Claressa Shields has cemented her legacy in boxing history by joining Roy Jones Jr. as the only two boxers in more than a century to capture both middleweight and heavyweight titles.
Shields achieved this remarkable feat by knocking out WBC heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse early in the second round on Saturday night, securing titles in her fourth and fifth weight divisions.
Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, moved up two weight classes to fight at 175 pounds as a light heavyweight, simultaneously claiming Lepage-Joanisse’s heavyweight belt.
Her previous titles were at 154, 160, and 168 pounds. This latest victory underscores her status as one of the greatest athletes across all sports.
“What I’ve been able to do in my career, from the amateur to the pros, I’m definitely top five,” Shields said according to the Associated Press. “If you want to put me up there next to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Serena Williams, Muhammad Ali. I’m definitely in that conversation.”
Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) showcased her dominance from the outset, ending the first round with a series of combinations.
She continued her assault in the second round, landing a flurry of shots that sent Lepage-Joanisse down for the third and final time just 1:09 into the round.
Lepage-Joanisse (22-3-1) was on the defensive from the start, unable to withstand Shields’ relentless attack.
This fight marked Shields’ return to the ring since defending her undisputed middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Maricela Cornejo nearly 14 months ago. In the interim, she also improved her MMA record to 2-1 in February.
Shields prepared for the bout by gaining 15 pounds and then trimming down to just under 175 pounds.
“I was able to eat a lot of pho,” she said, highlighting the dietary freedom she enjoyed during training camp.
She sparred against men, including one who weighs 190 pounds, and made significant changes to her strength and conditioning program to ensure she was ready to face Lepage-Joanisse.
“Looking at Vanessa in her fights, she pushed girls back because her legs are very strong,” Shields explained while promoting the fight during a visit to the Detroit Lions training camp. “We made sure I have the power in my legs to push her back, and not get pushed back, and also really worked on the strength in my arms.”
Shields’ boxing accomplishments are extensive. She won gold medals in the women’s middleweight division at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, becoming the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals since 2004.
Last October, she was named Sportswoman of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation.
The fight, held at Little Caesars Arena, drew a significant crowd, with the floor and lower level seats nearly sold out. Notable attendees included Thomas Hearns, known as “The Hitman,” who watched from a front-row seat next to Jackie Kallen, the first female manager inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
The event also featured other notable bouts. Michel Rivera (26-1) of the Dominican Republic won a split decision against Hugo Alberto Roldan of Argentina, and Julian Smith improved to 9-2 with a split-decision victory over Shohjahon Ergashev (24-1) of Uzbekistan.
Smith, a deaf boxer from the Chicago area, hopes his performance will inspire others and show that hearing loss is not an obstacle in the ring.
