Claressa Shields cemented her legacy in boxing history Sunday night. The self-proclaimed “GWOAT” dominated Danielle Perkins in front of her hometown crowd.
Historic Victory in Hometown Arena
Fighting at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan, Shields secured a unanimous decision victory. The judges’ scorecards read 100-89, 97-92, and 99-90.
The win improved Shields’ perfect record to 16-0 with three knockouts. Perkins suffered her first professional loss in five fights.
CompuBox stats highlighted Shields’ dominance. She connected on 29% of her punches and 36% of her power shots.
Multiple Championship Records Shattered
Shields now holds the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles. The heavyweight division in women’s boxing starts at 175 pounds.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist added these belts to her collection. She previously won championships at super welterweight, middleweight, and super middleweight.
This victory makes her the only three-division undisputed champion, male or female, in the four-belt era.
Overcoming Injury for Victory
Shields revealed she fought through a serious shoulder injury. The champion nearly postponed the fight due to a torn labrum.
“I actually think I’m going to have to have surgery on my left arm,” Shields disclosed post-fight. She couldn’t lift her arm for days.
Despite the injury limiting her jab, Shields persevered. “I didn’t want to let Flint down,” she explained after her historic win.
Dominant Performance Statistics
Shields controlled the fight from start to finish. Her 29% punch connection rate far exceeded Perkins’ 19%.
The champion’s power punches proved especially effective. She landed 36% of these decisive blows throughout the bout.
These statistics underscore the commanding nature of Shields’ victory. Perkins struggled to mount significant offense against the champion.