Claressa Shields added to her glittering CV by outpointing Danielle Perkins to become female boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight world champion.
Shields is also the first boxer, female or male, to achieve undisputed status across three different divisions in the four-belt era (heavyweight, middleweight, light-middleweight) after her win over the previously unbeaten Perkins.
Shields, boxing in her native Flint, took her unblemished record as a pro to 16-0 after flooring Perkins with a right hook in the 10th and final round.
The 29-year-old said afterwards: “It ain’t enough. That’s how I think.
“I think that I didn’t get my flowers for so many years so even though I’m getting them now, it’s like that’s not enough. I deserve more than that.
“I’m fighting for a million dollars. I’m supposed to be getting paid five. This ain’t it. So, for me, that’s where the fire comes from.”
Perkins, who had been victorious in her first five fights, had a weight and height advantage but was second best throughout the contest despite against Shields despite absorbing numerous shots.
Shields said the fight could have taken place at Barclays Center in New York but she was determined to bring the first undisputed heavyweight contest in female boxing history to Michigan.
She now wants a rematch with Hanna Gabriels having beaten the Costa Rican back in 2018 to capture the IBF and WBA middleweight titles.
