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Serena Williams sends her fans a defiant message in tough socioeconomic times for Americans across the United States as the legendary tennis star wows in a white dress, looking far younger than 43 years old.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner is now into the next phase of her career as she tackles motherhood but she seems to be handling the pressure just fine, with no signs of stress on her face.

Rolling back the years, the iconic sportswoman posed in an all-white satin slip-on dress with blonde hair curling around her shoulders as jewellery adorned her hands. Showing off her arms and her chest, she proved she’s managing to fend off her postpartum challenges.

READ: “This Happens to Me Too”: Coco Gauff Opens Up on Disturbing Stalking Experiences

Doing so, she sent a rallying message to women around the world that there is always a way back and they must be accepting of who they are, reminding people self-love is as important as ever in this day and age.

“Loving yourself is essential,” William sposted to X.com, formerly Twitter. “I find that I have to remind myself of that self-love through all different stages in my life. Right now, I love that my body is not picture perfect.

“I love that I smell like milk – that milk sustains @adiraohanian. I love getting to know a new version of my body. It is a change, but it’s a change that has been well worth it. So start this week knowing that you are loved, and that starts with you.”

Williams’ pregnancy struggles

Williams dominated tennis from the 1990s through to 2017, when she finally backed away from the sport after giving birth to her eldest daughter, Alexis. Then in August 2023, her second daughter followed and is named Adira.

Williamshad to deliver Alexis through a caesarean section, an invasive surgery that includes cutting open the abdomen to withdraw the child from the uterus, which leaves a scar below the belly button.

Now she is fighting back to love herself once again and combined with her faith through her beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness and determination as a professional athlete, she seems well on that track.

BOXING

Canelo Reportedly Set For ‘Biggest Fight In Boxing’ Before Crawford: “It Will Shock The World”

Canelo Alvarez could be about to take on a shock opponent in May.

The Mexican superstar is set to face fellow pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford in Las Vegas in September, in a bout that will see ‘Bud’ jump up two weight divisions from super-welterweight to super-middleweight.

While Crawford isn’t planned to return before that meeting, it was expected that Alvarez would still compete in May, with a fight against current IBF super-middleweight champion William Scull seemingly the frontrunner.

JUST IN: Ryan Garcia’s Comeback Fight Will Now Be For ‘World Title’

in a surprise twist, it has been reported by Julius Julianus that Canelo has agreed a deal to take on on the controversial Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

“BREAKING NEWS There is already an agreement for Jake Paul to be Canelo Álvarez’s rival in May of this year, a source very close to the operation informs me. The event will be co-promoted by Canelo Promotions, MVP and PBC”

Paul last fought in November, defeating boxing legend Mike Tyson by unanimous decision in a fight that divided the sport, with many boxing fans unhappy to see ‘Iron Mike’ competing in his first professional bout for nearly two decades at the age of 58-years-old.

It was a Tyson that was firmly past his best, but if Paul is indeed set to face Canelo, the same won’t be able to be said this time around, with the Mexican superstar arguably in his prime or just a little past it.

Paul has claimed for a number of years that he will take on Alvarez one day, having previously explained why he was so confident it would take place and vowed to ‘shock the world’ when they do meet in the ring.

“This moment will prove that I’m the face of boxing, the largest attraction. Me vs. Canelo at 200 pounds for the cruiserweight championship of the world is the biggest fight, arguably even bigger than me vs. Tyson.

“It makes so much sense. Canelo is on his way out. He’s going to want a payday, and I want to show the world that all the s*** I’ve been talking about beating Canelo is actually true.

“I’ll have the biggest upset in the sport of boxing, and we will fight to really see who actually is the face of boxing because, after this event, I’m going to claim it.”

While neither team has commented on the report, it would certainly be a huge, albeit controversial, attraction. Canelo has downplayed Paul’s ability in the past.

BOXING

Ryan Garcia’s Comeback Fight Will Now Be For ‘World Title’

Ryan Garcia is just a few months away from making his long awaited return to the sport.

The 26-year-old from California is currently serving a suspension which was handed to him after he tested positive for Ostarine in the lead-up to his fight with former WBC super lightweight champion Devin Haney last April. Garcia put on a career best performance against ‘The Dream’, dropping him multiple times before being declared the winner, although it was eventually ruled a no-contest.

