Today In Black History: Commemorating Claressa Shields
Record-breaking Professional Boxer
Issue #916 Today In Black History, Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Born on March 17, 1995, in Flint, Michigan, Claressa Shields was introduced to boxing by her father, Bo Shields, who had boxed in underground leagues. However, he believed that boxing was a man's sport and refused to allow Shields to pursue it until she was eleven years old. At that time, she began boxing at Berston Field House in Flint, where she met her coach and trainer, Jason Crutchfield. Shields credits her grandmother with encouraging her not to accept restrictions based on her gender, and she quickly rose through the ranks of amateur boxing.
In 2012, Shields made history by becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing, a feat she repeated at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her success on the Olympic stage propelled her into the professional boxing arena, where she has consistently redefined the sport's standards. Shields' professional career includes numerous world titles across multiple weight classes, making her one of the most decorated female boxers in history.
Shields recently defended her undisputed middleweight title for a record-breaking twelfth time, further solidifying her status as a legend in the sport. Shields' success has transcended the confines of the ring, inspiring a new generation of female athletes to pursue their dreams with vigor and confidence.
Claressa Shields is one of the most awarded boxers and athletes in general:
Shields is an ambassador for Up2Us Sports, a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting underserved youth by providing them with coaches trained in positive youth development.
She is also an ambassador for gender equality in sports, particularly boxing, which is often underrepresented in the media.
On June 19, 2022, her hometown city of Flint, Michigan, renamed a street in her honor.
In January 2018, her boxing gloves were enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Also in 2018, Shields was inducted into the USA Boxing Alumni Association's Hall of Fame.
March 2021 WBA Female Boxer of the Month
2021 ESPN Mid-Year Awards Best Female Fighter
February 2022 WBA Fighter of the Month
2022 ESPN Women's Fighter of the Year
2022 WBA Female Fighter of the Year
2022 Sporting News Women's Boxer of the Year
In 2023, Shields became the first woman to win the Best Boxer ESPY Award.
Shields' legacy is rooted in her unwavering self-confidence and ability to overcome any obstacle. Her journey from the streets of Flint to the pinnacle of boxing serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of representation in sports.
Today In Black History
In 1949, a scheduled singing appearance by Paul Robeson at a picnic ground in Westchester County, New York, was disrupted with a riot instigated by whites angry with Robeson’s political stands.
In 1967, Naomi Sims became the first Black model on a major U.S. fashion magazine.
In 1989, Chuck Berry performed his classic “Johnny B Goode” for NASA engineers and scientists in celebration of the encounter by Voyager II with the planet Neptune.
In 1997, a section of Highway 93 in Georgia was dedicated and named in honor of Jackie Robinson.
In 2008, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) became the first Black person to be nominated for President when he won the Democratic National Convention nomination.
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