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I am the GWOAT Katie Taylor is #2 – Shields lays claim to ‘the greatest’ tag

Claressa Shields claims Katie Taylor’s performance against Delfine Persoon in Madison Square Garden on Saturday proves that she not the undisputed lightweight champion is the greatest female fighter of all time.

The American middleweight broke down last Saturday’s fight quite brilliantly and took time to congratulate her friend on joining her as an undisputed champion.

However, when pushed on her ‘GWOAT’ claims and status, she said the battle the Bray fighter had to come through to secure the final piece of the undisputed jigsaw proves she is pound for pound #1 in the female game – one place above the Irish fighter.

Shields, who also trained under Billy Walsh during her Olympic winning amatuer days, pointed to the ease at which she dealt with top opposition en route to her four belt success as proof her greatest woman fighter of all times claims can not be dismissed.

“I say I am the GWOAT because what I have done and because of my performances and my resume,” Shields told Seconds Out from ringside. 

“Against top fighters I won decisively. I never questioned whether I was the GWOAT or not I have always been the greatest woman of all time in my opinion. They were going back and forward about it on social media, I don’t care what they think I know when it comes to boxing and to fighting Clarisa Sheilds can’t be fucked with.

“So that still stands. I never had a close fight like Katie had against Delfine Persoon, but I have fought against the best girls in my division. This is not a knock to Katie Taylor, but I am the greatest woman of all time she will be second place until she can perform like I did against a top girl like Hammer.”

It might read like fighting talk from Shields, but the American is a fan and friend of Taylor. There is mutual respect between two Olympic champions and undisputed pro world champs, who will never meet in the ring due to their weight disparity.

The fact they will never fight means Shields doesn’t have to play hype games when discussing her fellow trailblazer – and her break down of proceedings on Saturday was honest and impressive.

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‘T-Rex’ scored the fight a draw, but couldn’t argue with Taylor winning by a round.

“It was way more competitive thank me and Hammer for sure. I feel like it was a draw or Katie got it 6-4. Delfine Persoon is strong experienced and just a very good fighter. It was a great fight for women’s boxing.”

The 24yearold claims she was surprised with elements of her performance and questioned the game plan or Taylor’s decision to ignore it.

“I was surprised Katie got hit so much, I was surprised Katie’s defense wasn’t as good as we have seen in the past and I was surprised at the game plan for the fight. I don’t know whether or not she was listening to her corner. It looked like she wasn’t listening because the game plan keep boxing Delfine Persoon, keep using your speed and your jab, go to her body to take some of her strength from her, but Katie had some other stuff going on in there that probably played into the match. Overall she is the new undisputed champion so congrats to her,” she added before giving an opinion on a potential rematch.

“A rematch could go either way. I’d say that Katie needs to go back watch the film and if she does what great fighters do she will fix her mistakes and have a better game plan.”

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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