Garcia is now preparing to make his return to the ring, which is set to come against Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero in May. It was initially expected that ‘King Ry’ would go straight in to a rematch against Haney, but it appears both fighters are set to take interim fights in the meantime, with Haney set to face former unified WBC and WBO super lightweight champion Jose Ramirez on the same show in May.

JUST IN: Is It Happening?: Canelo Alvarez vs. Jake Paul On Cinco de Mayo

As reported by The Ring Magazine, the stakes have now been raised even higher for Garcia ahead of his return, with the WBA ‘regular’ world welterweight title set to be on the line in his showdown with Romero. The 26-year-old has never won any version of a world title, although he did hold the WBC ‘Interim’ lightweight title for a period of time during 2021.

A win for Garcia will secure him a rematch with his long-term rival Haney, who must also come through potential opponent Ramirez if he is to avenge the events of what occurred last April. Haney relinquished his WBC super lightweight title shortly after his bout with ‘King Ry’, with the WBC making him ‘Champion In Recess’. The 26-year-old from San Francisco has not fought since that controversial meeting with Garcia, which forced him to take a break from the sport for a number of personal reasons.

BOXING

Is It Happening?: Canelo Alvarez vs. Jake Paul On Cinco de Mayo

Canelo Alvarez will reportedly take on Jake Paul in a boxing fight on Cinco de Mayo.

The pair have been linked with a fight for some time, which has largely been driven by The Problem Child. Paul has repeatedly said that his aspirations are to win a world title before eventually securing a lucrative fight with Canelo. Paul took himself a step closer to securing that mega-fight after he put on a record-breaking event against Mike Tyson in his last fight. It was the first boxing fight ever on Netflix and became the most streamed boxing event of all time.

The numbers did the talking, as 60 million households watched it across the globe. There are also reports that Jake walked away with a $40 million purse. A fight against Canelo would generate more since they are both big household names, with Canelo being one of the leading ones. Canelo also said he was open to the fight if the terms were right.

READ: Claressa Shields surpasses Oleksandr Usyk, Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue with record-breaking win

“Canelo needs me, so I’m not even going to try and call him out. He knows he wants a payday. So, he knows where the money man is at… He’s going to want a payday and I want to show the world all the [stuff] I’ve been talking about beating Canelo is true and I’ll have the biggest upset in the history of boxing. We’ll fight to really see who is the face [of boxing] because, after this event, I’m going to be claiming it,” Jake said

“When I’m done with boxing [at the highest level], why not? Yeah, maybe. I think it’s good cause what happens is other people who never watch boxing, they don’t know anything about boxing, they want to watch Jake Paul because he brings fans from another world. Maybe [I’ll take the Paul fight],” Canelo stated

Canelo is coming off a unanimous decision victory against Edgar Berlanga, which took place on Mexican Independence Weekend last year. Canelo was going up against UFC 306, which was headlined by Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili. That was the first combat sports event held at The Sphere. There was pressure on Canelo to perform, especially since fans were disappointed that he did not fight David Benavidez.

The fight produced some solid numbers. It sold 650,000 PPVs whilst bringing in a live gate of $17 million. It showed Canelo was able to produce big numbers without necessarily fighting the best names. However, neither Jake nor Canelo have officially come out to state that the fight has gone ahead. For the fight to go ahead, there would have to be several parties involved. Canelo and MVP Promotions would have to do a deal. There is also the question of which network will air the fight. Canelo has ties with PBC and DAZN, meaning there may have to be a battle between the networks. Regardless, Paul, it has resulted in many boxing fans having a say.

BOXING

Claressa Shields surpasses Oleksandr Usyk, Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue with record-breaking win

Claressa Shields made history on Sunday night.

The self-proclaimed GWOAT of boxing unified all four belts in the women’s heavyweight division by dominating the significantly overmatched Danielle Perkins over the distance

Shields, boxing in her birthplace of Flint, Michigan, dropped the previously undefeated Perkins in the tenth and final round with a right hook en route to a comfortable unanimous decision victory.

READ: Claressa Shields becomes boxing’s first undisputed women’s heavyweight world champion

The three judges scored the fight in her favour by margins of 97-92, 99-90, and 100-89 to improve her unblemished record to 16-0.

Her triumph at heavyweight comes after the two-time Olympic gold medallist’s undisputed reigns in the super welterweight and middleweight divisions.

In doing so, she became the first three-weight undisputed champion in the four-belt era.

Prior to this weekend, Shields was tied with Oleksandr Usyk (cruiserweight and heavyweight), Terence Crawford (super lightweight and welterweight) and Naoya Inoue (bantamweight and super bantamweight) on two.

