Claressa Shields: The New WBC Female Heavyweight Champ

The "GWOAT" is the desired moniker of the Flint, Michigan native. 

 

You will see it on the gold chain she wears around her neck as well as the license plate of her vehicle. 

 

Rightfully so?

 

One cannot deny Claressa Shields’ greatness in female boxing.

 

Sporting a nearly perfect amateur record with two Olympic gold medals, she followed that up by winning world titles in now a fourth weight class.  

 

"T-Rex" Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) added to her legacy in female boxing Saturday night defeating Quebec native Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-2, 2 KOs) with a stunning second-round TKO earning the WBC heavyweight title. 

 

An enthusiastic crowd at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena with DAZN cameras front and center, former champ Tommy Hearns and several other Kronk greats sat ringside with anticipation. 

 

Following an extravagant ring walk with Detroit rapper Dej Loaf providing hype with her lyrics, Shields wasted no time as the opening bell sounded. 

 

Towards the end of the opening stanza, she opened up a series of combinations starting with a hard left hook to the head, backing Lepage-Joanisse to the ropes.  

 

Joanisse looked for counters but was unsuccessful. 

 

Many felt this was a foreshadowing of what was to come in the ensuing round.

 

As the second round neared the midpoint, Shields, slipping and weaving under Lepage-Joanisse hooks and overhand rights, capitalized with a counter right hand that floored her. 

 

Two more sudden knockdowns from Shields’s right hands prompted referee Benjamin Rodriguez to stop the fight at 1:09 of the round. 

 

The celebration continued in the ring as well as the walk back to the dressing room, where many fans stood to greet their champion. 

 

Promoter Dmitriy Salita, manager Mark Taffet, and trainer John David Jackson will have some strategizing ahead of them as to what weight class she will campaign at moving forward.

 

You will probably see her again at heavyweight and possibly back down at 168 lbs.

 

The best possible matchup will lure her to either division.

 

Having covered her professional debut against current WBC 168-lb champ and friend Franchon Crews-Dezurn (also debuting) from ringside as well as her title defense of Ivana Habazin in Atlantic City, you can expect Shields to fight whoever is willing and ready. 

 

Female boxing has been on the rise thanks to Shields, also the Ring Magazine #1 lb for lb female, as well as a number of other champions and contenders providing much-needed spark to the sport. 

 

Many are still not sold on female boxing, however one cannot deny how far it has come with better days looming.