Nine years ago today, a new chapter in boxing history began. A young woman from Flint, Michigan, Claressa Shields, stepped into the professional ring for the first time, carrying the hopes of a new generation on her shoulders. Inspired by her father, she first laced up gloves at just 11 years old, igniting a fire that would soon blaze through the sport. Her amateur resume was nothing short of extraordinary — 77 wins, just a single loss to Savannah Marshall in 2012, and an unshakable belief that she was destined for greatness.

At only 17, she made history at the London 2012 Olympics, capturing middleweight gold and becoming the first American woman to do so. Four years later in Rio, she defended her crown against Nouchka Fontijn, earning not only another gold but also the prestigious Val B

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