History of Claressa Shields in Timeline
Claressa Shields is an American professional boxer and former mixed martial artist, achieving remarkable success in boxing. She has secured 18 major world championships across five weight classes, holding undisputed titles in light middleweight and middleweight divisions, as well as titles in super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. Shields holds the record for the fewest professional fights to become a two, three, four and five-division world champion. As of August 2025, she is ranked as the world's best active female light heavyweight and the best active female boxer, pound for pound, by ESPN and The Ring.
March 17, 1995: Claressa Shields Born
On March 17, 1995, Claressa Maria Shields was born. She is an American professional boxer and former professional mixed martial artist.
2010: Andrecia Wasson Becomes World Champion
In 2010, Andrecia Wasson became world champion. Claressa Shields later defeated her at the 2012 Olympic Trials.
2011: Wins 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: Wins U.S. Olympic Trials
In February 2012, Claressa Shields, the youngest boxer at the U.S. Olympic Trials, won the event in the 165 lb (75 kg) middleweight division.
April 2012: Wins Women's Elite Continental Championships
In April 2012, Claressa Shields won her weight class at the Women's Elite Continental Championships in Cornwall, Ontario against Mary Spencer of Canada.
May 2012: High School Junior
In May 2012, Claressa Shields was a high school junior in Flint, Michigan.
October 2012: Wins 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: Wins Olympic Gold Medal
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Claressa Shields won the gold medal in the women's middleweight division, becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing.
2012: Olympic Qualification
Following Shields' victory at the U.S. Olympic Trials, in 2012 it was initially reported that she would need only a top-8 finish at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, in order to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.
2013: Wins IBA Youth World Boxing Championships
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: Wins Pan American Olympic Festival
In June 2014, Claressa Shields beat Yenebier Guillén in the finals of the Pan American Olympic Festival and took home gold at middleweight.
2014: Attempted Adoption
In 2014, Claressa Shields attempted to adopt her cousin's daughter.
2015: 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, and served as Team USA's flag bearer at the closing ceremony.
2015: Defends Gold at U.S. National Championships
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 pursuit of becoming the first woman to win a gold medal in Olympic boxing.
May 2016: Wins Gold at World Championships
In May 2016, Claressa Shields defeated Nouchka Fontijn by unanimous decision to win gold at the World Championships.
July 2016: Featured in ESPN The Magazine's The Body Issue
In July 2016, Claressa Shields was featured as an athlete in ESPN The Magazine's The Body Issue.
November 2016: Goes Pro
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".
2016: Wins Second Olympic Gold Medal
In 2016, Claressa Shields won her second gold medal in the women's middleweight division at the Olympics, making her the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals.
2016: Universal Pictures Acquires Rights for Film
In 2016, Universal Pictures, a division of Comcast, acquired the rights to produce a film about Claressa Shields' life story.
March 10, 2017: Wins NABF Middleweight Title
On March 10, 2017, Claressa Shields faced Szilvia Szabados for the North American Boxing Federation middleweight title and won by TKO in 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: Headlines "Detroit Brawl"
On June 16, 2017, Claressa Shields headlined the "Detroit Brawl," facing Sydney LeBlanc and winning by decision after all eight rounds.
August 4, 2017: Wins WBC and IBF Super-Middleweight Belts
On August 4, 2017, Claressa Shields defeated Nikki Adler by 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: 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 in her first 10-round professional fight.
June 22, 2018: Wins WBA and IBF Middleweight Titles
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 her sixth professional fight and working with trainer John David Jackson.
December 8, 2018: First HBO Appearance
On December 8, 2018, Claressa Shields' fight aired on HBO as part of the network's last boxing card, where she defeated Femke Hermans by unanimous decision.
2018: Walmart Ad Appearance
In 2018, Claressa Shields acted in a Walmart ad directed by Dee Rees.
2018: Female Fighter of the Year
In 2018, the Boxing Writers Association of America named Claressa Shields Female Fighter of the Year.
