U.S. Olympic medalists win women's world boxing titles

Claressa Shields and Marlen Esparza, the USA's only two London Olympic boxing medalists, each won gold medals Monday at the 2014 Elite Women's World Championships in Jeju, South Korea.

Olympic champion Shields, of Flint, Mich., and bronze medalist Marlen Esparza of Houston claimed their first elite women's world titles with final-round victories.

The double gold medal performance is the first time the U.S. squad has won two world titles in a single women's world championships competition. In addition to her first elite world title, Shields was named the outstanding boxer of the tournament following a dominant performance throughout the event.

Esparza, 25, a veteran of five World Championships, competed in her first tournament finale on Monday and defeated Lisa Jane Whiteside 2-1 to win flyweight gold.

"It really hasn't hit me yet, but I'm so happy," Esparza said. "I think my experience really played a big role in this tournament. My nerves have impacted me in the past but because I've been here so many times before, it wasn't as nerve-racking. I've been fighting so much that I could make adjustments and think in a way that I wasn't able to before. In the past, I've just reacted off of instinct and this time, I was able to think."

Shields, 19, dominated her middleweight bout against China's Qian Li from the opening bell and went on to win a unanimous decision.

"I'm totally humbled, my heart feels so full," Shields said. "To win my first AIBA world title was more than enough, but to win the outstanding boxer award too, I'm just so thankful," she said.

Both fighters plan to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics.