CLARESSA SHIELDS, YOU'RE BIGGER THAN THIS...
OUR YOUNG BLACK GIRLS ARE WATCHING!
A Growing Concern
I’ve watched the rise of Clarissa Shields with deep admiration. She's a world champion. A master of her craft. One of the greatest to ever step into the ring—male or female. But with great power comes great responsibility, and I’m seeing something troubling that I can no longer stay quiet about.
When I recently saw Clarissa Shields at a weigh-in wearing a revealing outfit, a blonde wig, and posing like a woman selling her body on a street corner, I felt a deep sadness. Not anger. Sadness. Because this is someone who should be setting a higher standard, not just for women, but especially for young Black girls looking up to her.
We all come from different places. I understand that. Not all of us were raised the same way. But there’s a difference between where you came from and what you grow into. Clarissa Shields should be growing into a queen—not leaning into a stereotype. Her accomplishments in boxing are unmatched. She doesn’t need to strip herself of dignity to get attention. She's earned it.
But when our champions start to mimic the same behavior as half-naked rappers and reality show stars, something’s wrong. Why is it that every successful Black woman in the spotlight feels like she has to put on a blonde wig, wear next to nothing, and arch her back like she's in a strip club? There’s something deeper going on here, and we need to talk about it.
This isn’t hate. This isn’t jealousy. This is love. This is accountability. This is a wake-up call before another strong, powerful sister becomes another pawn in a game that was never meant for her to win.
The Hood Glamour Trap
I know some will say, “Let her express herself.” But when that “expression” looks more like sexual marketing than pride in sport, we have a duty to say something. What we wear, how we present ourselves, and how we carry ourselves—these are all messages. They speak louder than words.
Clarissa Shields didn’t get to the top of her game showing skin. She got there through blood, sweat, focus, and discipline. But now it seems like the fame is getting to her. Like she's been seduced by the shallow spotlight. She’s starting to chase the same image the world gives us for “acceptable Black womanhood”—loud, sexual, attention-seeking, and disconnected from true self-respect.
This is not empowerment. This is not freedom. This is the hood glamour trap. A space where success looks like you never left the corner store. A place where being loud and lewd is seen as strength. A place where you sell sex instead of standing tall in excellence. And too many of our sisters have fallen into it—some never come out.
A Pattern We Can’t Ignore
Look around. Look at the media. Look at the rappers. Lil' Kim. Nicki Minaj. Cardi B. Sexy Red. Meg Thee Stallion. All of them made their names through sex appeal, not true empowerment. And now it seems like Clarissa is inching into that lane too. She may not be rapping about it, but her body language, her outfits, her social media content—all of it is quietly sending the same message: You must sell sex to be seen.
And don’t think for one second that young girls aren’t watching. They are. They’re copying. They’re learning. And when they see a champion like Clarissa Shields contorting herself on Instagram and bragging about what her man likes in bed, they’re not seeing a hero. They’re seeing a confirmation of the lie that says, “This is what a successful Black woman looks like.”
How did we get here? How did we go from fighting to be respected to choosing to degrade ourselves for clicks and clout?
From Enslaved to Ensnared
Let’s not forget where we come from. Our women were once forced to be sexual objects during slavery. They were property, stripped of their clothing and humanity by force. Now we’re doing it willingly—for likes, for followers, for press.
Clarissa, you’re not a slave. You’re not a toy. You’re not a stripper. You’re a world champion. You’re a daughter of greatness. So why play into the very system that profits off of Black women’s exploitation? You don’t need to look like an extra in a rap video to be powerful. You already are.
You’re not the only one, Clarissa. But when the world gives a microphone to a Black woman, there’s an unspoken rule: Show your body. Shake something. Bleach your image. Act like you’re nothing but sex. That’s what gets attention. But what about the attention that changes lives? What about being a voice for education, self-love, health, unity, and real empowerment?
The Image Is the Message
You may not be saying these words, Clarissa, but your image is. It’s telling the world that Black women are still only valued for their sexuality. That no matter how hard we train, study, or achieve, we must always lead with our behinds, not our minds.
This is bigger than boxing. This is about breaking a generational curse. This is about taking the power back. Young girls don’t just need role models who win belts—they need role models who show them how to win in life. With grace. With strength. With respect. With purpose.
You have the power to speak to millions. Use it to teach something deeper. Don’t just be famous—be meaningful. Don’t just be strong in the ring—be strong in your spirit. The world already has enough entertainers. What we need are more examples.
A Higher Standard for a Higher Calling
Clarissa, if this ever reaches you, know this—this isn’t an attack. This is a challenge. Because we know what you’re capable of. We know how far you’ve come. And we know that your influence is far greater than you may even understand.
But with that influence comes responsibility. You may not want to be a role model. But when you are in the spotlight, that choice is no longer yours alone. Young Black girls see you. They mirror you. They’re learning what’s acceptable through you.
Do you want them to believe they must sell sex to succeed? Or do you want them to know that their mind, discipline, and integrity can take them anywhere in this world?
It’s time to rise above the gimmicks. Time to pull off the blonde wigs and put on the crown of dignity. It’s time to be more than a fighter—it’s time to be a builder of culture. A destroyer of lies. A leader of legacy.
Because when all is said and done, we won’t just remember the punches you threw—we’ll remember the path you left behind for others to follow. Make it a path of power. Of class. Of clarity. That’s what true greatness looks like.
