Claressa Shields: Undisputed

Claressa Shields: Undisputed

The recent retirement of Katie Taylor has left clarity at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. Depending on the outlet, Taylor and Claressa Shields were often in competition for the top spot. Opinions varied. In truth, both fighters had an incredibly strong case.

But with Taylor walking away after that truly wonderful, almost spiritual, final dance in front of 83,000 adoring fans at Croke Park, the debate now stops. Claressa Shields is, without any shadow of doubt, the best female fighter on the planet. Shields would argue she always was.

The merits of Katie Taylor shouldn’t be forgotten. A quite astonishing resume, and she has played a major part in the rise of women’s boxing over the last decade or so. But the sport moves on, and we really hope that is the case. You sense Shields will play a big part in a sport without Taylor in it.

Shields has never come close to remotely to losing a fight in the professional ranks. Her supposed greatest threat, Savannah Marshall, was defeated on a memorable night at a sold-out O2 Arena in London. Marshall was tipped by many to knock out Shields. But the American had other ideas. Shields entered the ring like a superstar. And fought like one. She was sensational against Marshall. Any lingering doubters were convinced.

There was a move up through the weights. Shields went undisputed at heavyweight. The third weight she has done so. But now the sport’s greatest star wants the superfights. They are imminent.

The recent impressive stoppage of Kaye Scott was the first step in that search for even bigger nights. The move back down to middleweight was a successful one. Now a unified world middleweight champion, Shields has a plethora of options open to her.

The unified world welterweight champion and former Olympic champion Lauren Price has been named by Shields as a potential opponent. Shields, a two-time Olympic champion, and Price are both unbeaten. Talks have taken place. But there is no sign of a deal as yet. The match-up has intrigue, and hopefully, at some point, it happens.

Chantelle Cameron has punched her way into the conversation for a showdown with Shields. Cameron upset Mikaela Mayer in August, and now holds three belts at super-welterweight. Cameron and Shields have both expressed an interest in fighting each other. Time will tell if that leads to a deal. Cameron, with the victory over Mayer and Taylor’s retirement, is now ranked number two in those pound-for-pound rankings with most media outlets. A fight between the two best fighters on their side of the sport could be everything women’s boxing needs right now.

The undefeated Canadian Tamm Thibeault holds the WBO and IBF world middleweight titles. Thibeault is only five fights into her professional career, but she was mightily impressive in dominating Desley Robinson in August. At some point, a clash between Shields and Thibeault could be the biggest and best fight to make in women’s boxing.

Mikaela Mayer was probably at the head of the queue to square off against Shields. But that recent defeat to Cameron in Birmingham has somewhat set her back. Mayer does have a rematch clause with Cameron, and if a second fight does materialise and Mayer gets her revenge, the three-division world champion could put herself back in the running to fight her old amateur teammate.

But whoever is next for Claressa Shields, there are plenty of worthwhile opponents out there for her. We forget that Shields is still only 31. An incredibly deep resume has time to get even deeper.