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Claressa Shields never expected to become heavyweight champion but it has secured her place ‘amongst the greats’

Even Claressa Shields never expected it of herself, but she became the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in women’s boxing last year to establish herself as the sport’s ultimate trailblazer; She defends against familiar rival Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Detroit on Sunday

Claressa Shields has secured her place in boxing history.

A decade ago she became the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic gold medals.

READ: How Shields From Olympic trials to $8m deal: Claressa Shields’ ful

As a professional she became an undisputed world champion at super-welter and middleweight (twice).

Last year Shields established herself as the ultimate trailblazer when she became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in women’s boxing.

In that regard she has even surprised herself. “Heavyweight was never in my plans,” Shields told Sky Sports.

“Being at that weight class, I just have to keep showing my skill, keep showing my speed, keep showing my power.

“I feel like it’s my job to show that all the weight classes of women’s boxing are entertaining. That we all got skills, from heavyweight to flyweight, strawweight, we all got hands, we all can fight, we all have skill.”

Her status as the undisputed heavyweight champion is a statement in itself.

“Adding undisputed heavyweight world champion to Claressa Shields’ name has definitely broadened my brand. I can say I’m an American heavyweight champion and when you think of American heavyweight champion you think of Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield amongst those greats. Just to have my name added to that on the women’s side it’s still just really big and really great,” she said.

“And to be the first heavyweight undisputed women’s champion in boxing history. I think that I was already Black history enough. Now I’m just history all over, with that. I’m with the likes of Jack Johnson now, who was the first Black heavyweight champion

“So I’m the first Black women’s heavyweight champion in boxing. I really embrace that and I want to keep defending my titles and I’m just wearing it strong, you know how I should.”

Shields beat her great rival from the amateurs, Savannah Marshall in an undisputed middleweight title fight. At heavyweight she handed first defeats to the previously unbeaten Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, Danielle Perkins and Lani Daniels.

On Sunday in Detroit she’ll rematch Franchon Crews-Dezurn, whom Shields beat when they were both making their professional debuts in 2016.

“She’s top at her weight class, at 168lbs. She beat the heavy hitter Shadasia Green, who everybody said is the queen of that division,” Shields said.

“I know she’s going to come, she’s going to bring it, she’s more familiar with me than anybody else.

“She’s a top contender and she continues to get better and she always wants to win. You know that when you fight against Franchon, you’re going to get bumps, you’re going to get bruises. You may get thrown on the ground. Franchon is a rough and rugged fighter and she’s very experienced.

“She’s still a top contender.”

But Shields added: “I’m the cream of the crop. I haven’t had any close fights so I can’t say how this fight will be.

“If I am too good for own good, I’m only going to get better. So there’s nothing I can do about that. I like winning unanimously. I like knocking girls out. I like dominating. I think it looks great on my resume. I don’t like having close fights.”

Claressa Shields admits ‘everything is different’ ahead of Franchón Crews-Dezurn rematch

Heading into a highly-anticipated rematch against one of her fiercest rivals, Claressa Shields conceded that “everything is different” this time around.

On Feb. 22, Shields (17-0, 3 KOs) — who recently called out Jake Paul for his comments on Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show at Super Bowl LX — will fight Franchón Crews-Dezurn (10-2, 2 KOs) for the Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship, with the bout available live on DAZN. Nearly 10 years earlier, the pair of fighters stepped into the ring together while each making their professional debuts in Las Vegas.

As a wide-eyed 21-year-old coming off two gold medal runs at the London Olympics in 2012 and Rio Games in 2016, Shields swiftly made a name for herself by defeating Crews-Dezurn via unanimous decision. Since then, the self-proclaimed ‘GWOAT’ (Greatest Women’s Boxer of All Time) asserted that she’s improved in every facet of her game.

READ: For Major Fights Claressa Shields Confirms She’ll Drop From Heav

“I’ve changed in every area,” Shields told Mirror U.S. Sports. “I feel like I’ve gotten better in my skill. I’m stronger now. I’m faster. I’m smarter. Bigger. I think everything is different in this fight [compared to] 10 years ago, and now I got a whole bunch of accolades behind it. And I’m making way more money.”

Over the last decade, Shields has gone undefeated over 17 pro fights against 17 different opponents. The 30-year-old etched her name in the history books by becoming the first-ever female boxer to hold undisputed titles in three weight classes (light middleweight, middleweight and heavyweight), and actively holds the heavyweight title belt with all four major boxing organizations.

With each passing victory, Shields has sharpened her preparation and training to ensure that she’s her best possible self come fight night. “Stuff that I’m doing now, I didn’t even know about in 2016 when I was 21,” she explained. “We got recovery, we got ice baths, we have isolation as far as when I do my camps and where I do my camps. I have a whole different trainer.

“I used to train one time a day, but go to the gym for two or three hours. Now I train two times a day and still be at the gym two or three hours following [a] boxing workout, then do strength and conditioning, then do a run.

“I mean, everything is different. Whatever you can think of is different.”

Shields has additionally spent countless hours honing her craft outside of the squared circle. The Flint, Michigan native sports the biggest personal brand in women’s boxing, with 1.67 million followers on Instagram, over 200,000 subscribers on Youtube and 600,000 friends on Facebook.

Thanks to her massive presence both in and out of the ring, Shields inked a four-fight deal with Wynn Records and Salita Productions last November. The historic agreement is worth a minimum of $8 million and can rise to over $15 million.

“The opportunity came throughout my hard work and how I’ve been building my brand,” Shields said. “A lot of people were interested in me when I became a free agent. Everybody’s deals were OK, but I know my worth.

“And when Salita and Wynn Records came together, that’s when the deal became $8 million minimum. That was the deal that I wanted, and I got $3 million that was paid to me as a signing bonus.”

When Shields dukes it out with Crews-Dezurn at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit this Sunday, the sold-out crowd in attendance will undoubtedly give one of their own a hero’s welcome. “Fighting in Detroit — which is down the street from Flint, Michigan — means a lot,” she acknowledged. “We’re going to have 18,000 fans in attendance, and I’m just so excited for that. A big walkout, nice outfit, Boosie’s walking me to the ring.

“Detroit has the best boxing fans to me. Michigan has always been one of the biggest boxing cities and boxing towns, and I think that’s what was missing from boxing was Detroit boxing.

“Now that we’re back and … you’re seeing all these great fighters coming out of Flint and Grand Rapids and Detroit, I think it’s just great to showcase some of the best skills up at LCA.”