Claressa Shields backed up her insistence that she is GWOAT (greatest woman of all time) in a sell-out title fight against Savannah Marshall in London on Saturday.
It was a refreshing change to all the negativity in boxing recently, including Conor Benn’s failed drugs test just before his big fight with Chris Eubank Jr and the recent revelations that the boxing adviser Daniel Kinahan is wanted in the US for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering.
The sport needs a boost, especially as the fallout continues from Benn’s failed test. As UK Anti-Doping investigates Benn’s positive test for the banned substance Clomifene. Allegations of corruption and bribery in the amateur code run so deep that the sport could be excluded from the Olympics. Boxing is under even more scrutiny than ever by its critics.
Is there enough drug testing? Are the controlling bodies really in control? Who are real paymasters?
Kinahan pumped millions into the sport; elite boxers are grateful for their inflated purses, which has made him a powerful influence. At least there are no allegations of wrongdoing against any boxers who have worked with him.
The collapse of MTK Global - the promotion company co-founded by Kinahan, which he claimed he cut ties with in 2017 - and the scattering of hundreds of their fighters raised serious questions about the standard of governance in boxing.
Thankfully, Shields shone a more positive light on the sport by becoming undisputed middleweight champion in beating long-time rival Marshall via unanimous decision in London.
The 27-year-old American was sensational in a career-best performance, avenging the only defeat on her pro and amateur record and staking her claim as one of the best fighters in the world at Britain’s first all-woman show.
Shields said: “Women’s boxing has been around for so many years and so many greats that came before us, but here we are in front of 20,000 fans in London at the O2 Arena and I think that’s fight of the year. I’m just so happy and it’s an unbelievable moment.” She now wants a rematch with Marshall, 31, in America.
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