Claressa Shields has solidified her claim as the Greatest Woman Of All Time(GWOAT) as she knocked out WBO light heavyweight title Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse to win both the WBO light heavyweight title and also the vacant WBC heavyweight title on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The fight was fought at 175 pounds, which the WBC refers to as heavyweight for women.
Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) moved up to capture a world title in a fourth and fifth weight class. This was Shields first stoppage since 2017 when she knocked out Nikki Adler in August 2017.
Omg claressa shields ???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/HoxOQas39s
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) July 28, 2024
This could very well spell trouble for future opponents because Claressa Shields becoming stronger for this fight was definitely a difference maker in this fight.
“The newfound power does feel good,” Shields said. “It f—ing shocked me. I’m not going to lie. “I shocked myself, I’m not gonna lie,” Shields said afterward. “I went in there real slow in the first round because I’m no dummy.”
From the begging Shields power was evident as she had Lepage-Joanisse hurt with some flurries and combinations. The turning point was when Shield caught the champ with a left hook to the body. Shields dropped Lepage-Joanisse (22-3-1) for the third and final time with an overhand right before the fight was stopped. Shields’ speed and power were too much for Lepage-Joanisse, who was making her first WBC title defense.
“I have fought so many great fighters, and I have looked very, very good. Maybe. I have to go look. The way that I grade myself and how y’all grade me is completely different.”
So what’s next for the GWOAT
All week long Shields has let the public know that she is the greatest female boxer to ever lace up the gloves. After collecting multiple belts in higher weight classes, she champ has a lot of options. Shields holds belts from middleweight to heavyweight so whoever she circles the waters for will be bad news for them. Heavyweight could very well be a new destination spot for the GWOAT.
“I knew I was strong in camp, but I was super-strong tonight,” she said. “Maybe I’ll stay at heavyweight.”
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