But her latest triumph takes her clear of the pack.

She is also the first undisputed female heavyweight champion (175lbs plus) in history as well.

Speaking after her record-breaking win, Shields said: “Danielle was strong, she was definitely a problem but my experience and my skills got me over it.

“I’ve been in plenty of street fights with bigger people and I had to use some of my skills in that today, too.

“So, when I dropped her in the last round, it’s because she got greedy.”

Shields later revealed that she was almost forced out of the fight after sustaining a shoulder injury last week.

“I actually think I’m going to have to have surgery on my left arm,” she added.

“I tore my labrum last week, so the fight almost didn’t happen.

“I didn’t want to let Flint down, but I really couldn’t use my jab the way that I wanted to.

“I iced it, I did therapy and now I think I’m going to have a shoulder surgery.”

Shields is now targeting a rematch with Hanna Gabriels next after snatching the IBF and WBA middleweight titles away from the Costa Rican in 2018.

She continued: “It ain’t enough. That’s how I think. I think that I didn’t get my flowers for so many years so even though I’m getting them now, it’s like that’s not enough.

“I deserve more than that. I’m fighting for a million dollars.

“I’m supposed to be getting paid five. This ain’t it. So, for me, that’s where the fire comes from.”

TENNIS

“This Happens to Me Too”: Coco Gauff Opens Up on Disturbing Stalking Experiences

In the world of elite sports, fame comes with both adoration and unsettling dangers. Coco Gauff, the reigning US Open champion and one of the most marketable athletes on the planet, has revealed that she, too, has been a victim of stalking at airports, a terrifying reality shared by many female athletes.

The 20-year-old World No. 3 responded to a disturbing account from Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas, who shared her own experiences of being stalked at airports by individuals who inexplicably had access to her flight details—even when she didn’t.

READ: Coco Gauff sets out her stall after Unrivaled moment with Angel Reese

Gabby Thomas’ Chilling Confession Sparks Gauff’s Admission

Thomas, a multiple-time Olympic medalist in track and field, posted a TikTok video detailing how unknown individuals have been tracking her movements at airports across the country.

“It doesn’t matter what city. They’ve come when I was traveling to and from Chicago, they’ve come when I’m traveling to and from Miami. And they have my flight information,” Thomas said.

“What scares me is that they have my flight information even when I don’t even know what time I’m flying out sometimes — I don’t tell anyone my flight information.”

Gauff shocked fans when she responded in the comments, revealing she has also experienced the same stalking ordeal throughout her career.

Gauff’s reply: “This happens to me too, I don’t know how it happens. My theory is maybe someone at the airport tips them off.”

This chilling admission raised alarm bells in the sports world, shedding light on the lack of privacy and security even for top-tier athletes.

A Growing Issue for Female Athletes

Sadly, stalking and harassment have been persistent issues in professional sports, particularly for female athletes who often face heightened scrutiny and online abuse.

Gauff, despite being one of the most beloved and highest-paid female athletes in the world, has not been immune to such behavior. The 2024 WTA Finals champion has previously spoken out about social media trolls who target her with hateful comments, but the real-life safety concerns at airports add another terrifying dimension.

For public figures like Gauff and Thomas, the idea of someone having their flight information—possibly leaked by airport insiders—is a deeply troubling prospect.

Can Anything Be Done to Protect Athletes?

With Gauff now echoing Thomas’ experiences, the question arises: How can airports and sports organizations improve security for athletes?

🚨 Stronger Privacy Protections: Airlines and airports should review their internal policies to ensure that flight details of high-profile individuals aren’t leaked or accessed by unauthorized personnel.

🚨 Increased Security Measures: Athletes may need enhanced security escorts when traveling, similar to the protocols used for political figures and celebrities.

🚨 Legal Action Against Stalkers: The issue of stalking is not just a nuisance—it’s a serious criminal offense. More stringent measures, including harsh penalties for those caught stalking athletes, could be implemented.

🚨 Athlete-Led Advocacy: With two world-class athletes speaking out, this could serve as a wake-up call for sports governing bodies to take proactive steps in addressing this issue.

Gauff Focused on the Future, Despite Setbacks

Despite these off-court concerns, Gauff remains laser-focused on her career.

