Claressa Shields wins heavyweight women's title with knockout of Danielle Perkins
Claressa Shields added another knockout to her résumé to cement her status as one of the most decorated women's boxers ever to step in the ring.
Shields dropped Danielle Perkins with less than 20 seconds left in the 10th and final round of the championship bout to put an exclamation point on a dominant win by unanimous decision (100-89, 97-92, 99-90). In front of a raucous, supportive crowd at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan, her hometown, on Sunday night, Shields (16-0, 3 KOs) clinched an undisputed title to become first boxer to win undisputed titles at three different weight classes. Perkins (5-1, 2 KOs) fought until the end but ended the fight on the mat.
Shields came out on the front foot with early pressure. Using her speed advantage, Shields closed the gap between her and the bigger Perkins to consistently get in range to throw bunches of right hooks and overhands, accompanied with a near-constant left jab.
Perkins withstood the assault and seemingly found more energy in the final three rounds and started landing powerful jabs and uppercuts on Shields, but eventually the aggression came back to bite. Perkins was searching for a late finish, but left herself open to a big right hook that dropped her to end the fight in the final seconds.
Shields-Perkins headlined a night of nine fights in the "Vehicle City", including four women's fights. Brandon Moore won the co-main event over Skylar Lacy via disqualification for the vacant USBA men's heavyweight title. Three other boxers from Michigan Leon Lawson III, Joseph Hicks and Joshua James Pagan — also won their fights with Hicks and Lawson winning by technical knockout.
Shields becomes the first American heavyweight, male or female, to win an undisputed championship since Riddick Bowe in 1992. Shields also maintained her perfect 16-0 record along with adding another championship belt in a fifth weight class.
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