Claressa Shields recovered from her first career knockdown with a unanimous decision win over Hanna Gabriels, capturing the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight titles in the process.
With the win, Shields (6-0, with two knockouts) also became a two-division champion in just six professional fights. In August 2017, Shields bagged the World Boxing Council (WBC) and IBF super middleweight crowns via a fifth-round technical knockout win over Nikki Adler.
However, Shields had the surprise of her life when she was knocked down by Gabriels in the first round to the shock of the crowd at the Masonic Temple. A right-left combination by Gabriels sent Shields sitting on the canvas.
However, the two-time Olympic gold medallist recovered in time to carve out a unanimous decision win that turned her into a two-division champion. The judges scored the bout 98-91, 97-92 and 97-92 for Shields.
The win also strengthened Shields' claim that she's the Greatest Women of All-Time (GWOAT). She gave herself the GWOAT title after her convincing win over Adler.
Shields Surprised By First Career Knockdown
"I've never been knocked down before," the 23-year-old Shields says, who had to lose 23 pounds in seven weeks to be able to face Gabriels at 160 pounds. When she hit the canvas, Shields said she became more determined to beat the 35-year-old Gabriels.
Gabriels, for her part, admitted that the knockdown also came as a surprise, thinking that she's not powerful enough to bring down Shields. With the loss, Gabriels dropped to 18-2-1, with 11 knockouts.
"I feel good. I stand tall. I think this fight shows my heart and what I represent as a champion," Gabriels said. In her next fight, Gabriels said she wants it to happen at 154 pounds, where she could defend her WBA super welterweight crown.
Shields To Next Face Christina Hammer
With the win, Shields is in line to face Christina Hammer of Germany, who holds the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and WBC middleweight belts. Hammer remained undefeated after a unanimous decision win over Tori Nelson. The judges scored the fight 100-90, 99-91 and 99-91 all for Hammer.
With the win, Hammer improved to 23-0 with 10 knockouts, while the 41-year-old Nelson dropped to 17-2-3 with two knockouts.
After Shields' win, Hammer entered the ring and exchanged words with her rival. A skirmish then erupted between two camps before they were pacified.
"I'm just tired of Hammer disrespecting me all the time," Shields tells reporters after the skirmish. "She gets in the ring after all my fights, talks trash but then she gets in there and looks like (bleep) against Nelson. I'm just sick of it."
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