History of Claressa Shields in Timeline
Claressa Maria Shields is an American professional boxer and mixed martial artist with an impressive record. She has held multiple world championships across three weight classes: undisputed female light middleweight, undisputed female middleweight, and unified WBC and IBF female super middleweight. Notably, she holds the record for achieving two and three division world championships in the fewest professional fights. Leading sports publications such as BoxRec, ESPN, and The Ring consistently rank her among the best active female boxers in the world.
March 17, 1995: Birth of Claressa Shields
Claressa Maria Shields was born on March 17, 1995. This date marks the beginning of her journey to becoming a celebrated figure in the world of boxing.
2010: Franchón Crews-Dezurn's Reign as National Champion
Franchón Crews-Dezurn held the title of national champion in 2010, a testament to her skills and accomplishments in boxing.
April 2011: Victory at Women's Elite Continental Championships
In April 2011, Claressa Shields showcased her exceptional talent by winning her weight class at the Women's Elite Continental Championships in Cornwall, Ontario. She defeated the three-time defending world champion, Mary Spencer of Canada, adding another significant victory to her undefeated record of 25 wins and 0 losses.
February 2012: Youngest Boxer at US Olympic Trials
In February 2012, a young Claressa Shields participated in the U.S. Olympic Trials, becoming the youngest boxer at the event. Her determination and talent were evident as she emerged victorious in the 165 lb (75 kg) middleweight division.
May 2012: Early Life and Introduction to Boxing
In May 2012, Claressa Shields was a high school junior in Flint, Michigan. During this time, she was introduced to boxing by her father, Bo Shields, who had experience in underground leagues. Although initially hesitant, Bo eventually supported Claressa's passion for the sport. She began her boxing journey at Berston Field House in Flint, where she met her coach, Jason Crutchfield. Her grandmother played a pivotal role in encouraging her to defy gender stereotypes.
2012: Olympic Gold Medalist
At the young age of 17, Claressa Shields made history at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She became the first American woman to win a boxing gold medal after a remarkable victory over veteran Russian boxer Nadezda Torlopova.
2012: National Police Athletic League Championships and Olympic Trials
Claressa Shields's boxing journey gained momentum in 2012 as she competed in the National Police Athletic League Championships. She emerged victorious in the middleweight title and was recognized as the top overall fighter. This accomplishment secured her qualification for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
2012: AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships
Claressa Shields's path to the 2012 Olympics involved the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao, China. Her performance in this competition played a crucial role in determining her Olympic qualification.
2014: World and Pan American Games Champion
Claressa Shields continued her winning streak in 2014 by claiming the World Championship gold medal. That same year, she achieved another historic feat by becoming the first American to win titles in women's boxing at both the Olympics and Pan American Games. In recognition of her exceptional performance in the Pan American Games, she was chosen as Team USA's flag bearer for the closing ceremony, a testament to her athletic achievements and inspiring journey.
2014: Attempt to Adopt Cousin's Daughter
In 2014, Claressa Shields endeavored to adopt her cousin's daughter.
2015: Documentary Release
A documentary film about Claressa Shields titled "T-Rex: Her Fight for Gold" was released in 2015.
November 2016: Professional Debut
In November 2016, Claressa Shields embarked on a new chapter in her boxing career by turning professional. She marked her debut with a unanimous decision victory over Franchón Crews-Dezurn, showcasing her skills and determination in the professional arena.
2016: Second Olympic Gold Medal
Claressa Shields solidified her place in boxing history in 2016 by winning her second gold medal at the Olympics. This remarkable accomplishment showcased her unwavering dedication and exceptional abilities in the ring.
2016: Olympic Qualification and Second Gold Medal
On her 21st birthday, Claressa Shields secured her spot at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio by winning the gold medal at the AMBC Olympic Qualifying tournament in Argentina. She defeated Dominican Republic's Yenebier Guillen in a decisive final bout. Later that year, she once again proved her dominance by winning the gold medal in the women's middleweight division, defeating Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands. Her exceptional performance earned her the inaugural women's division of the Val Barker Trophy at the competition, adding to her growing list of accolades. This victory also marked her as the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic titles, solidifying her legacy as a boxing legend.