✅ She won the 2024 China Open
✅ She led Team USA to victory at the 2025 United Cup
✅ She captured the WTA Finals title in late 2024

Although she suffered a setback at the Australian Open, losing in the quarterfinals to Paula Badosa, Gauff remains one of the top contenders on tour.

Her next tournament? The 2025 Qatar Open in Doha (February 9th)—where she will battle top rivals like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.

Gauff’s Stalking Revelation – A Scary Reality for Female Athletes

While Coco Gauff continues to break records and inspire millions, her recent comments highlight an ongoing safety crisis for public figures in sports.

GOLF

Tiger Woods comment speaks volumes as Rory McIlroy makes Scottie Scheffler claim

Rory McIlroy has drawn parallels between Scottie Scheffler and golfing legend Tiger Woods, praising the pair’s consistency by saying they “just don’t make mistakes”.

Scheffler recently missed out on The Sentry at Kapalua and the American Express tournament due to a hand injury caused by a broken wine glass stem while preparing dinner.

According to FOX Sports, the 28-year-old was rolling out pasta for homemade ravioli when the accident occurred. Scheffler said: “I had my hand on top and it broke. I’ve heard nothing but horror stories since this happened about wine glasses, so be careful… It broke and the stem kind of got me in the hand. I can’t live in a bubble, like I’ve got to live my life and accidents happen.”

READ:Rory McIlroy Exposes Tiger Woods Weakness in Playful Jab at TGL

“It could have been a lot worse. I actually talked to somebody who did the exact same thing and the stem went straight through their hand. It’s one of those deals where immediately after it happened I was mad at myself because I was like, ‘gosh, that’s so stupid.’ But you just don’t think about it when you’re in the moment.”

Despite his temporary absence from the sport, McIlroy has praised Scheffler’s impressive performance over the past year, even likening him to the golfing icon that is Tiger Woods. The Northern Irish athlete said: “I’ve never – this is anyone, this is Tiger, this is in the history of golf – I don’t think I’ve ever seen a golfer play as many bogey-free rounds as Scottie.

“He just doesn’t make mistakes. He plays the right shot at the right time over and over and over again.”

Scheffler has enjoyed a very successful year, winning nine titles, including the prestigious Masters, an Olympic gold medal, and the coveted FedEx Cup. Even after a minor mishap involving a wine glass, it seems nothing can stall the American’s momentum.

Rory McIlroy joined in with his thoughts on what came to be known as the ravioli incident, as he added: “I think he made enough money to hire a chef. It’s like, ‘why are cooking yourself?'”

In response to McIlroy’s humorous jab, Scheffler quipped back, referencing his wife as he said: “I’ve got a chef. Her name’s Meredith. She’s pretty cute.”

Already looking ahead, the Master’s champion is set to begin his 2025 campaign at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where a monumental $20million competition purse awaits.

BOXING

David Benavidez Hits Back as Canelo Alvarez Blames ‘Attitude’ for Jeopardizing $150M Dream

On Sunday, David Benavidez and David Morrell put on a clinic that will be remembered as one of the best fights of the year.

The bout lived up to the hype as the Mexican Monster edged past his Cuban opponent via a unanimous decision victory. With a score of 115-111, 115-111, and 118-108, the 30-0 boxer is now the next challenger for the winner of the February 22nd Beterbiev-Bivol rematch.

However, other than securing the undisputed titles at 175 lbs, there is one fight that David Benavidez desperately wants. The new WBA (Regular) light heavyweight and ‘Interim’ WBC light heavyweight champion, has been asking for a fight against Canelo Alvarez for years. However, even after being the top-ranked challenger in 168 lbs, Canelo didn’t seem interested.

JUST IN:Floyd Mayweather Called Into Action as Gervonta Davis Targets His Protege

Canelo Alvarez went as far as to demand $150 million to even consider the fight. In a recent interview with Ring Magazine, the unified 168-pound champion claimed that he rejected Benavidez’s challenge because of the disrespect their camp showed him. “I don’t like the way he approaches for taking the fight,” Canelo remarked. However, it looks like Bandera Roja is in no mood to pay heed to the suggestion, as he hit back at Canelo Alvarez during the post-match press conference.

An interviewer asked Benavidez, “Do you feel like this victory would bring you closer to Canelo fight or maybe not?” With an annoyed look on his face, the Mexican Monster replied that even he has no idea and is now sick of answering the same question over and over again. “I don’t know bro. You guys keep asking me about that fight and I know as much as you guys,” exclaimed Benavidez. He “would love to fight Canelo,” given the scale of the fight but he can’t make it happen alone.

