FLINT, MI — In 2016, after winning her second Olympic gold medal, Claressa Shields declared herself the “GWOAT”—the Greatest Woman of All Time. What began as a self-imposed title may now be undeniable.
On Sunday night, with thousands of fans packed into the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan, Shields solidified her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats, overcoming adversity to become boxing’s first-ever undisputed women’s heavyweight champion.
The historic homecoming fight nearly didn’t happen.
Just nine days before stepping into the ring, Shields suffered a torn labrum in her left shoulder, an injury that left her unable to lift her arm for days. Despite the setback, she pushed forward, determined not to let her hometown down.
“I really didn’t want to let Flint down,” Shields said after the fight. “I couldn’t really use my jab the way that I wanted to, but I did the best that I could… now I think I may have to have surgery.”
That determination carried her through ten grueling rounds against top-ranked contender Danielle Perkins. Though she couldn’t rely on her usual powerful jab, Shields adapted, unleashing a relentless assault of straight rights and overhand punches. She controlled the fight from the opening bell, landing precise shots and keeping Perkins on the defensive. In Round 3, an overhand right staggered Perkins, nearly securing an early stoppage, but Perkins showed resilience, absorbing the punishment and pressing forward.
As the fight wore on, Perkins attempted to rally. In Round 7, Shields landed a straight right that visibly hurt Perkins, forcing her into survival mode. Understanding she needed a knockout to win, Perkins became more aggressive in the final three rounds, trying to pressure Shields and turn the tide. But Shields remained composed, continuing to land clean, effective punches.
With seconds remaining in the tenth and final round, Perkins threw a slow left hand. Shields slipped the punch and countered with a sharp, perfectly timed right, sending Perkins crashing to the canvas. The crowd at Dort Financial Center erupted as Perkins struggled to regain her footing. The referee signaled for the action to resume just as the final bell rang, preventing Shields from securing the knockout.
Still, the scorecards reflected Shields’ dominance, with one judge awarding her every round, scoring the fight 100-89. Another gave her nine rounds, scoring it 99-90, while the third had it 97-92 in her favor.
With the victory, Shields (16-0, 3 KOs) secured another historic accolade, becoming the only three-division undisputed champion in the four-belt era—male or female. Fellow Flint native and professional boxer Andre Dirrell summed up her greatness: “Claressa’s unstoppable. There’s no girl who can match her. She is women’s boxing! She’s the greatest to ever do it.”
But her impact extends beyond boxing.
More than a champion, Shields is a symbol of resilience for Flint, a city that has faced its own battles. She continues to wear blue in her hair to raise awareness about the Flint water crisis, ensuring that the struggles of her community remain in the national conversation.
“I don’t care where I go, I represent Flint to the fullest,” Shields said. “I’ve been wearing my hair blue for the water crisis since the water crisis started. I really stand up for Flint. I come here and I’m always talking to the mayor about how we can make the city better.”
In return, Flint has always stood by her.
“Flint is a different type of place,” Shields said. “They are so supportive, they take you for who you are and they take me for my full package.”
Shields’ bond with her hometown was on full display. “Whenever I hit Danielle, I heard fireworks going off all over in the area,” Shields said. “I’ve fought many places, but there’s no place like fighting in Detroit and Flint. They have the best fans in the world. They always show up for me and make a lot of noise. There’s never a quiet round, and I just thank them for being so supportive and sticking behind me.”
With her name already written in the record books, the question remains: Is it even possible to top being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world? Her response was as straightforward as it gets.
“If anyone can do it, it’s me.”
As she looks ahead to the future, Shields is already eyeing new challenges, naming potential opponents such as Franchon Crews-Dezurn, Hanna Gabriels, Savannah Marshall, MMA icon Cris Cyborg, and even retired boxing legend Laila Ali.
While her next move is yet to be determined, one thing is certain—whether she’s fighting in the ring or fighting for her city, Claressa Shields continues to prove that she just may be the Great Woman Of All Time.