2016: Biopic Rights Acquired
Universal Pictures acquired the rights to produce a biographical film about Claressa Shields' life in 2016. Barry Jenkins was chosen to write the screenplay.
March 10, 2017: North American Boxing Federation Middleweight Title
On March 10, 2017, Claressa Shields made history by headlining a boxing event on ShoBox, marking the first time a women's boxing bout was the main event on a United States premium network card. She faced Szilvia Szabados for the North American Boxing Federation middleweight title and emerged victorious with a TKO, further solidifying her dominance in the sport.
June 16, 2017: "Detroit Brawl"
Claressa Shields continued to showcase her skills on June 16, 2017, headlining the "Detroit Brawl" against Sydney LeBlanc. Originally scheduled to face Mery Rancier, LeBlanc stepped in as a last-minute replacement due to visa issues. Despite the change, Shields maintained her composure and secured a decisive victory after eight rounds.
August 4, 2017: WBC and IBF Super-Middleweight Champion
On August 4, 2017, Claressa Shields added two more championship belts to her collection by defeating defending champion Nikki Adler at the MGM Grand Detroit. The fight, broadcast on Showtime, saw Shields claim the WBC super-middleweight belt and the vacant IBF super-middleweight belt after a dominant performance that led to a 5th-round TKO.
2017: Kids Choice Sports Award
Claressa Shields received the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Award for "Biggest Powerhouse" in 2017.
2017: Unified WBC and IBF Female Super Middleweight Titles
In 2017, Claressa Shields achieved a remarkable feat by securing the unified WBC and IBF female super middleweight titles, demonstrating her exceptional boxing skills and determination.
January 12, 2018: WBAN Super Middleweight Title
On January 12, 2018, Claressa Shields faced the challenge of undefeated boxer Tori Nelson, putting her WBC and IBF female super middleweight titles on the line. In a grueling match that went the full 10 rounds for the first time in Shields' professional career, she emerged victorious, adding the WBAN super-middleweight title to her growing list of accomplishments.
June 22, 2018: Two-Weight World Champion
On June 22, 2018, Claressa Shields achieved a historic feat by becoming a two-weight world champion in just her sixth professional fight, breaking the record previously held by Vasyl Lomachenko. She faced Hanna Gabriel and secured a unanimous decision victory, adding the vacant WBA and inaugural IBF middleweight belts to her collection. Despite experiencing her first knockdown in Round 1, Shields demonstrated resilience and determination, showcasing her adaptability by dropping down from 168 pounds to 160 for the fight. This marked her first fight with trainer John David Jackson, following her previous partnership with Jason Crutchfield.
December 8, 2018: HBO Debut
Claressa Shields's rising star power was evident on December 8, 2018, as she made her debut on HBO, a significant milestone in her career. She faced Femke Hermans and delivered an impressive performance, outboxing her opponent throughout all 10 rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory. Notably, this fight was part of the last boxing card to air on HBO.
2018: Hall of Fame Induction and Award Recognition
Claressa Shields had two significant honors bestowed upon her in 2018. She was inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association's Hall of Fame and received the Christy Martin Award for Female Fighter of the Year from the Boxing Writers Association of America.
2018: End of Unified WBC and IBF Female Super Middleweight Titles
Claressa Shields's reign as the unified WBC and IBF female super middleweight champion ended in 2018.
2018: Female Fighter of the Year
In recognition of her outstanding achievements and contributions to the sport, Claressa Shields was honored as the Female Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2018.
2018: Walmart Ad Appearance
Claressa Shields appeared in a Walmart advertisement directed by Dee Rees in 2018.
April 13, 2019: Undisputed Women's Middleweight Champion
On April 13, 2019, Claressa Shields etched her name in boxing history once again by becoming the undisputed women's middleweight world champion. She faced Christina Hammer in a highly anticipated match and delivered a near-shutout performance, securing a unanimous decision victory with two judges scoring the bout 98–91 and the third judge scoring it 98–92. With this victory, Shields unified the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO middleweight titles, adding The Ring magazine's inaugural middleweight belt to her collection.
October 5, 2019: Fight Postponement
Claressa Shield's scheduled fight against Ivana Habazin for the WBO junior middleweight title in Flint, Michigan was postponed because Habazin's trainer was assaulted during the weigh-in on October 5, 2019.
