Claressa Shields News

Claressa-Shields
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Boxing champion Claressa Shields signs new multi-year contract to return to the PFL

Josh Evanoff - August 10, 2023

PFL has signed a multi-year agreement with women’s boxing champion Claressa Shields. The ‘GWOAT’ is one of the more colorful figures in the world of boxing. In the last few weeks, she’s called out both Jake Paul and Keith Thurman for intergender boxing matches. While the latter showed interest, it seems that Claressa Shields will now be returning to the world of MMA.

Claressa Shields and Jake Paul
Claressa Shields

Claressa Shields calls out Jake Paul for intergender boxing match: "Skill being displayed is mediocre"

Josh Evanoff - August 7, 2023

Female boxing champion Claressa Shields is now the latest to callout Jake Paul. ‘The Problem Child’ returned to the ring over the weekend against Nate Diaz. Headlining a DAZN and ESPN pay-per-view clash, it was Jake Paul’s first bout since losing to Tommy Fury in February. For his first fight back, the YouTuber-turned-boxer signed up for ten rounds, the longest bout of his career.

Claressa Shields, MMA
Claressa Shields

Claressa Shields reveals plans to return to the PFL after 2021 upset loss: "I just want to learn"

Josh Evanoff - June 1, 2023

Female boxing champion Claressa Shields is eyeing a return to the cage. The boxer has been out of the ring since a unanimous decision win over Savannah Marshall last October. That victory set Shields to 13-0 in her professional career and also earned her the WBO super middleweight championship. Thus, handing her all the titles in the weight class.

Claressa-Shields
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

PFL CEO Peter Murray reveals Claressa Shields to return in November

Josh Evanoff - August 4, 2022

PFL women’s lightweight Claressa Shields will return to the cage before the end of the year. The 27-year-old has been out of the cage since her decision defeat to Abigail Montes last October. The victory set her to 1-1 in the MMA cage, as he had previously signed to the PFL in 2020. She debuted with an impressive knockout defeat of Brittney Elkin in June 2021.

Claressa-Shields
Jake Paul

Claressa Shields reacts following loss at PFL 10, responds to criticism from Jake Paul

Harry Kettle - October 29, 2021

Claressa Shields has hit back at Jake Paul’s criticism after her defeat to Abigail Montes at PFL 10 on Wednesday. After a successful mixed martial arts debut earlier this year, Claressa Shields was handed her first loss in the sport at PFL 10 when she suffered a split decision loss to Abigail Montes. While Montes was the deserving winner, Shields definitely showcased some progress in many aspects of her game.

Jake Paul, Conor McGregor
Jake Paul

Jake Paul taunts Claressa Shields following her first career MMA loss at PFL 10

Harry Kettle - October 28, 2021

Jake Paul taunted Claressa Shields last night in the wake of her first mixed martial arts defeat at PFL 10. In what was just her second professional MMA contest, Shields battled it out with Abigail Montes and came up on the wrong end of a split decision loss. It marks her first pro defeat in combat sports with her boxing record currently sitting at 11-0.

Claressa-Shields
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Claressa Shields insists she is not homophobic after protesting DC Comics’ bisexual Superman

Harry Kettle - October 14, 2021

PFL star Claressa Shields has insisted she isn’t homophobic after questioning DC Comics’ decision to make Superman bisexual. It was revealed earlier this week that in an upcoming comic book story, Jon Kent – the son of Clark Kent – will be involved in a romantic relationship with a man. That led to quite the divide within the community regarding whether or not it was a good or bad move and based on her comments, Shields clearing wasn’t happy about it.

Claressa-Shields
Exclusive MMA Interviews

Claressa Shields targets 2023 as year for first PFL tournament

Drake Riggs - October 1, 2021

FORT LAUDERDALE — Claressa Shields is fully committed to forging a strong and viable MMA career. The former three-division 11-0 boxing champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist joined MMA as a PFL lightweight in 2021. The tournament formatted promotion currently has Shields on the outside looking in as she keeps gaining experience after successfully debuting in June with a third-round TKO against Brittney Elkin.

Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Claressa Shields returns to the PFL cage in August

Adam D Martin - June 23, 2021

Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields returns to the PFL cage in August when she competes for the second time in mixed martial arts. Shields made her MMA debut earlier this month when she finished Brittany Elkin via third-round TKO for a successful first foray into mixed martial arts. It wasn’t an easy fight for Shields, who struggled with her takedown defense for the first two rounds of the fight as Elkin dominated her on the mat. However, Shields was able to conserve her gas tank, and when Elkin started to get tired in the third round of the fight, Shields started to unload massive ground and pound on her opponent and pick up the first win of her MMA career.

