In her first title defense, super-middleweight titleholder Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (5-0, 2Ko’s) scored a 10-round unanimous decision victory over former belt-holder Tori Nelson (17-1, 2 KO’s) at the Turning Point Resort Casino in Verona New York on Friday night.
Despite going 10 rounds for the first time in her young career, the two-time Olympic gold medalist won 100-90 on all three judges’ scorecards.
Shields, 22, used her jab and feints early to offset the aggressive-minded Nelson. While the fight was a bit competitive early on, it did not take long for “T-Rex” to prove she was the more polished fighter.
As the fight went on, it was Shield’s boxing skills that started to show, as she began landing right hands and hooks to both the head and body of Nelson. Shields showed excellent defense, speed and power punching to clearly win every round.
While Shields, a Flint Michigan native, tried to stop Nelson, 41, who was clearly outclassed, it was the more experienced Nelson who showed a ton of heart and a granite chin, as Shields never seemed to hurt the Virginia native.
Shields Nelson
Landed 225 81
Thrown 632 400
Percent 36% 20%
Courtesy of ShoStats
After the fight, Shields was asked about a potential showdown with undefeated middleweight champion Kristina Hammer, who was in attendance Friday night.
Shields commented by saying, “Hammer is more worried about me, than I am her and I’m gonna kick Hammer’s ass.”
While Shields does have all the skills, a fight with Hammer could present a difficult challenge for the young champion.
I hope a fight between Shields and Hammer is made either in 2018 or early 2019. Both are extremely talented and pose good challenges for one another.
That is what boxing is supposed to be about. The best fighting the best.
