Claressa Shields was introduced on Sunday as the greatest female boxer of all time, a label that has followed her through recent broadcasts and promotional build-ups. Her achievements 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 undefeated as a professional. Few fighters, male or female, have compiled that kind of record in such a short amount of time.
Observers who have followed women’s boxing for decades still align her career with 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 opposition.
Ann Wolfe compiled a record of 24-1 with 16 stoppages and built a reputation as one of the toughest punchers in women’s boxing history. Laila Ali went 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 undefeated at 24-0 before losing a unanimous decision. She went on to win four more fights to close out her career.
Shields built her reputation through Olympic success and championships across multiple divisions, moving from middleweight to heavier classes while continuing to win at every stop. That kind of streak is unusual. Rijker finished undefeated, Wolfe defined her run with stoppages, and Ali experienced an era when women’s boxing was still carving out space.
Introductory lines can elevate a fighter in the moment. Long-term standing is shaped by how a career stacks up against history. Shields already barely cover terrain. How strong she stands at the top will be judged by the full arc of her career.
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Last updated on 02/23/2026 at 22:02