The Phoenix native mentioned how Canelo Alvarez is preparing for other fights before inserting a slight dig. “He says I’m being too mean. The way I am approaching him. I guess I am gonna work on my attitude,” stated Benavidez as the conference room erupted in laughter.

However, rather than changing his attitude, David Benavidez has a plan that will undoubtedly lure Canelo Alvarez into a fight.

Ahead of his February 1 bout, the 30-0 boxer sat down with Shannon Sharpe and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnsonon the Nightcap podcast. During the conversation, the Phoenix native explained the only way that Canelo Alvarez would accept a fight with him now.

“I am going to predict the future right here. The only way I see this fight happening is me winning all the belts at light heavyweight, winning all the undisputed titles. Then me and Canelo fight at the catch weight of 172 or 173 for the 168-pound titles and the 175-pound titles,” stated Benavidez while revealing his plan.

The 28-year-old thinks that the raised stakes will make the fight “a hundred times bigger” and will entice Canelo Alvarez into accepting the fight. Given the result of the David Morrell fight, it looks like David Benavidez’s plan started off on the right note.

But at this point, it looks like the dream Mexican bout is getting farther away with each passing day. Furthermore, the Ring Magazine interview has hurt Canelo Alvarez far more than David Benavidez. It has also given the impression that the Guadalajara native is ducking David Benavidez.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather Called Into Action as Gervonta Davis Targets His Protege

Rising star from Salt Lake City, Utah, Curmel Moton improved 7-0 after his fight against Frank Zaldivar at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The 18-year-old, also known for being Floyd Mayweather’s protege, delivered a one-sided beatdown, as Cuba’s Zaldivar failed to retaliate in the eight-round fight on the undercard of David Benavidez vs. David Morrell Jr.

Moton came into the fight after a debacle during his weigh-ins late last year in Atlantic City. Referee Harvey Dock stepped in to stop the fight in the third round after continued assault from Moton went unanswered. Zaldivar’s corner had tried to stop the fight moments prior, but Dock had his back turned. Regardless, soon after the fight WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis was roped into the conversation.

JUST IN: Claressa Shields becomes boxing’s first undisputed women’s heavyweight world champion

After the fight came to a close, a fan on X claimed Moton, in his current state, could defeat even Gervonta Davis, who once trained under the tutelage of five-division champion Floyd Mayweather. Moton, of course, remains under Mayweather’s wing, promoted by the legendary boxer’s Mayweather Promotions.

Davis and Mayweather’s relationship has taken a nose dive since ‘Tank’ separated from the organization. The former promoter boxer duo have also been involved in several bitter social media feuds over the years. Regardless, after discovering the user’s comment about Moton potentially defeating him, Davis could not stand the disrespect.

Fan says Curmel beats Tank right now.

Tank says otherwise:#BenavidezMorrell #BOXINGnBBQ #Boxing pic.twitter.com/ghxQqiLStV

— BOXING n BBQ (@BOXINGnBBQ) February 1, 2025

“I will beat the dog s**t out of him.. shut up,” Davis responded furiously. This promoted a horde of fans to converge on a social media post describing the entire ordeal on X. Even ‘Money’ Mayweather got roped into what appears to be an attempt to fabricate a rivalry.

It’s no secret that Gervonta Davis and Curmel Moton have trained together in the past under the same roof of the Mayweather gym. So, seeing these two former stablemate pitted against each other, fans were quick to share their thoughts. One user asked ‘Money’ to set up a fight between the duo. “@curmelmoton1 you see it. Get ready 🔜 lil bro. 💪🏾 @FloydMayweather set it up! We don’t need to wait.” the user wrote. However, Mayweather is wise enough not to do any such thing since Moton barely has any professional experience.

The next user didn’t seem to think Moton would last long against Davis in a fight. “Literally at the fight rn. I just watched Curmel go 7-0 he ain’t beating @Gervontaa yet lol,” the user wrote. Even though Moton is undeniably talented, the Benavidez vs. Morrell fight should tell you how a hypothetical fight between Moton and Davis would go.

Another user chimed in to take a dig at Davis’ response. “Say that about everybody but somebody in his division 🤣😂..the boy a prospect let him have his shine 🤡,” the user commented. Davis has long been criticized for ducking top opponents in his division, including Shakur Stevenson. Davis fighting Lamont Roach Jr. from the super featherweight division didn’t help his case either. However, Moton is also in the lightweight division, at least right now.

