BET Awards 2025: Claressa Shields Is Boxing’s Greatest—and Still Fighting for Her Flowers
If you ask Claressa Shields who the greatest is, she won’t hesitate to say it’s her—and she has the resume to prove it. Olympic gold medalist. Undisputed champion across multiple weight classes. Undefeated record. Claressa “T-Rex” Shields is the most accomplished woman in boxing history. But despite all the accolades, she’s still fighting—for visibility, respect, and the recognition that should’ve come long ago.
Her nomination for Sportswoman of the Year at the 2025 BET Awards is more than overdue. It’s a recognition of a trailblazer who has rewritten the rules of her sport and demanded to be seen not just as a women’s champion—but as the champion.
Raised in Flint, Michigan, Shields discovered boxing at age 11 and quickly rose through the amateur ranks. By the time she was 17, she was making Olympic history as the first American woman to win boxing gold. She did it again in 2016, becoming the only U.S. boxer—male or female—to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals.
That would’ve been enough for most athletes. Not Claressa.
In the pro ranks, she climbed faster than promoters could keep up. She unified titles in multiple weight classes, becoming the first boxer in the four-belt era to hold undisputed titles in two divisions. Her footwork, defensive mastery, and relentless aggression in the ring made her nearly untouchable. And her mouth? Just as fast. Just as powerful.
But where men in boxing are praised for trash talk and bravado, Shields has often been met with resistance. She doesn’t fit the mold. She doesn’t shrink herself. And that has made her a target—for double standards, underpromotion, and lowball deals. Still, she fights.
Her crossover into MMA proved that she’s more than just a boxer—she’s a combat sports threat. And yet, her biggest fight remains the same: making sure Black women in combat sports get their due.
Claressa has used her platform to speak out against inequality in boxing—pay gaps, marketing failures, and media disrespect. She’s called out promoters. She’s challenged networks. And she’s made it clear: her greatness is not up for debate.
She’s also made it personal. Claressa has opened up about her upbringing in Flint, the trauma she endured, and the obstacles she faced as a young Black girl trying to break into a male-dominated world. She’s not just a fighter—she’s a survivor. And that grit shows up every time she steps into the ring.
Beyond the gloves, Claressa is building a legacy as a businesswoman and activist. She’s launched training programs, opened her own gym, and continues to invest in her hometown. She mentors young girls, speaks at schools, and reminds kids in Flint that their dreams are valid—even when the world says otherwise.
She’s also changing how women’s fights are marketed. With high-profile matchups against the likes of Christina Hammer and Savannah Marshall, Shields has proven that women’s bouts can headline, sell out arenas, and bring in real numbers. Her Showtime cards helped usher in a new era of televised women’s boxing.
At the 2025 BET Awards, her nomination is more than just a nod to her stats. It’s a moment of cultural validation. Claressa has always carried herself like a champion—now she’s being celebrated like one.
She calls herself the GWOAT—the Greatest Woman of All Time. And the facts back her up. But even more than the belts and records, her impact lies in what she’s made possible for the next generation: a path to the ring with fewer barriers and more belief.
She doesn’t just fight in the ring. She fights for a future where girls like her don’t have to.
