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It was the Olympic debut of women’s boxing. The summer of 2012, Claressa Shields was an unknown 17-year-old from Flint, Mich., who had endured abuse and poverty, but found a home in the boxing gym. Carried by her talent and determination, she was the only U.S. boxer to win gold at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2016, she won gold at the Olympics in Rio, making her the only U.S. boxer, male or female, to win two Olympic gold medals in the sport. Today, she is a champion professional fighter.

Shields’s story is coming to movie screens in “The Fire Inside,” directed by Rachel Morrison, which opens on Dec. 25. Actress Ryan Destiny, who spent months preparing for the daunting role, portrays Shields, and actor Brian Tyree Henry portrays Shields’s trainer, Jason Crutchfield.

“This story needs to be told and deserves to be out in the world,” said Morrison, who had experience in shooting action as director of photography on “Black Panther.” “I hope people get excited to learn some stories they don’t know.”

Morrison had not seen Shields fight before taking on the directing position, but has since been to all her fights, “including the last one, where she went up two weight classes to fight as a heavyweight and she took the girl down in two rounds,” Morrison said. “Women’s boxing is incredibly exciting.”

Shields believes the portrayal is incredibly accurate to her situation growing up in Michigan

From her meteoric rise out from poverty and a dysfunctional home life in Flint, Michigan, to a pair of Olympic gold medals and world titles in five divisions as a professional boxer, Claressa Shields has built her name upon the principles of always staying true to herself.

Raw, real, brash, unapologetic and relentless would be just some of the adjectives used to describe the 29-year-old who, against all odds, willed herself to a life and career that has produced varying levels of highs and lows in the public eye.

Critics can call Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) whatever they want. Heck, she has gone as far as to call herself the “GWOAT” (shorthand for the Greatest Woman of All-Time) and began doing so as early as her first pro bout. But if Shields’ story is told correctly, it would be difficult to leave out the word inspirational.

“Being who I am is why I am here today,” Shields told CBS Sports last week. “I tried to make the changes that everybody was saying and it made me depressed, sad and not feel as powerful and strong as I am. I had to throw it out the window and just stick to being me and knowing that regardless of how the world looks at me, I know myself.

“I made a way out for me and my family. I am a once-in-a-lifetime woman and athlete. I feel good knowing that even though people are going to judge me. But I think that Flint mentality is just in me and I just love who I am. I’m happy that I didn’t let the world change me because who knows what it would have changed me into.”

On Christmas Day, the story of Shields’ improbable rise will hit theaters nationwide with the release of the Amazon MGM Studios biopic, “The Fire Inside,” directed by Rachel Morrison and starring Ryan Destiny as Shields. The film chronicles Shields’ run as a teenager to a pair of Olympic gold medals and focuses on the relationship between her and trainer/father figure Jason Crutchfield, played by Brian Tyree Henry.

The film isn’t your typical feel-good, underdog story. In fact, much like the city of Flint, which acts as an intimidating co-star thanks to the grit of Morrison’s cinematography, the movie is an unflinching look at the reality of the hand Shields was dealt growing up with an imprisoned father, alcoholic mother and the responsibility of looking after her younger siblings.

Watching the film adaption of so many bittersweet life memories, like when she first entered Flint’s iconic Berston Field House at age 11 against the wishes of her father, a former underground boxer, and was told that females weren’t allowed to train, brought tears to Shields’ eyes at the film’s September premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“I watched it and I said, ‘What the hell? That was really my life,'” Shields said. “And then to see things I put so far back in my head, it was really painful to see how I didn’t grow up with any food and how my mother and my relationship wasn’t that great. At a time when I didn’t have friends and I didn’t have support, I had Jason and I had boxing.

“I know that my life is about to change on Christmas Day. People will have a better understanding of who I am and what I have been trying to tell people the whole time. Now, I feel like they will have a great understanding and want to support me until I die.”

Flint native Claressa Shields will defend her unified titles and fight for the vacant WBA Heavyweight World title against undefeated contender Danielle Perkins on Feb. 2.

The Salita Promotions event, dubbed “Super Brawl Sunday” will take place at Dort Financial Center in Flint and air live globally on DAZN.

Shields, who is widely known as the “GWOAT” (Greatest Woman of All Time), is undefeated at 15-0 with three knockouts. She won the WBC heavyweight title (and the vacant WBO Lt Heavyweight title) in July when she knocked out defending champion Vanessa Lepage Joanisse.

Shields is also the current, reigning Unified Middleweight World Champion.

Shields adds another chapter to her remarkable career that now includes a feature film. Shields is the subject of an upcoming theatrical film chronicling her incredible life story. The biographical drama, titled The Fire Inside, premieres in theatres on Christmas Day and spans her rise from humble beginnings in Flint to becoming a two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist.

“I feel so blessed at this point in my life and my career,” said Shields. But make no mistake, every blessing came with blood, sweat, and tears behind it. My home in Flint helped make me the person I am today. That city, with all its struggles and strengths, built something in me that can’t be broken. Without Flint and the determination I developed there at a young age, I don’t know if I’d be here today. I can’t wait for this homecoming event. Danielle Perkins is undefeated and a strong contender, but I’ve been fighting my whole life, not just in the ring. Whether it was in my personal life, in the amateur boxing ring, or as a professional world champion, I simply do not fail. February second will be no different.”

