Claressa Shields Makes Heavyweight History Sunday In Flint, Michigan

Claressa Shields joined Oleksandr Usyk as only the second person in the four-belt era to become the world unified, undisputed heavyweight champion, and the first woman to do so.

Shields of Flint, Michigan (16-0, 3 KOs)  did it in front of her hometown fans at the Dort Financial Center by defeating Danielle Perkins of Houston (5-1, 2 KOs). Scores were 100-89, 99-90, and 97-92.

Shields defended her WBC and WBO World Heavyweight titles and added the vacant IBF and WBO World Heavyweight titles with the victory. Shields also became the first three-division undisputed champion in the four-belt era of boxing. Among those looking on in Flint was two-division unified, undisputed champion Terence Crawford. He would become the first male boxer to unify a third division if he fights and defeats Canelo Alvarez.

“I feel overwhelmed. I feel so happy. And, you know, shout out to my opponent, Danielle Perkins, man, that girl was strong as hell,” said Shields.

Shields Overcomes Injury, Destroys Perkins

Shields revealed she tore a ligament in her left shoulder days before the fight, crediting her physical therapy team for getting her into the ring to perform Sunday.

Shields used her speed, footwork, accuracy, and ring IQ advantage to take Perkins’ size advantage away from her. She was economical with her offense, firing when created an opening or countered Perkins.

Perkins showed no fear of her friend by coming forward from the opening bell. She loomed over Shields and the size difference was almost shocking. Shields remained patient and watchful, stalking Perkins with respect for her size and power.

“I knew she would be a little bit, you know, more stronger than what I thought. But I know I can get the job done, said Shields. “And I did.”

Even as a one-handed fighter, Shields’ overhand right is a powerful weapon. In the third round, Shields caught Perkins with a hard overhand right, rocking the bigger woman. Shields came at her with everything she had. Perkins was in serious trouble but finished the two-minute round on her feet.

Shields’ right hand couldn’t miss all night. Her corner advised her not to rush. Shields rocked Perkins again at the end of the seventh round, and a brief, but wild firefight ensued, with the Flint fans roaring in approval.

In the ninth round, Perkins finally used her size to try and smother Shields. Shields backed her up with a hard, straight left hand, followed by chopping right hands. Perkins kept up the bullying, but Shields remained in control of the fight.

Sensing they were seeing history in the making, the 5,000-plus fans in Flint were on their feet for the tenth and final round. Shields wanted to deliver a knockout for them.

She nearly did it, dropping Perkins with a wicked right hand on the button, perfectly timed, with ten seconds left in the fight. Perkins managed to get to her feet and deny Shields her knockout win. But it hardly mattered.

“I thought I was a bigger puncher. I was a better boxer. I dropped her to me. I dropped her twice, to be honest, and the last, when I seen it, I just like, umm, give it to her. And I dropped her in the last round, which I knew I could do it, because I’m really strong at heavyweight,” said Shields.

Say what you will about the level of competition, someone must be number one and earn the top spot. Shields stands at the top of the division, and at age 29, she and promoter Dmitriy Salita need to get creative and be willing to follow the competition across weight divisions.

Shields says she wants to fight at least twice more in 2025, naming rematches with WBC World light heavyweight champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn, and Hanna Gabriels of Costa Rica, as well as another fight with her longtime foe and current unified super middleweight champion Savannah Marshall of Great Britain.

“And it’s always on the table, if Cris Cyborg or Laila Ali want to fight,” added Shields.

Promoter Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions, who has been behind Shields throughout her pro career, praised her performance. “Clarissa is a in-ring genius, showing her absolutely incredible ring. IQ adjusting to the fight several different ways and almost scored a knockout. And it’s absolutely obvious that heavyweight, she’s gonna score knockouts and fights with Franchon Crews, Hanna Gabriels and certainly with Savannah Marshall, I believe, are going to end in exciting stoppages,” said Salita.

Shields thanked her loyal Flint fans, who nearly sold out the Dort Financial Center. “Flint. Y’all showed up. I love y’all so much! I’m so happy that all y’all showed up and came out here for me, because I do this for y’all, and I do this for us.”

Heavyweight Heel Turn in Co-Main

The only way to describe the heavyweight co-main between Brandon Moore of Lakeland, Florida (17-1, 11 KOs) and Skylar Lacy of Indianapolis (8-1-2, 6 KOs) is a hot mess. Lacy, a go-to sparring partner for the top heavyweights, decided he preferred to wrestle Moore. The first casualty: a DAZN camera operator, who took a hit when Moore pushed Lacy into the ropes and fell off the ring. No harm done to man or camera and he popped back up to carry on.

Referee Steve Willis started taking points and repeatedly warning Lacy to knock it off. Willis barely stayed in control as the two men worked each other over. In the eighth round after yet another point was docked from Lacy, he leaned on Moore and both fell through the ropes onto the DAZN announcers table.

If a fighter is uninjured, he gets 20 seconds to get back into the ring. Willis counted Lacy out and then disqualified him for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving the win to Moore. Some fights are so bad they become part of boxing lore.

Welterweights Joseph Hicks of Grand Rapids, Michigan (12-0, 8 KOs) and Keon Papillion of Lafayette, Louisiana (10-1-1, 7 KOs) got down in a battle of unbeaten records. Hicks had too much firepower for Papillion and won by seventh-round TKO when Papillion’s father and trainer Jason threw in the towel.

The fight could have ended several rounds earlier as Papillion hung tough even when it was a futile effort. Hicks put in solid work, and now it’s time to test him to see how far he can rise.

Super lightweight Joshua James Pagan of Grand Rapids, Michigan (12-0, 4 KOs) came into the ring inspired by Stone Cold Steve Austin and battled veteran Ronal Ron of Venezuela (16-8, 13 KOs).

Ron was game and made Pagan work behind the jab. He put all his offensive tools to work to win a decision by scores of 79-73, 78-74, and 78-74. It made for a fun fight for the fans. Pagan landed 127 of 298 power punches (43%) against 93 of 318 power punches for Ron (29%).  

Impressive Performances For Veyre and Lozada

Featherweight Caroline Veyre of Montreal (9-1) has left her single loss behind her with a thorough drubbing of Carmen Vargas of Houston (5-3-1). Verye outclassed Vargas in all eight rounds, winning by scores of 80-72 on all three cards.

Verye landed half her power punches, 100 of 199 against just 36 of 149 for Vargas. The Canadian featherweight did severe damage to Vargas’s face, and the Texan had no answers. Vargas and her corner didn’t yield, even when it was apparent she had no chance of victory. But there was no doubting the heart of Vargas.

Super bantamweight Ashleyann Lozada of Puerto Rico won her professional debut in style, dominating previously unbeaten Denise Moran of Cathedral City, California (3-1).

Newly signed by Salita Promotions and managed by Mark Taffet, Shields’ manager, the first woman to represent Puerto Rico in the Olympic Games in Paris comes into the pro ranks with great expectations. Lozada met and exceeded them with slick footwork, movement, and plenty of pop.

Lozada badly hurt Moran with an uppercut worthy of David Benavidez, but Moran managed to survive the round and make it to the end of the fight. Lozada enjoyed a few moments of showboating and Ali shuffling before getting the decision with three shutout scorecards of 40-36.