April 13, 2019: Becomes 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 an attack on Habazin's trainer at the weigh-in.
January 10, 2020: Wins 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 (PFL) to make her debut in mixed martial arts (MMA).
March 5, 2021: Becomes First Two-Division Undisputed Champion
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, becoming the first boxer in the four-belt era to hold undisputed titles in two weight classes.
March 2021: Shields Becomes Undisputed Light Middleweight Champion
In March 2021, Claressa Shields became the undisputed female light middleweight titleholder.
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 the third round.
July 12, 2021: Bout Rescheduled for PFL 8
On July 12, 2021, news surfaced that Claressa Shields' bout was rescheduled to take place on August 19, 2021, at an ESPN-aired PFL 8 event to garner more exposure.
August 19, 2021: Rescheduled PFL 8 Event
On August 19, 2021, Claressa Shields' bout was to take place at an ESPN-aired PFL 8 event, after being rescheduled to garner more exposure.
August 27, 2021: Bout Initially Scheduled for PFL 9
Claressa Shields' second bout was initially scheduled to take place on August 27, 2021, at the PFL 9 event, with her opponent yet to be announced.
October 27, 2021: Shields vs. Montes at PFL 10
On October 27, 2021, Claressa Shields faced Abigail Montes at PFL 10 and lost the bout via split decision.
2021: Diet and Interview
In 2021, Claressa Shields initially followed a pescatarian diet, and later was seen eating meat in an interview with Mythical Kitchen.
February 5, 2022: Retains Titles and Wins WBF Title
On February 5, 2022, Claressa Shields captured a unanimous decision against Ema Kozin, retaining her WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring female middleweight titles and winning the WBF female middleweight title.
June 19, 2022: Street Renamed in Her Honor
On June 19, 2022, Claressa Shields' hometown city of Flint, Michigan, renamed a street in her honor.
September 10, 2022: Title Bout Postponed
On September 10, 2022, Claressa Shields' title unification bout against Savannah Marshall was initially scheduled but 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, initially scheduled for September 10, took place.
2022: Female Fighter of the Year
In 2022, the Boxing Writers Association of America named Claressa Shields Female Fighter of the Year.
August 2023: Shields Re-signs with PFL
In August 2023, Claressa Shields re-signed a multi-year contract with the 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, although she was unable to make the appropriate weight for her fight with DeSantis, forcing her opponent to fight up two weight classes, with the bout taking place at 165 pounds. This was the first professional MMA bout in Saudi Arabia featuring two women.
July 2024: Ranked Best Female Boxer of the 21st Century
In July 2024, ESPN ranked Claressa Shields as the best female boxer of the 21st century.
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, and won the fight via second-round TKO, also claiming the vacant WBF heavyweight and WBO light heavyweight titles.
2024: Secret Relationship with Papoose
In 2024, it was revealed that Claressa Shields was in a secret relationship with Brooklyn rapper Papoose.
2024: Release of "The Fire Inside"
In 2024, the film about Claressa Shields' life story, produced by Universal Pictures, was released as "The Fire Inside", with Ryan Destiny portraying Shields.
February 2, 2025: Becomes Only 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, becoming 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: Shields Wins Undisputed Heavyweight Title
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 because 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 defended her undisputed heavyweight title against Lani Daniels in Detroit, MI. She defeated her by unanimous decision.
August 12, 2025: Ranked Best 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.
November 2025: Deal with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records
In November 2025, Claressa Shields signed a multi-fight deal with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, earning a guaranteed minimum of $8 million.
2025: Public Appearance with Papoose
In 2025, Claressa Shields' relationship with Papoose became public knowledge, and the two were spotted together at Hawaii Fest.
February 22, 2026: Shields vs. Crews-Dezurn Rematch
On February 22, 2026, Claressa Shields defended her undisputed heavyweight title against Franchón Crews-Dezurn in a rematch at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. Shields won by unanimous decision with scores of 100-90 from all three judges, outlanding Crews-Dezurn 226-106 in total punches according to CompuBox.
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