US boxer Claressa Shields continues to stand alone, after the two-time Olympic gold medalist successfully defended her undisputed heavyweight crown with a dominant win over New Zealand fighter Lani Daniels by unanimous decision on Saturday.
“I hit Lani with some big shots,” said Shields following the win. “I broke her to the body, I broke her down to the head — I mixed it up on her.”
“Lani is just very, very tough, and I knew she would be tough just from watching her fights and I could tell she worked on her speed,” Shields acknowledged afterwards. “She fought a hard fight.”
With a 17-0 record, including three knockouts, Shields is the first boxer — man or woman — to achieve undisputed status in three weight classes.
“I’m ready for anyone. I want the biggest and best fights out there,” said Shields. “I’m going to stay at heavyweight and hopefully get the big fights with Franchon Crews, Che Kenneally.”
Even more, the ambitious 30-year-old is next targeting a fight with the undefeated Laila Ali, hoping to lure the 47-year-old out of retirement by putting up $15 million for the clash.
“Hopefully [Ali] saw the fight tonight and says, ‘You know what? I think I can take her,'” said Shields. “So, hopefully she saw it tonight and tells us yes, but I just want to make the best fights and the biggest fights, and that’s against whoever