Claressa Shields ‘stands among’ elite champions such as Oleksandr Usyk ahead of her bid to unify the heavyweight division, says promoter Dmitriy Salita.
The American star has already been crowned as a world champion in five weight divisions and can match Oleksandr Usyk’s achievements when she bids to become an undisputed world title holder at heavyweight next month.
Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in May last year to secure all the major belts in the top division and defended three of them in a rematch win over his British rival last month, while Shields battles Danielle Perkins for the WBC, IBF, WBA and WBO titles in Michigan on February 2.
“Boxing is an individual sport, making it incredibly challenging to compare the unique and remarkable accomplishments of these two great fighters,” Dmitriy Salita, who promotes Shields, told Sky Sports.
“What sets Claressa apart from everyone else in boxing – past or present – is her ground-breaking achievements as a pioneer in women’s sports.
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Watch the best moments from Oleksandr Usyk’s press conference where he discusses his win over Tyson Fury, facing Daniel Dubois and wanting a break from boxing
“She has been the first to accomplish many feats, breaking barriers and opening doors for equality while remaining utterly dominant in the ring.”
Both Usyk and Shields previously excelled in the amateur ranks, with the Ukrainian claiming gold at the 2012 Olympic Games, and Shields also took gold in London and in Rio four years later.
The 29-year-old avenged the only loss on her record, a World amateur Championship loss to Savannah Marshall, with a unanimous decision win to become undisputed super-middleweight champion in front of a huge televised audience and packed out crowd at The O2.
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Watch highlights of the epic between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall in a fight-of-the-year contender!
“Claressa is undoubtedly an all-time great, not only because of her unparalleled list of achievements but also due to her unwavering belief and determination,” said Salita.
“Growing up as a young girl in Flint, Michigan, one of the most challenging environments in the United States, she had the resilience to rise above her circumstances and prove that neither her surroundings nor her gender could define her limits.
“For these reasons, Claressa is a generational talent and stands among the all-time greats in the world of sports.”
Shields can extend her 15-bout unbeaten record against Perkins, who is undefeated in five fights.
Could Shields return to Britain for Price showdown?
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Speaking on the Toe2Toe podcast, Lauren Price discusses which fights she wants next after becoming the unified welterweight champion in May
Lauren Price, the WBA welterweight champion, has admitted she would welcome a fight against Shields at the Principality Stadium in front of her home support in Wales.
“It’s hard to put anything past Olympic champions. She won the Olympics 2021,” Shields, who has fought one division above at super-welterweight, told Sky Sports last year.
“I feel like when you’ve been all over the world and you’ve boxed and you’ve won World championships, it’s kind of destined for you to be great in the pros. I wish her the best of luck.”
But Price must first overcome Natasha Jonas in their world title unification fight at Royal Albert Hall on March 7.
Watch Jonas vs Price on March 7, live on Sky Sports.
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