Shields retains undisputed title in dominant win
Claressa Shields retained her undisputed heavyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Lani Daniels in Detroit, Michigan.
The American, 30, was levels above New Zealander Daniels in a largely one-sided contest, held in front of a reported 15,000 fans at the Little Caesars Arena.
Daniels offered little attacking intent early on, staying on the back foot and largely evading Shields.
As the fight progressed, Shields asserted her dominance, landing cleanly in the middle rounds – particularly with body shots – snapping the 37-year-old's head back in the seventh as her movement began to fade.
Daniels improved slightly in the later stages, with the pair trading punches in the eighth, but Shields, who refers to herself as the 'Greatest Woman of All Time', was a clear and deserved winner.
She improved her professional record to 17-0 with scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 99-91.
"I thought she wanted to fight, but she didn't really engage until the last three rounds," Shields told broadcaster DAZN.
"She was very tough and tricky toward the end, but I know I won every round."
Could shock bout with Laila Ali be next?
A two-time Olympic gold medallist, Shields became a five-weight world champion earlier this year when she moved up to heavyweight and unified the division by defeating Danielle Perkins.
She is a three-weight undisputed champion, having previously held all four belts at middleweight and light-middleweight. Her only career loss came as an amateur to Savannah Marshall, a defeat she avenged in 2022.
With limited competition at heavyweight, Shields is expected to move back down in weight in search of more competitive or high-profile fights.
"Anybody can get it," she added. "I want to make the biggest fights and the best fights."
She has been linked to an unlikely bout with Laila Ali, daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
Promoter Dmitry Salita says an offer is on the table, though Ali, 47, has not fought professionally since 2007. The former WBC super-middleweight champion retired unbeaten with a record of 24-0, including 21 knockouts.
WBA and WBC super-middleweight champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn – who Shields defeated in 2016 – was also mentioned as a more likely next opponent.
More boxing from the BBC
Boxing on Yahoo! Sports – News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games
