Claressa Shields has built a career defined by dominance in the ring and business success outside of it.

On Aug. 15, Shields won by a technical knockout (TKO) in the sixth round against her opponent Kaye Scott, reclaiming the WBC and WBA middleweight titles.

She also made history, but first, it is important to note what got her here.

Who is Claressa Shields?

Referred to as the Greatest Woman of All Time, or the GWOAT, Shields is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games, making her the first American boxer, male or female, to win consecutive Olympic gold medals.

She is the only fighter, male or female, to be an undisputed champion in three different weight divisions in the four-belt era. Not to mention, she holds numerous world titles across five weight classes and has set records by becoming a multi-division world champion in the fewest professional fights.

Shields’ historic night against Scott in Atlanta at the State Farm Arena thanks to Hulu’s They Fight, a feature film centered around the sport of boxing, which rented out a suite to witness the undisputed champ’s historic night.

What made the night historic?

Prior to the Shields vs. Scott matchup, there has never been a woman boxer to headline at the State Farm Arena — now that has officially changed.

“Combat sports are continuing to grow in popularity, and Claressa is a dynamic fighter who we knew would draw in a great crowd,” said Trey Feazell, Executive Vice President, Programming for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. “We’re extremely proud of how successful the event was, and we look forward to having Claressa back and welcoming more events like this one.”

When asked if this was a hard sell, Shields told AfroTech in an email interview that her “career has gotten to a point where the business case speaks for itself.”

“I sold out Little Caesars Arena in Detroit multiple times; we had already proven that I can headline a major arena, sell tickets, and create an event everyone, not just boxing fans, want to be a part of,” she continued. “Atlanta feels like the natural next step, especially since Atlanta is home for me now. Atlanta is the Black entertainment capital, and the city hadn’t hosted a major boxing championship event since 2019, so bringing boxing back to Atlanta felt natural.”

Shields and team leaned into the city of Atlanta as a major sports, music, and cultural city, noting that their vision was centered around bringing all of those elements together.

It was a natural fit for Atlanta rapper Latto to accompany Shields during her walk-out, and fans filled the arena to cheer on the undisputed champ.

What Shields wants to see for women in boxing

Women’s sports are currently experiencing a historic surge in global popularity, record-breaking viewership and major financial investments.

According to Reuters, women’s sports attracted 28.6 billion minutes of views in the U.S. in the first half of 2026, marking an 18% increase over the same period in 2025.

“I think women athletes have been creating this value for a long time,” Shields stated. “The investment is finally starting to catch up. What we’re seeing now is companies, networks, and sponsors realizing there’s real business in women’s sports when you actually put resources behind the athletes. There’s still a long way to go for women’s boxing, but I feel like my fights are starting to generate interest.”

She added, “For women’s boxing specifically, I want to see investment go beyond purses. Yes, women deserve to be paid more, but we also need investment in marketing, media, storytelling, and building fighters into brands. That’s part of what I’m trying to prove with my own career. My vision isn’t limited to boxing. I’m building relationships with Zeus and creating entertainment around the Claressa Shields brand that can reach people who may have never watched a women’s boxing match before. When those audiences come into my world, I’m bringing boxing with me.”