Claressa Shields was introduced Sunday as the greatest female boxer of all time, a label that has followed her through recent broadcasts and promotional builds. Her accomplishments make the claim understandable. Whether the discussion is settled is another question.
Shields is a multi-division champion and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, with belts spanning middleweight and heavyweight. Her record is strong. She has won titles across weight classes and remains unbeaten as a professional. Few fighters, male or female, have assembled that kind of record in such a short span.
Observers who have followed women’s boxing for decades still line her career up against those who ruled earlier eras, because greatness in the sport is rarely defined in isolation.
Lucia Rijker retired undefeated at 17-0 with 14 stoppages and carried a parallel reputation in kickboxing before focusing solely on boxing. She entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame and dominated her era with little sustained resistance.
Ann Wolfe compiled a 24-1 record with 16 stoppages and built a reputation as one of the hardest punchers in women’s boxing history. Laila Ali finished 24-0 with 21 knockouts and unified multiple titles while bringing visibility to the sport during a formative period of growth.
Christina Hammer entered her 2019 fight against Shields unbeaten at 24-0 before losing a unanimous decision. She won four more fights afterward to close her career.
Shields built her standing through Olympic success and championships across multiple divisions, moving from middleweight to heavier classes while continuing to win at each stop. That kind of range is uncommon. Rijker finished unbeaten, Wolfe defined her run with stoppages, and Ali carried an era when women’s boxing was still carving out space.
Introduction lines can elevate a fighter in the moment. Long-term standing is shaped by how a career holds up against history. Shields already occupies rare ground. How firmly she stands at the very top will be judged against the full arc of her career.
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Last Updated on 2026/02/23 at 10:02 PM
