FLINT, Mich. – Flint native Claressa Shields just keeps winning. She already has the awards and accolades to be recognized as the “G.W.O.A.T.” (Greatest Woman of All Time) but continues to add to her legacy.
The 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medalist and three-division undisputed champion won an ESPY Award for “Best Boxer,” beating out notable competitors including Devin Haney, Gervonte Davis, and Shakur Stevenson.
The ESPY Awards -- short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly awards -- is an event honoring the top athletes and sports performances of the year. The “Best Boxer” winner was announced Tuesday in Hollywood, California.
Shields’ performances in her last two fights are what led to her being awarded the ESPY.
In October 2022, Shields travelled to the United Kingdom to fight longtime rival Savannah Marshall. The two met a decade after their first meeting as amateurs. Marshall defeated Shields in the 2012 AIBA Women’s World Championships, which is the only loss of Shields’ career.
Shields avenged that loss, outpointing Marshall in a unanimous decision victory, using speed and movement to land clean, eye-catching punches. Shields became the first boxer in history to be crowned a three-time undisputed world champion. The fight drew over 2 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s professional boxing event in history.
In June 2023, Shields returned to her home state of Michigan to defend her titles against challenger Maricela Cornejo. Shields was supposed to fight Hanna Gabriels, the only fighter to knock Shields down in her pro career, but Gabriels tested positive for a banned substance and Cornejo stepped in to replace her.
Whether it was walking to the ring with Detroit rapper Kashdoll or sporting the iconic Cartier “Buffs” glasses, Shields made sure to put on a show for the hometown crowd. A total of 11,784 fans flocked to Little Caesars Arena to witness a one-sided beatdown. Shields swept the cards on all three judges’ scorecards, landing several power punches in every round.
Shields has been on a seven-year run of dominance as a professional boxer and is seemingly just now getting the recognition she deserves. Fortunately, “The G.W.O.A.T” is showing no signs of slowing down.