Boxer Claressa Shields Is All Set To Try Her Hand In A Different Sport

Being the greatest women’s boxer of all time is something that Claressa Shields is not afraid to brag about, but she now wants to take it a step further.

With two gold medals from the Olympics, two uncontested titles, and belts in three separate divisions, Shields has a virtually unrivaled resume in the sport.

However, the outspoken American decided to join the Professional Fighters League in mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2021 in an effort to further improve her legacy.

Shields, who has never lost in boxing, is 1-0 in mixed martial arts, but she claimed that she didn’t switch from the boxing ring to the cage for fun.

Rather, her goal is to become a world champion in two sports while pursuing the PFL title and its associated history.

She stated to SunSport: “That’s the ultimate goal. Manifestation is real, I believe in two or three years I will be fighting for the PFL world championship.

“I’ll still be a boxing world champion and the same time. So the goal is to be boxing world champion and be PFL champion at the same time.

“And after that, I’d probably wash my hands with MMA but that’s the bigger goal.”

After defeating Brittney Elkin in her MMA debut, Shields faced Abigail Montes and lost for the first time since her amateur boxing days.

Since then, she has avoided the cage altogether and has won three boxing matches, one of which was against fierce opponent Savannah Marshall.

Shields, however, is currently focused on the PFL season, in which celebrities compete in four bouts with qualifying and knockout rounds to earn a $1 million cash prize and the title.

Shields feels that winning titles in both sports, which would be a historic first, would solidify her status as the greatest to have ever done it, more so than the money alone.

She said: “Well, I’m already the greatest woman of all time in boxing, we know that.

“But to be able to come over to a whole different sport in the prime of my career and win, when I’m able to win the PFL world championship, I think that ranks me as the greatest combat sports person ever.

“So I believe in three years when I actually get in the PFL tournament and I fight for the PFL world championship, when I win that rates me as the greatest combat sports person in history.”

On Saturday in Riyadh, Shields will make her MMA comeback against Kelsey DeSantis on the undercard of PFL vs. Bellator.

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