“Claressa Shields has been breaking glass ceilings for her whole career,” said Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions. “She was the first American boxer to win two Olympic gold medals. She was the first woman to headline an event on premium television. She is the only two-division Undisputed Women’s World Champion, and she has the chance to make history yet again unifying the women’s heavyweight division on this special Sunday event. Claressa is at the peak of her career and has an incredible film coming out honoring her life, achievements and determination. We could have taken this event anywhere in the world. Claressa wanted to come back to Flint to share her success with her fans and to give the city of Flint the shine it deserves for helping produce an incredible diamond of a world champion.”

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Perkins (5-0, 2 KOs) is a decorated amateur and a survivor.

Before winning gold at the 2019 IBA Women’s World Championships and defeating the tournament’s top seed in the finals, Perkins saw success outside of boxing.

A former collegiate basketball standout at St. John’s University, standing 6-feet tall and 200 pounds, Perkins boasted a successful professional basketball career in Europe.

That was until Perkins sustained severe injuries when struck by a car on a busy city street in Brooklyn. While unsure if she would ever walk again, Perkins’ undeniable pursuit for greatness drove her to a full recovery and, ultimately, to the sport of boxing.

Perkins earned the WBC No. 1-ranked, mandatory position with a unanimous-decision win over Christianne Fahey on the undercard of Shields vs. Joanisse in July.

Known for her power and technique, Perkins has made a name for herself with an unblemished record and relentless drive to claim a world title.

“I am more than excited to get in ring with one of the best fighters in the world,” said Perkins. “I am looking forward to showcasing my skillset to the world and winning my second, third and fourth title belts in Flint. I won the WBC Silver belt there in 2020 and I coming back to make another statement.”

An announcement regarding ticket sales for the event will be made soon.

On February 2, 2025, at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Michigan, Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, boasting an impressive record of 15-0-0 (3KO), is set to face off against Danielle Perkins, who comes in at 5-0-0 (2KO) from Houston, Texas. This match is particularly significant as it will be for the WBC Heavyweight world title.

Shields last fought in July of 2024, at the Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan, when she moved up to the heavyweight division and fought Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for multiple world titles, winning the bout by a second round TKO in scheduled 10-round bout.

Perkins, also last fought in July of 2024, on the same card in against Christianne Fahey in a six-rounder winning by a unanimous decision.While the matchup is highly anticipated, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges facing women’s boxing, specifically in the heavyweight division. The talent pool in this category is notably sparse, with historically a handful at best of boxers deemed of championship caliber.

Claressa Shields will face Danielle Perkins on Feb. 2 in Flint, Michigan.

Claressa Shields is set to return to action on Sunday, Feb. 2, headlining a DAZN-streamed event from her hometown of Flint, Mich.

Shields (15-0, 3 KO) will defend her WBC heavyweight title against Danielle Perkins (5-0, 2 KO), a 42-year-old who turned pro at age 37 in 2020.

If you’ve never seen Perkins fight and are wondering if she has a legitimate shot at beating the 29-year-old Shields, who is arguably the single best women’s boxer in history, the answer is no, barring an injury, miracle, or more likely injury and miracle combined.

But this is the position that Shields’ boxing career is in, basically. She’s been undisputed at 154, 160, and 168, and is now essentially fighting at “Claressaweight,” because there are no contenders at proper weights she hasn’t beaten, and she just has no real incentive to cut any more than she feels like, because the competition and box office potential are capped at a pretty clear level from this point.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Claressa Shields will move up from middleweight to take on WBC women’s heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in Detroit on July 27; the American, who has been fight in MMA, is aiming to become a four-weight world champion

Claressa Shields has her sights on becoming a four-weight world champion after stepping up to challenge women’s WBC heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.

The 29-year-old has been competing in mixed martial arts with Professional Fighters League since August last year, winning her most recent fight in February with a split-decision verdict over Kelsey DeSantis.

Shields will return to boxing on July 27 to face Lepage-Joanisse at the Litte Caesar’s Arena in Detroit, where she successfully defended her undisputed middleweight world champion status against Maricela Cornejo in June last year.

“This is a significant and unique fight where I am moving up two weight classes against a very tough champion in my quest to become world champion in my fourth weight division,” Shields said.

“I plan to do what I do best: bring that GWOAT energy and continue putting women’s boxing on the map.

“I’m excited to bring another entertaining fight to Little Caesars Arena. Last time 12,000 fans filled the arena, and this time we’re going to lift the roof off the building.”

Claressa Shields and Lauren Price are the only two women to have won Olympic middleweight gold medals so far; Shields and Price are now professional world champions operating in different weight divisions but the American star can see a super-fight with Price taking place down the line

Claressa Shields is a unique fighter. An undisputed champion, she is a multi-weight titlist who has also competed in MMA and who will go for a title in a fourth division later this month.

She will challenge Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for the WBC heavyweight championship in Detroit.

The Olympic middleweight gold medal has only been won by two women, Shields in 2012 and 2016, and most recently Wales’ Lauren Price, who triumphed at the Tokyo Games.

Shields does not rule out Price becoming one of her future rivals.

It’s hard to put anything past Olympic champions. She won the Olympics 2021,”

“I feel like when you’ve been all over the world and you’ve boxed and you’ve won World championships, it’s kind of destined for you to be great in the pros. I wish her the best of luck.”