Okay! Close your eyes, and think about the best female boxers right now. Done? Who are the first three names that come to your mind? Give or take most of you must have these three names popping up—Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor, and Amanda Serrano. And you aren’t wrong! All three of them have done incredible things in their respective careers thus far.
However, what if I told you one of these boxers is in a league of her own? At least, that’s what new data from CompuBox reveals, according to the good folks at Brunch Boxing. Now, who is that boxer? It’s, of course, undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa ‘T-Rex’ Shields. But you might be wondering what sets her apart from former undisputed featherweight champion Serrano and current undisputed super lightweight champion Taylor.
According to the post from Brunch Boxing, data extracted from CompuBox reveals the top ten female boxers with the highest ratio of punches landed to punches absorbed per round throughout their careers. And you guessed it—Shields got the top marks in this department. Regardless, now the question is, who scored how much? Take a look for yourself.
November 19 2016 Las Vegas Nevada T-Mobile Arena Fight Night Action Claressa Shields Franchon Crews Dezurn Las Vegas Nevada USA Copyright: xTomxHoganx F55I8719
The top ten list ranks Claressa Shields at the top, with a remarkable +14.2 punch differential per round—meaning she lands 14.2 more punches than she absorbs. The rest of the list looks like this (In the order provided). “Yokasta Valle: +12, Katie Taylor: +11.6, Natasha Jonas: +11, Mikaela Mayer: +10.8, Dina Thorslund: +10, Gabriela Fundora: +9.8, Amanda Serrano: +9, Terri Harper: +7.9, and finally Sandy Ryan: +7.6.”
Fans and experts have been debating who is the best female boxer today. They point to various accolades from various fighters—and they are all valid—but these numbers give you a clear-cut idea of how the boxers perform in the ring. Interestingly, though, Shields’ supremacy shouldn’t really be a surprise.
Claressa Shields: A boxing career worth the hype
‘T-Rex’ Shields might have a brazen and outspoken personality, but she also has the skills to back all the trash talk. Shields first rose to prominence when she made her country proud by bringing gold from the 2012 and 2016 Olympics while fighting in the middleweight division. In fact, she is the only—male or female— boxer ever to win two consecutive gold medals. And that wasn’t her last big accomplishment.
Olympics: USA Boxing press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz Aug 3, 2016 Rio de Janeiro, USA USA boxer Claressa Shields speaks during a press conference at the MPC Catira Room prior to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Olympische Spiele, Olympia, OS Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports, 03.08.2016 12:23:47, 9419750, Claressa Shields, OLYMPICS PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xPeterxCaseyx 9419750
In the same year when she brought the second medal, Shields turned professional and in just a handful of years started dominating the sport. By the time 2019 rolled around, Shields had set her sights on becoming the undisputed middleweight champion, which she did. She went on to claim the undisputed title in the light middleweight division and, more recently, in the heavyweight division, making her the only boxer to accomplish this feat across three weight classes.
Claressa Shields is truly a gift to boxing, especially to women’s boxing. She has become an inspiration for countless female fighters out there, who would love to pursue a career in the sport. Regardless, what are your thoughts on the data provided by CompuBox through Brunch Boxing?
The post New Data Confirms Claressa Shields’ Big Advantage Over Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano appeared first on EssentiallySports.