Somebody else thought it would be a miracle if Moton made it past round one. “This can’t be a real statement that people actually believe.. if it went 2 rounds, Curmel is lucky,” the user predicted. Despite Moton’s performance against low-level opponents, he is still not used to fighting in 12 whole rounds. Not to mention, Davis isn’t any run-of-the-mill fighter.

Meanwhile, this user presented an alternative for Moton, which the user thought would be a better match. “I wanna see curmel v Isaac Cruz next,” the user wrote. However, chances are Isaac Cruz would be too much for Moton. Notable, Cruz was also on tonight’s card, where he defeated Angel Fierro via a unanimous decision

That said, even though Gervonta Davis hasn’t fought all the best boxers on his level yet, some people are eager to see Davis fight Curmel Moton, who has barely dipped his toes into professional boxing.

BOXING

Claressa Shields becomes boxing’s first undisputed women’s heavyweight world champion

American Claressa Shields was crowned boxing’s first undisputed world champion in three weight classes on Sunday after beating compatriot Danielle Perkins for the women’s heavyweight title by unanimous decision in front of a home crowd in Flint, Michigan.

Shields, who also won gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, landed a powerful right hand with seconds to go in the 10th and final round, knocking down Perkins and improving her professional career record to 16-0.

The win makes 29-year-old Shields an undisputed champion in a third weight class, adding to her undisputed titles in the middleweight and light-middleweight divisions.

Who should @Claressashields fight next?! 👀#ShieldsPerkins pic.twitter.com/Jebu68wWzi

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 3, 2025

READ: Claressa Shields Hits Back at Fan for Spreading Lies About Her Boxing Career

Shields is the only boxer, man or woman, to achieve the feat.

“It feels unbelievable, to be honest. I had a really hard training camp. And just last Friday, I tore my labrum in my left shoulder, so I wasn’t able to use my good jab today. But I didn’t want to call the fight off because I had asked God to give me a big fight in my hometown. He did that. So I decided to keep going through with it. I feel so happy. And shout out to my opponent, Danielle Perkins.

Man, that girl was strong as hell. Knowing that the fight was at 180lb when I thought it was at 175lb, I had to cut a little bit of weight, and she didn’t have to. So I knew she would be a little bit stronger than what I thought. But I know I can get the job done, and I did. I showed I was the bigger puncher, I was the better boxer. I dropped her. To me, I dropped her twice, to be honest.

And the last one I seen it, I just was like, give it to her. And I dropped her the last round, which I knew I could do it because I’m really strong at heavyweight. I want to fight against Franchon Crews. I want to do a rematch with Hanna Gabriels. I’d love to bring Savannah Marshall to the USA and tap that ass again, really. And it’s always on the table if Cris Cyborg or Laila Ali want to fight,” Shields said

Shields won a unanimous decision: 100-89, 99-89 and 97-92. It was a dominant performance, as the belt added to her undisputed achievements at 154 and 160 pounds, making her a three-weight undisputed champion. The win meant she retained her WBC Heavyweight Title, adding the WBA, IBF and WBO belts. The opening round was tough for Shields, who fell short with her right hand. Perkins was the bigger fighter, using her height and range well. The southpaw was looking confident.

But Shields found the solution in round two. She used her jab to set up the combinations, with Perkins being pushed back. A right hand rocked Perkins in the third as she touched the deck, albeit from a push.
It was the same story in the second half of the fight. Shields became more confident, using her left hook every time Perkins got close. Shields managed to drop Perkins, just before the final bell to show her dominance. The Compubox numbers showed that. Shields connected with 67 out of her 185 total punches. Meanwhile, Perkins only landed 27 out of 130. Shields was delighted with the win, as she took it all in.

Full Card

Claressa Shields def. Danielle Perkins via unanimous decision (100-89, 97-92, 99-90) – Undisputed heavyweight title

Brandon Moore def. Skylar Lacy via 8th-round DQ – Heavyweight

Joseph Hicks Jr. def. Keon Papillion via 7th-round TKO – Super welterweight

Joshua Pagan def. Ronal Ron via unanimous decision (79-73, 78-74, 78-74) – Super lightweight

Caroline Veyre def. Carmen Vargas via unanimous decision (80-72, 80-72, 80-72) – Super featherweight

Ashleyann Lozada def. Denise Moran via unanimous decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) – Super bantamweight