2019: Undisputed Female Middleweight Champion
Claressa Shields's reign as the undisputed female middleweight champion began in 2019, showcasing her dominance and solidifying her status as a top athlete in the sport.
January 10, 2020: Historic Win Against Ivana Habazin
On January 10, 2020, Claressa Shields fought Ivana Habazin at the sold-out Atlantic boardwalk hall with an all-female ring. Shields won by unanimous decision, becoming the fastest boxer in history, male or female, to win titles in three weight divisions.
November 2020: Signing with Professional Fighters League and MMA Training
Claressa Shields signed a three-year contract with the Professional Fighters League in November 2020, marking her entry into mixed martial arts. In preparation for her MMA debut, she began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the guidance of IBJJF no-gi World Champion Roberto Alencar and also joined JacksonWink MMA for training.
2020: End of Undisputed Female Middleweight Reign
Claressa Shields's reign as the undisputed female middleweight champion came to an end in 2020.
March 5, 2021: Undisputed Champion in Two Weight Divisions
Claressa Shields defeated Marie-Eve Dicaire by unanimous decision on March 5, 2021, in her hometown. This victory allowed her to retain her WBC and WBO super welterweight titles, claim the IBF 154-pound belt, and the vacant WBA light middleweight title. This made her the first world champion boxer in the four-belt era to simultaneously hold undisputed titles in two weight classes.
March 2021: Undisputed Female Light Middleweight Title
In March 2021, Claressa Shields achieved a significant milestone by securing the undisputed female light middleweight title, adding another layer to her legacy as a boxing champion.
June 10, 2021: MMA Debut and Victory
On June 10, 2021, Claressa Shields made her highly anticipated MMA debut at PFL 4 against Brittney Elkin, securing a TKO victory in the third round.
July 12, 2021: Rescheduling for More Exposure
On July 12, 2021, it was announced that Claressa Shields' upcoming fight, originally slated for August 27, 2021, would be moved to August 19, 2021, at the ESPN-broadcasted PFL 8 event for enhanced visibility.
August 19, 2021: Second Fight Rescheduled Again
Claressa Shields' second MMA fight, initially planned for August 27, 2021, then moved to August 19, 2021, was rescheduled once again.
August 27, 2021: Second MMA Fight Scheduling
Claressa Shields' second MMA fight was initially planned for the PFL 9 event on August 27, 2021, with the opponent yet to be determined.
October 27, 2021: Loss to Abigail Montes
On October 27, 2021, at PFL 10, Claressa Shields faced Abigail Montes in her second MMA fight. She lost the fight by split decision.
2021: Anticipated MMA Debut
Claressa Shields was expected to make her MMA debut in 2021 following her signing with the Professional Fighters League.
February 5, 2022: Victory Against Ema Kozin
Claressa Shields secured a unanimous decision victory against Ema Kozin on February 5, 2022, successfully defending her WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring female middleweight titles while also claiming the WBF female middleweight title.
May 2022: Biopic Distribution Rights Acquired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
After Universal Pictures put the project on hold, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer secured the distribution rights for the Claressa Shields biopic, "Flint Strong," in May 2022. The film is set to be directed by Rachel Morrison and will star Ryan Destiny as Shields.
September 10, 2022: Fight Postponement Due to Queen's Death
Claressa Shield's title unification bout against Savannah Marshall, initially scheduled for September 10, 2022, was postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
October 2022: Ranked World's Best
As of October 2022, Claressa Shields's exceptional skills and dominance in boxing earned her top rankings. She was recognized as the world's best active female middleweight by BoxRec, and the best active female boxer, pound for pound, by ESPN and The Ring.
October 15, 2022: Rescheduled Fight Against Savannah Marshall
The title unification fight between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall, initially planned for September 10, 2022, was rescheduled to October 15, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
August 2023: Re-signing with the PFL
In August 2023, Claressa Shields committed to continuing her MMA career by signing a new multi-year contract with the Professional Fighters League.
February 24, 2024: Victory Against Kelsey DeSantis
Claressa Shields faced Kelsey DeSantis at PFL vs. Bellator on February 24, 2024. Due to Shields missing weight, DeSantis had to move up two weight classes, making the fight at 165 pounds. Shields won by split decision.