Claressa Shields wins second straight world championship gold medal
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Claressa Shields became the first American woman to win two elite world championship titles as she won gold at the world championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
She is the first American boxer to claim consecutive world championships since Eric Griffin accomplished the feat in 1991 and 1993. She won Friday's contest against No. 2 seeded Nouchka Fontijn of the Netherlands with her fourth unanimous decision of the tournament.
“To be a two-time world champion feels great. I have never had these emotions before and it was definitely overwhelming. It made me feel so complete and happy in my heart. My confidence never goes away. I’m just ready to train and get better for Rio,” Shields said. “This World Championships was different because I was coming in as the reigning World Champion not just the Olympic Gold medalist. I had a standard to uphold and that was to dominate everyone.”
• GORDON: A star in 2012, U.S. boxer Claressa Shields eyes another gold in Rio
The Flint, Mich. native has not lost in her last 48 fights and looks to be a favorite for gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, just four years after she captured gold in London. The only loss of her career was at the 2012 world championships.
To no surprise, Shields also took home outstanding boxer honors for the championships.
