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 decorated American professional boxer and former mixed martial artist. She has won 18 major world championships across five weight classes, achieving undisputed titles in both light middleweight and middleweight divisions. Shields holds records for being the fastest to become a two, three, four, and five-division world champion in professional boxing. She held the WBC and IBF female super middleweight titles, the WBO female light heavyweight title, and the undisputed female heavyweight title. Currently, she is ranked as the world's best active female light heavyweight by BoxRec and is considered the best active female boxer, pound for pound, by ESPN and The Ring.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2010: Andrecia Wasson Wins World Championship

In 2010, Andrecia Wasson was the world champion, whom Claressa Shields would later defeat at the 2012 Olympic Trials.

2011: National Police Athletic League Championship

In 2011, 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: Women's Elite Continental Championships Winner

In April 2012, Shields won her weight class at the Women's Elite Continental Championships in Cornwall, Ontario against three-time defending world champion Mary Spencer of Canada; she held an undefeated record of 25 wins and 0 losses at that point.

October 2012: Second National PAL Championships

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, aged 17, Claressa Shields won the gold medal in the women's middleweight division after beating veteran Russian boxer Nadezda Torlopova 19–12. This made her the first American woman to win a boxing gold medal.

2013: IBA Youth World Boxing Championships Gold

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

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: American Wins 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: Shields Defends U.S. National Championship

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

May 2016: Shields Wins Gold at World Championships

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

November 2016: Shields Goes Pro

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

2016: Shields Wins Second Olympic Gold Medal

In 2016, Shields won a gold medal in the women's middleweight division at the Olympics, making her the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals.

March 10, 2017: NABF Middleweight Title Victory

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

June 16, 2017: Shields Headlines "Detroit Brawl"

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

January 12, 2018: Shields Retains Titles, Wins WBAN Title

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. It was Shields' first time going all 10 rounds in her professional career.

June 22, 2018: Two-Weight World Champion

On June 22, 2018, in just her sixth professional fight, Claressa Shields defeated Hanna Gabriel by unanimous decision, winning the vacant WBA and inaugural IBF middleweight belts, breaking the record for becoming a two-weight world champion in the fewest professional fights.

December 8, 2018: HBO Debut

On December 8, 2018, Claressa Shields' fight aired on HBO, her first appearance on the network. She faced Femke Hermans and 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.

October 5, 2019: Fight Postponed

On October 5, 2019, Claressa Shields' scheduled fight against Ivana Habazin for the vacant WBO junior middleweight title in Flint, Michigan, was postponed due to Habazin's trainer being attacked at the weigh in.

January 10, 2020: Won Junior Middleweight Title

On January 10, 2020, Claressa Shields faced Ivana Habazin for the vacant WBO junior middleweight title and won by unanimous decision, becoming 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 Professional Fighters League and was expected to make her mixed martial arts debut in 2021.

March 5, 2021: First Boxer to Hold 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 the 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.

March 2021: Shields Undisputed Female Light Middleweight Champion

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

June 10, 2021: MMA Debut at PFL 4

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 for August 19, 2021

On July 12, 2021, news surfaced that Claressa Shields' bout, initially scheduled for August 27, 2021, was rescheduled to take place on August 19, 2021, to garner more exposure at an ESPN-aired PFL 8 event.

August 19, 2021: Bout Rescheduled Again

Originally scheduled for August 27, 2021, then moved to August 19, 2021, the bout was eventually rescheduled for PFL 10 on October 27, 2021.

August 27, 2021: Scheduled Second Bout at PFL 9

On August 27, 2021, Claressa Shields was initially scheduled for her second bout at the PFL 9 event; however, the bout was later rescheduled.

October 27, 2021: Loss to Abigail Montes at PFL 10

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

2021: Expected MMA Debut

In 2021, Claressa Shields was expected to make her mixed martial arts debut, following her signing with the Professional Fighters League in November 2020.

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

On February 5, 2022, Claressa Shields captured a unanimous decision over Ema Kozin with all referees scoring every round for her, and retained her WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring female middleweight titles meanwhile winning the WBF female middleweight title also.

September 10, 2022: Title Bout Postponed

On September 10, 2022, Claressa Shields' title unification bout with Savannah Marshall was postponed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

October 15, 2022: Rescheduled Title Bout

On October 15, 2022, the title unification bout between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall took place after being postponed from September 10, 2022.

June 3, 2023: Retains 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: Re-Signed with Professional Fighters League

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: Fight Against Kelsey DeSantis at PFL vs. Bellator

On February 24, 2024, Claressa Shields faced Kelsey DeSantis at PFL vs. Bellator. She was unable to make weight, leading her opponent to fight up two weight classes, and Shields won the bout via split decision.

July 27, 2024: Wins 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, also claiming the vacant WBF heavyweight and WBO light heavyweight titles.

February 2, 2025: Three-Division Undisputed Champion

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

February 2025: Shields Undisputed Female Heavyweight Champion

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

March 3, 2025: Vacates 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: Retirement from MMA

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

July 26, 2025: Defends Undisputed Heavyweight Title

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

August 12, 2025: Ranked Best Active Female Light Heavyweight

As of August 12, 2025, Claressa Shields is ranked the world's best active female light heavyweight by BoxRec, and the best active female boxer, pound for pound, by ESPN and The Ring.