Claressa Shields: The greatest woman of all time or GWOAT, if you prefer?
Self-appointed it must be stated.
Irish legend Katie Taylor, for one, might have something to say about that, but can Shields truly be considered the greatest until she has beaten the girl who is the only boxer to defeat her?
Punch-lines is not alone in thinking that, though the American’s latest achievement in unifying another weight category is one to salute.
Shields has to be ‘up there’ among the best after making history with a unanimous points romp against Marie-Eve Dicaire in their light-middleweight unification fight at the weekend when she became the first boxer – male or female – to be undisputed champion in two divisions in this four-belt era.
Her easy 100-90 (x3) victory in her hometown of Flint, Michigan, saw ‘T Rex’ retain her WBC and WBO belts and take the Canadian’s IBF and win the vacant WBA strap.
It added to her incredible amateur collection of two Olympic golds and two world crowns.
The only blemish for the woman, still just 25, was at the 2012 World Championships in China, where she was beaten 14-8 by Savannah Marshall, who took the gold medal.
It is a re-match which simply has to happen and is likely to be the biggest female fight of all time.
Negotiations might not be straight forward judging by some of the numbers Shields was talking in her high-octane post-fight ring interview after her dominant night’s work against her previously undefeated Canadian opponent who, reportedly, landed only 31 punches in 10 rounds.
Claressa’s claims of greatness would have no credibility if a middleweight unification contest with Hartlepool’s ‘Silent Assassin’, the owner of the WBO belt, did not take place.
Shields is not short of self-belief that’s for sure and was on the front foot, verbally at least, after her weekend triumph, with an F-word feast which would rival Eddie Murphy in his pomp. Here’s what she said in the ring.
“Savannah Marshall can’t f … with me,” she said. “Let’s keep it real.
“Savannah Marshall, you won a lucky decision when we were kids. If you want to gloat about beating me 14 points to 8 come on now – I went on to become world champion in three different divisions and you broke.
“She knows she cannot and will not ever be able to f … with me.
“She can come to America. I can go to the UK. We can go to Mexico. We can go anywhere, and I will f … her up, literally. She knows that.
“She’s scared of me. Tell Eddie Hearn, he came that whack-ass 250,000 dollars.
“Tell him to come with 500K… 750K if he wants me to go to the UK and smoke his girl. Pay me!”
Good job it wasn’t on Sky, the excellent Andy Scott would have had to apologise multiple times for the bad language!
But if, hopefully when, it happens, it’s going to be great.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Mark Robinson./ Matchroom
