Claressa Shields has unified the women’s middleweight division to become the undisputed champion after a one sided points victory against Christina Hammer on Saturday in Atlantic City.
The opening round saw both fighters feel each other out but after the bell went to start the 2nd, it was a much different fight. Shields showed us a much sharper, patient and all around more polished version of herself contrary to the wild brawling style we had become accustomed to.
This contemporary version of Shields was tripling up the jab, throwing straighter punches and utilizing feints we previously had not seen. Conversely, Hammer, who was expected to use her length and jab to keep the smaller Shields on the outside didn’t have the engine to keep Shields off of her. After a few rounds even the lateral movement has all but faded and if it weren’t for two minute rounds we’d likely have seen a stoppage.
After the fight Shields called out undisputed welterweight champion Cecelia Braekus and former amateur standout Savannah Marshall who is now campaigning at super middlewight. Neither seem likely as Braekus is two divisions lower than Shields and Marshall has not stepped up her level of competition in her five professional fights. The next move will likely be up to the alphabet orgs calling their respective mandatories.