Written by LanceScurv
Hard truth for hard times. Always said with love. Always meant to wake us up.
Let’s do better. And let’s expect better—especially from our champions.
Early Life & Personal Background
Born on March 17, 1995, in Flint, Michigan—a city marked by economic hardship and the water crisis, which shaped her early resilience The New Yorker+14thebiographybytes+14Wikipedia+14.
Began boxing at age 11, introduced by her father, Clarence “Bo Bo” Shields, who she didn’t meet until age 9 after his release from prison Biography+1The Guardian+1.
Endured a tumultuous childhood, including early sexual abuse and family challenges. Boxing became her sanctuary and escape The New Yorker+2Biography+2The Guardian+2.
Baptized at about age 13 and gradually turned to faith for emotional grounding. She even attempted to adopt her cousin’s child in 2014, calling her Klaressa, a testament to her compassion The Flint Courier News+9Wikipedia+9biographyhost+9.
Maintains a relationship with rapper Papoose that became public in late 2024. Previously she was engaged to fitness trainer Tony Richardson (now ended) Wiki Biography+2thebiographybytes+2biographyhost+2.
Acts as an ambassador for gender equality in sports and Up2Us Sports, supporting youth development through athletics Wikipedia.
In 2022, Flint honored her by renaming a street after her—a local hero in every sense Wikipedia+12Wikipedia+12Editorialge+12.
Amateur Career & Olympic Success
As a rising amateur standout, Shields became the youngest boxer at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 165 lb division and qualified for the London Games, the first Olympics allowing women’s boxing biographyhost+15Wikipedia+15The Michigan Chronicle+15.
At 17, she won the first-ever U.S. female Olympic boxing gold medal (middleweight), then defended it successfully at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first American boxer—male or female—to win consecutive gold medals WikipediaESPN.com.
Professional Boxing Career
Turned professional in 2017, debuting with a knockout victory in Flint. Her early career included a historic headline bout on premium television, defeating Szilvia Szabados—marking the first time a women’s boxing match topped such a broadcast espntoday.com+4ESPN.com+4The Michigan Chronicle+4.
Rapidly ascended through weight classes:
Super middleweight: Won WBC/IBF titles by defeating Nikki Adler, then defended before moving up Future Student+1Bad Left Hook+1espntoday.com+2ESPN.com+2ESPN.com+2.
Middleweight: Unified WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO titles in wins over Christina Hammer (2019), Savannah Marshall (2022), Maricela Cornejo (2023) thebiographybytes+6ESPN.com+6ESPN.com+6.
Light heavyweight & Heavyweight: In July 2024, she knocked out Vanessa Lepage‑Joanisse to capture light heavyweight and heavyweight titles; then in February 2025, she defeated Danielle Perkins by unanimous decision to become the first boxer ever to hold undisputed championships in three weight classes in the four‑belt era ESPN.com+10thebiographybytes+10ESPN.com+10.
Current record: undefeated at 16‑0, with 3 knockouts thebiographybytes.
Her long‑awaited next title defense is scheduled for July 26, 2025, against Lani Daniels in Detroit ESPN.com+3Wikipedia+3thebiographybytes+3.
MMA Career
In 2021, Shields signed a multi‑fight contract with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and began training in MMA under renowned coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn at JacksonWink Academy. She made her MMA debut that year, adding a second sport to her legacy Wiki Biography+3Rolling Out+3The Guardian+3.
As of mid-2025, she paused her MMA pursuits to focus solely on boxing again thebiographybytesWikipedia.
Awards, Legacy & Cultural Impact
Accolades:
Boxing Writers Association of America Female Fighter of the Year in 2018 and 2022
Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year (2016, 2018, 2023)
First U.S. boxer to hold undisputed titles in two weight classes; later the only boxer ever to do so in three divisions Wikipedia+1Rolling Out+1.
In 2023, became the first woman to win the Best Boxer ESPY Award Wikipedia.
Film & popular culture:
Producer and subject of the documentary T‑Rex: Her Fight for Gold (2015) and biopic The Fire Inside (released December 2024), scripted by Barry Jenkins and starring Ryan Destiny. The movie authentically represents her rise from Flint to world champion despite adversity The Guardian+6Wikipedia+6TIME+6.
Legacy:
Shields is widely hailed as the “GWOAT” (Greatest Woman of All Time) in boxing, credited with elevating visibility for women’s boxing and trailblazing equality in the sport Wiki Biography+3New York Amsterdam News+3Biography+3.
Summary of Notable Highlights
Category
Achievement
Olympic Titles
Gold in 2012 & 2016 (Middleweight)
Pro Record
16‑0, 3 KOs
Weight Classes
Undisputed titles in Super Middleweight, Middleweight, Heavyweight
MMA
Competed in PFL; trained under top-level coaches
Film
Biopic The Fire Inside (2024), Documentary T‑Rex (2015)
Awards/Legacy
BWAA Female Fighter (2018, 2022), ESPY Best Boxer 2023, trailblazer in women's boxing
Claressa Shields’ story weaves together a powerful narrative of overcoming adversity, breaking barriers, and dominating across multiple combat disciplines. From the troubled streets of Flint to becoming the first boxer—male or female—to hold undisputed titles in three divisions, her journey is both inspiring and historic.