Is Claressa Shields Officially The GOAT Of Women's Boxing?

• Claressa Shields is undefeated, undisputed, and holds multiple titles across weight classes, making a strong case for 'GWOAT' status.

Detroit was lit up like a holiday last night (February 22nd) when Claressa Shields once again showed why she claims the crown of the GWOAT — the Greatest Woman Of All Time in boxing. In a long-anticipated rematch against longtime rival Franchón Crews-Dezurn, Shields put on a clinic at Little Caesars Arena. From the first bell to the final horn, she controlled distance with crisp combinations and ring IQ that left judges with no choice but to hand her a unanimous decision — every judge scoring it 100-90 — to retain all her undisputed heavyweight belts. That victory pushed her professional record to 18-0 while keeping her stacked with WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and WBF heavyweight titles.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘How Dare Some Of Us?’ — Mo’Nique Defends Claressa Shields Amid Online Mockery

But if you tuned in just for punches, you still saw something even bigger after the final tally: a moment of respect that told you everything about the women in that rig. After engaging in war for ten rounds, Shields and Crews-Dezurn — who shared history going back to their first pro matchup in 2016 — embraced in the center of the ring, chest-to-chest, acknowledging the grind they just put each other through. It was more than sportsmanship; it was a generational passing of respect from one warrior to another — the kind of moment that resonates with real fans, not just scorecards.

Now that’s legacy! Claressa Shields didn’t just wake up great — she earned every chapter of her story. Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, she stood on the Olympic podium twice, winning gold in 2012 and 2016 — making history as the first American woman to win back-to-back Olympic boxing gold medals. She stormed into the pros in 2016, became a titleholder in multiple weight classes, and went on to become the only boxer in history — male or female — to hold all four major belts (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) across more than one division. That’s not a flex, that’s pure historic dominance. By the time she collected heavyweight supremacy and defended it again last night, she wasn’t just defending belts — she was defending her case.

Of course, any real conversation about the GOAT has to include the greats who came before. Laila Ali — daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali and herself an icon — carried women’s boxing into new territory in the early 2000s and held world titles with an aura that transcended sport. Shields and Ali have publicly danced around the topic, with Shields even calling Ali out for not facing her in the ring, and Ali calling back, keeping the debate alive. Some people say Ali’s era was different, some say Shields has done more with the sport, and many just want to see them share the ring before making a final judgment.

So, is Claressa Shields officially the GOAT of women’s boxing? That’s where we pause and let the fans speak. Statistically, she’s unmatched in modern history: undefeated, undisputed, multi-division, multi-belt —she’s got the receipts. But legacy in boxing isn’t just about numbers — it’s impact, culture, era, and the fight we wish happened. If you’re talking pure dominance in the ring over contemporaries and holding titles across weight classes with zero losses, it’s tough to argue against Shields. But whether she’s officially the GOAT? That’s up to the culture, the fans, and the generations still watching — and loving every time she steps through those ropes.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Muhammad Ali Would Never’ — Claressa Shields Says Laila Ali Is ‘Scared’ To Fight Her

She’s A Knockout! Is Claressa Shields Officially The GOAT Of Women’s Boxing? was originally published on madamenoire.com