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Shields-Daniels: What is left for boxing's GWOAT to achieve?
Claressa Shields will headline in her home state of Detroit when she puts her heavyweight titles on the line against New Zealand’s Lani Daniels tonight.
Shields is a two-time Olympic champion and has won world titles in five different divisions since turning professional nine years ago.
The three-weight undisputed world champion has only ever been beaten once – an amateur defeat by Britain’s Savannah Marshall in 2012 – which she has since avenged.
She has been lapping her opposition for a number of years and is still only 30 years old.
With this in mind, Shields’ best years may be ahead of her, but what else is there left for boxing’s GWOAT (Greatest Woman Of All Time) to do before she calls time on her career?
Settle the score with Savannah Marshall
Shields and Marshall have faced each other twice, once in the amateurs and then again as professionals.
It was Marshall who came out on top in their first meeting 13 years ago, although Shields got the last laugh as she claimed Olympic gold just months later in London.
The pair renewed their rivalry at the O2 Arena in 2022, and it was Shields who got her revenge via unanimous decision.
Shields holds the upper hand in the professional ranks, but the overall record stands at one win apiece.
Therefore, Shields may be tempted to have a trilogy bout with Marshall to prove once and for all that she is the better boxer.
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Laila Ali super-fight
Shields has been going back and forth with Laila Ali for several years in her bid to secure a super-fight with Muhammad Ali’s daughter.
Like Shields, Ali has never tasted defeat as a professional. However, the former two-weight world champion retired in 2007 and is yet to be lured back into the ring.
She is now 47 and is unlikely to be anywhere near her brilliant best if she does return after an 18-year hiatus.
Yet Ali has teased a comeback and claimed she would be interested in facing Shields if she is paid a fight purse of $15million.
Shields recently called Ali’s bluff by posing with a cheque for $15m as she ramps up the mind games.
If Shields beats Daniels tonight, expect her to call for a grudge match with Ali.
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Return to MMA
Shields has been such a dominant force in boxing that she has already tried her hand at another sport – Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
She signed a three-year contract with Professional Fighters League in 2020 and made her debut the following year.
Shields won her first fight by knockout, but was then beaten on points in her second contest against Abigail Montes.
After over two years away from the cage, Shields jumped back in to win a points decision in February 2024, leaving her record at 2-1.
Discussing her MMA career back in May, Shields insisted she has no plans to return to the sport again.
“MMA is done, sweetheart," Shields said on The Ariel Helwani Show. "It was fun. It was fine. I don't have enough time to train for it. It takes six months, eight months to just get ready to defend takedowns.
“Even though I got a lot better - I got a lot better, I put in time. I got my arm broken twice. It was fun. I enjoyed every fight I did. ... I did it because I wanted to prove a point. All right, I proved that point. I did really good in MMA… but it was too hard.”
Shields views her MMA days as over for now, but she is still only 30 and has time to change her mind if another opportunity presents itself.
A shock move into WWE
Shields has already conquered boxing and has had some success in MMA. How about a venture into another combat sport?
The GWOAT was asked by DAZN whether she would be interested in trying her hand in the WWE and revealed that she would relish the opportunity.
“It’s definitely on the bucket list (to compete in the WWE),” Shields said. “I want to run in there and just slide through the bottom rope, like spin around on the ground and then jump up. I will wear my tights too.
“I actually have talked with Stephanie McMahon and I will be doing something with her and with the WWE, and I think it’s just fitting.”
Asked what her walkout song would be, Shields replied: “I think I would do Michael Jackson – Bad.”
Starting a family
Shields’ in-ring career could be put on hold after she revealed that she is keen to start a family sooner rather than later.
“I might have a baby next year,” she said on the Pivot Podcast. “We already had it planned out.
“And then, after I go through my stuff, then I’ll come back and fight some more. And then probably have another one and do the same thing again.
“I don’t want to wait until I’m 40-43, whatever, after my career to have my kids. I want to be able to run at the park with my kids, I don’t want to be too old.”
If Shields does have a child in the next 12 months, she could be away from boxing for a lengthy period and new contenders may emerge, ready to challenge her once she returns.
Shields vs. Daniels live on DAZN
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