DETROIT – Claressa Shields successfully defended her undisputed super-welterweight crown with a unanimous decision victory over the tough New Zealander Lani Daniels at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday night. The judges scored the fight 100-90, 99-91 and 99-91 in favor of Shields, who demonstrated an exceptional level of play.
This victory marks the first time Shields (17-0, 3 KOs) has fought twice in a calendar year since 2022. The boxer expressed her willingness to face big challenges in the future of her career, including retired champion Laila Ali and a possible match against welterweight champion Mikaela Mayer at 154 pounds, if they show genuine interest.She fought hard, and I connected with Lani with significant blows. I broke her to the body and head. I varied my attacks. Lani is very, very tough, and I knew she would be, just by watching her fights, and I could tell she worked on her speed.
Claressa Shields
In February, Shields made history by becoming the first boxer, male or female, to achieve undisputed status in three weight divisions, with a unanimous decision victory over Danielle Perkins as a heavyweight in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. Daniels, the current IBF light heavyweight champion, last fought in September and had won seven consecutive fights before the loss against Shields. Although she did not achieve victory, she offered a good fight in the last rounds.I’m going to stay at heavyweight and I hope to have big fights with Franchon Crews, Che Kenneally. I want to fight Laila Ali. We offered 15 million dollars for the fight and we still haven’t received a response.
Claressa Shields
The rapper Rick Ross accompanied Shields during her ring entrance in front of a crowd of 15,369 spectators. In the early rounds, Shields was looking to land a solid punch, while Daniels moved around the ring. At one point, they exchanged playful gestures, with Shields provoking her rival to stand firm and fight. Shields took control in the fifth round, wearing down Daniels with body shots. Shields also showcased her jab, connecting clean punches to Daniels in rounds 6 and 7. In the eighth, ninth, and tenth rounds, Daniels managed to have some success working Shields against the ropes, but the pound-for-pound queen of women’s boxing and self-proclaimed GWOAT (greatest woman of all time) was able to withstand Daniels’ best punches with ease, while landing significant blows in return to achieve victory. Now, she seeks a new challenge.I knew she just wanted to survive the rounds, but she tried to react maybe around the eighth or ninth round, but I still feel like I won every round and even outboxed her with my back against the ropes.
Claressa Shields
In the co-main event, WBC super welterweight ex-champion Tony Harrison also returned to the ring with a unanimous decision victory over Edward Diaz of the Dominican Republic. Harrison (30-4-1, 21 KOs) hadn’t fought since 2023, when he fell to Tim Tszyu for the interim super welterweight title, but he outboxed Diaz (15-7, 12 KOs) in the final rounds to secure the victory in the tenth round. Harrison, a Detroit native, wore the full Lions uniform to represent his hometown on the big stage, but narrowly survived a knockdown in the ninth round when he was hit by a strong right hand from Diaz.These girls are too easy to beat. People think it’s all about knockouts, but I go in there and win 10 rounds easily. All these girls talk bad about me for being at 175 now and being a heavyweight champion, but when I was at 154, nobody wanted to fight me. When I was at 160, I cleaned out the division. Sixty-eight, I cleaned out the division.
Claressa Shields
It’s boxing. When I got caught, it wasn’t even a punch that hurt me. I was really already off balance. It was like a flash, and I should have done five push-ups because I owed it at that moment. It wasn’t anything that hurt me or anything, but I owed it for not being disciplined.
Tony Harrison