Kayla-Harrison-Claressa-Shields
Kayla Harrison

Kayla Harrison talks Claressa Shields MMA debut, 'this is not boxing'

Drake Riggs - June 17, 2021

Claressa Shields is officially an MMA fighter following a successful PFL 4 debut against Brittney Elkin this past Thursday. Inevitably, fans are expecting a clash of Olympic gold medals pitting Shields against the 9-0 Kayla Harrison. Currently looking to claim yet another PFL crown through the lightweight tournament, Harrison recently shared her thoughts on the boxing legend’s victory.

Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Claressa Shields says she wants to be the Bo Jackson of MMA and boxing: "I believe I am the greatest woman of all time"

Adam D Martin - June 17, 2021

PFL star Claressa Shields says she wants to be the Bo Jackson of MMA and boxing, saying that “I believe I am the greatest woman of all time.” Jackson was an incredible two-sport athlete who is still the only person to ever be named to a Pro Bowl team in the NFL and an All-Star team in MLB. Many consider Jackson to be one of the greatest athletes who ever lived, and many athletes have come up behind him who have wanted to accomplish what he did, which is being great at two professional sports. Of course, it’s hard enough to be an elite athlete in one sport, but Jackson proved you can be elite in two, and that’s exactly what Shields is hoping to do herself.

Claressa-Shields
MMA News

Claressa Shields says women's MMA is marketed better than in boxing, 'It's fair'

Drake Riggs - June 14, 2021

Claressa Shields made a successful MMA debut this past Thursday night at PFL 4. The 26-year old Flint, Michigan native is 11-0 as a professional boxer with two Olympic gold medals to her name. Shields now comfortably gets ready to build some momentum in her new sport.

Clarissa-Shields-Holly-Holm
Holly Holm

Claressa Shields calls teammate Holly Holm the "cheat code" ahead of PFL and MMA debut

Adam D Martin - June 7, 2021

Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields called teammate Holly Holm the “cheat code” ahead of her upcoming PFL and mixed martial arts debut. Shields makes her official professional MMA debut this Thursday at PFL 4 when she takes on Brittany Elkin in a non-tournament women’s lightweight bout. Shields is one of the best women’s boxers on the planet but she has said for a few years now that MMA was her goal, and she will finally make her debut in mixed martial arts later this week against Elkin.

Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor

Claressa Shields thanks Conor McGregor for support, offers MMA star some advice

Tom Taylor - February 26, 2021

Decorated boxing champion Claressa Shields has responded to a message of support from Conor McGregor, and offered the Irishman some advice in return. Shields, a multi-division boxing champion, is gearing up to venture into mixed martial arts under the PFL banner.

Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Claressa Shields gives update on timeframe for PFL debut

Adam Martin - January 22, 2021

Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields gave an update as to when she will be making her mixed martial arts debut with PFL. Shields shocked many in the combat sports world when she decided to sign with the PFL over the UFC. She had been connected to the UFC for two years and had reportedly even been offered a chance to fight UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes in her UFC and MMA debut. However, Shields decided that PFL was the better opportunity for her to get her feet wet, and so she decided to take her talents to PFL instead of fighting in the UFC.

Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Claressa Shields explains why she signed with PFL over UFC

Tom Taylor - December 28, 2020

Three-division boxing champion Claressa Shields has explained why she decided to sign with the Professional Fighters League instead of the UFC. Shields, one of the best female boxers ever, has been plotting a move to MMA for some time. She’ll finally make that transition in the PFL cage in 2021–contrary to some interest from the UFC.

John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor
John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh slams Claressa Shields for telling MMA fans to "bow down"

Tom Taylor - December 9, 2020

Famed MMA coach John Kavanagh has some choice words for boxing star Claressa Shields, who recently told MMA fans to “bow down” to her. Shields is widely regarded as the best female boxer in the world, and is slated to make her MMA debut in the PFL cage in 2021. Ahead of her debut, Shields is demanding respect from MMA fans for being bold enough to make the transition between sports.

Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor
Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Claressa Shields: "MMA fans need to bow down and kiss my feet"

Adam Martin - December 9, 2020

The No. 1 pound-for-pound female boxer in the world, Claressa Shields, says that “MMA fans need to bow down and kiss her feet” ahead of her pro debut. Shields, a former Olympic gold medalist in boxing, has been teasing a debut in mixed martial arts for a few years now. Many thought that she would sign with the UFC outright due to her name recognition in boxing, but Shields surprised the MMA world when she decided to sign with PFL, instead. The Flint, Michigan native will make her mixed martial arts debut sometime in 2021 in a non-tournament bout in PFL, and it’s a big deal.

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