Claressa Shields's Success and Achievements in Timeline
A closer look at the biggest achievements of Claressa Shields. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.
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.
2011: National PAL Championships Most Outstanding Female Fighter
In 2011, Claressa Shields was awarded Most Outstanding Female Fighter at the National PAL Championships.
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.
September 15, 2012: Key to the City of Flint, Michigan
On September 15, 2012, Claressa Shields received the Key to the City of Flint, Michigan.
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.
2012: U.S. Olympic Trials Outstanding Boxer of the Tournament
In 2012, Claressa Shields was recognized as the Outstanding Boxer of the Tournament at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
2013: WBAN Top Amateur (Youth) Elite Boxer of the Year
In 2013, Claressa Shields was honored as WBAN Top Amateur (Youth) Elite Boxer of the Year.
2013: AIBA Youth Woman Boxer of the Year
In 2013, Claressa Shields was named AIBA Youth Woman Boxer of the Year.
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.
2014: WBAN Top Amateur Boxer of the Year
In 2014, Claressa Shields was named WBAN Top Amateur Boxer of the Year.
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.
2015: USA Boxing Female Athlete of the Year
In 2015, Claressa Shields was honored as the USA Boxing Female Athlete of the Year.
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.
May 2016: Outstanding Boxer at the World Championships
In May 2016, Claressa Shields was awarded Outstanding Boxer at the World Championships.
August 2016: Val Barker Trophy at the Olympics
In August 2016, Claressa Shields was awarded the Val Barker Trophy, given to the most outstanding boxer of the Olympics.
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.
December 2016: Cover of The Ring Magazine
In December 2016, Claressa Shields became the third woman and second female boxer to grace the cover of "The Ring" magazine.
2016: Sportswoman of the Year by Women's Sports Foundation
In 2016, Claressa Shields was honored as the Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation.
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.
2017: USA Today Female Fighter of the Year
In 2017, Claressa Shields was named USA Today Female Fighter of the Year.
2017: Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Award
In 2017, Claressa Shields won the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Award for "Biggest Powerhouse."
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.
January 2018: Boxing Gloves Enshrined in International Boxing Hall of Fame
In January 2018, Claressa Shields' boxing gloves were enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
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.
2018: The Ring Female Fighter of the Year and Fight of the Year
In 2018, Claressa Shields was awarded both The Ring Female Fighter of the Year and Fight of the Year.
2018: Inducted into USA Boxing Alumni Association's Hall of Fame
In 2018, Claressa Shields was inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association's Hall of Fame.
2018: Christy Martin Award - Female Fighter of the Year
In 2018, the Boxing Writers Association of America gave Claressa Shields the Christy Martin Award for Female Fighter of the Year.
2018: Female Fighter of the Year
In 2018, the Boxing Writers Association of America named Claressa Shields the Female Fighter of the Year.
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.
December 2019: Sporting News' Female Boxer of the Decade
In December 2019, Claressa Shields was named Sporting News' Female Boxer of the Decade.
2019: Sportswoman of the Year by Women's Sports Foundation
In 2019, Claressa Shields was honored as the Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation.
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.
2020: BET Award for Sportswoman of the Year Nominee
In 2020, Claressa Shields was nominated for the BET Award for Sportswoman of the Year.
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.
March 2021: WBA Female Boxer of the Month
In March 2021, Claressa Shields was named WBA Female Boxer of the Month.
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.
2021: BET Award for Sportswoman of the Year Nominee
In 2021, Claressa Shields was nominated for the BET Award for Sportswoman of the Year.
2021: ESPN Mid-Year Awards Best Female Fighter
In 2021, Claressa Shields won the ESPN Mid-Year Awards Best Female Fighter.
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.
February 2022: WBA Fighter of the Month
In February 2022, Claressa Shields was named WBA Fighter of the Month.
June 19, 2022: Street Renamed in Flint, Michigan
On June 19, 2022, Claressa Shields' hometown city of Flint, Michigan, renamed a street in her honor.
2022: Female Fighter of the Year Again
In 2022, Claressa Shields was again named the Female Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
2022: ESPN Women's Fighter of the Year
In 2022, Claressa Shields was named ESPN Women's Fighter of the Year.
2022: Sporting News Women's Boxer of the Year
In 2022, Claressa Shields was named Sporting News Women's Boxer of the Year.
2023: Best Boxer ESPY Award
In 2023, Claressa Shields became the first woman to win the Best Boxer ESPY Award.
2023: Sportswoman of the Year by Women's Sports Foundation
In 2023, Claressa Shields was honored as the Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation.
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.
2024: WBC Performance of the Year
In 2024, the WBC awarded Claressa Shields the Performance of the Year for her victory against Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.
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.
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.
November 2025: Signed Multi-Fight Deal with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records
In November 2025, Claressa Shields signed a multi-fight deal with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, securing a guaranteed minimum of $8 million.
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