decision.

2016: Slated to Act in Punch Me

In 2016, Claressa Shields was slated to act in the Susan Seidelman-directed film Punch Me.

March 10, 2017: NABF Middleweight Title Win

On March 10, 2017, Claressa Shields faced Szilvia Szabados and won by TKO for the North American Boxing Federation middleweight title. This was the main event on ShoBox, marking the first time a women's boxing bout was the main event on a United States premium network card.

June 16, 2017: Detroit Brawl Headliner

On June 16, 2017, Claressa Shields headlined the "Detroit Brawl," facing Sydney LeBlanc in her first scheduled eight-round bout and won by decision after all eight rounds.

August 4, 2017: WBC and IBF Super-Middleweight Titles

On August 4, 2017, Claressa Shields defeated Nikki Adler by 5th round TKO at the MGM Grand Detroit for the WBC super-middleweight belt and the vacant IBF super-middleweight belt. The fight was broadcast on Showtime.

January 12, 2018: Retained WBC and IBF Titles

On January 12, 2018, Claressa Shields retained her WBC and IBF female super middleweight titles, and won the WBAN super-middleweight title by defeating Tori Nelson, going all 10 rounds for the first time in her professional career.

June 22, 2018: Two-Weight World Champion

On June 22, 2018, Claressa Shields defeated Hanna Gabriel by unanimous decision to win the vacant WBA and inaugural IBF middleweight titles, becoming a two-weight world champion in the fewest professional bouts. She also experienced the first knockdown of her professional career and had her first fight under trainer John David Jackson.

December 8, 2018: HBO Debut

On December 8, 2018, Claressa Shields' fight against Femke Hermans aired on HBO, marking her first appearance on the network. She won by unanimous decision.

April 13, 2019: Undisputed Middleweight Champion

On April 13, 2019, Claressa Shields became the undisputed women's middleweight world champion, unifying the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO middleweight titles, along with The Ring magazine's inaugural middleweight belt, after defeating Christina Hammer by unanimous decision.

January 10, 2020: Won Titles in 3 Divisions

On January 10, 2020, Claressa Shields won by unanimous decision against Ivana Habazin, and became the fastest ever to win titles in 3 divisions male or female in history.

November 2020: Shields signs with Professional Fighters League

In November 2020, Claressa Shields signed a three-year contract with the Professional Fighters League to make her debut in mixed martial arts.

March 5, 2021: Undisputed Titles in Two Weight Classes

On March 5, 2021, Claressa Shields defeated Marie-Eve Dicaire by unanimous decision to retain her WBC and WBO super welterweight titles, claim IBF 154-pound belt, and vacant WBA light middleweight strap. With this win, she became the first boxer in the four-belt era to hold undisputed titles in two weight classes, and the first female boxer to be an undisputed champion in two weight classes. The fight took place in her hometown.

March 2021: Undisputed Light Middleweight Champion

In March 2021, Claressa Shields became the undisputed female light middleweight champion.

June 10, 2021: Shields' MMA Debut

On June 10, 2021, Claressa Shields made her MMA debut at PFL 4 against Brittney Elkin, winning the fight via technical knockout in round three.

July 12, 2021: Bout Rescheduled

On July 12, 2021, news surfaced that Claressa Shield's bout was rescheduled to take place on August 19, 2021, in order to garner more exposure at an ESPN-aired PFL 8 event.

August 19, 2021: Rescheduled Bout

On August 19, 2021, Claressa Shield's bout was planned to take place in order to garner more exposure at an ESPN-aired PFL 8 event.

August 27, 2021: PFL 9 Event

On August 27, 2021, Claressa Shield's second bout was initially scheduled to take place on the PFL 9 event, against an opponent yet to be named.

October 27, 2021: Shields vs. Montes

On October 27, 2021, Claressa Shields faced Abigail Montes at PFL 10, losing the bout via split decision.

2021: MMA Debut Planned

In 2021, after signing with Professional Fighters League, Claressa Shields was expected to make her mixed martial arts debut.

February 5, 2022: Retained WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring Titles

On February 5, 2022, Claressa Shields captured a unanimous decision against Ema Kozin and retained her WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring female middleweight titles while also winning the WBF female middleweight title.

June 3, 2023: Retained Undisputed Middleweight Title

On June 3, 2023, Claressa Shields defeated Maricela Cornejo by unanimous decision at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan to retain her undisputed middleweight title.

August 2023: Shields re-signs with PFL

In August 2023, Claressa Shields re-signed a multi-year contract with Professional Fighters League to continue competing in mixed martial arts.

February 24, 2024: Shields vs. DeSantis at PFL vs. Bellator

On February 24, 2024, Claressa Shields faced Kelsey DeSantis at PFL vs. Bellator. Shields won the bout via split decision after being unable to make the appropriate weight, forcing her opponent to fight up two weight classes at 165 pounds. The event marked the first professional MMA bout in Saudi Arabia featuring two women.

July 27, 2024: Won WBC Heavyweight Title

On July 27, 2024, Claressa Shields challenged Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for her WBC heavyweight title at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. Shields won the fight via second-round TKO, dropping Joanisse three times along the way.

February 2, 2025: Undisputed Heavyweight Championship

On February 2, 2025, Claressa Shields faced Danielle Perkins for the undisputed heavyweight championship at Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan. She won the bout by unanimous decision and became the only three-division undisputed champion, male or female, of the four-belt era, as well as the first female undisputed heavyweight champion ever.

February 2025: Undisputed Heavyweight Champion

In February 2025, Claressa Shields became the undisputed female heavyweight champion.

March 3, 2025: Vacated WBO Light Heavyweight Title

On March 3, 2025, Claressa Shields opted to vacate her WBO light heavyweight title as the organization doesn’t allow their champions to hold belts in two divisions simultaneously.

May 19, 2025: Shields Retires from MMA

On May 19, 2025, Claressa Shields announced her retirement from MMA.

July 26, 2025: Defended Undisputed Heavyweight Title

On July 26, 2025, Claressa Shields defended her undisputed heavyweight title against Lani Daniels in Detroit, MI. She defeated her by unanimous decision.

November 2025: Signing with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records

In November 2025, Claressa Shields signed a multi-fight deal with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, earning herself a guaranteed minimum of $8 million.

February 22, 2026: Shields vs Crews-Dezurn Rematch

On February 22, 2026, Claressa Shields defended her undisputed heavyweight title in a rematch against Franchón Crews-Dezurn at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 100–90 from all three judges. Shields outlanded Crews-Dezurn 226–106 in total punches, according to CompuBox.