Why She's the GWOAT

Why She's the GWOAT In the debate over the greatest woman boxer of all time, one name now towers above the rest—Claressa “T-Rex” Shields. She doesn't just call herself the GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time); she has built an unassailable résumé that turns the moniker from self-promotion into simple truth. At just 31, Shields has collected 18 major world championships across an unprecedented five weight classes. She became undisputed at middleweight twice, unified the light middleweight division, and in February 2025 made history by claiming the undisputed heavyweight crown. She holds the record for becoming a multi-division champion in the fewest professional fights. With a perfect 18-0 record, her amateur career was equally staggering—back-to-back Olympic gold medals that announced her to the world. ESPN and The Ring consistently rank her the pound-for-pound queen, a position she has earned through relentless dominance across multiple divisions. Other legends still crave the throne. Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano remain icons whose pioneer spirit ensures their names will be mentioned in any GWOAT conversation for years. Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner has openly called for a fight with Shields, but the undeniable reality is that Baumgardner is simply too small—her power and frame belong several divisions below where Shields now operates. A more realistic future threat may come from Lauren Price, the Olympic gold medalist who is unbeaten as a professional and rising swiftly through the welterweight ranks; a clash between them could materialise once Price settles further into the paid ranks. Meanwhile, Ellie Scotney is carving out her own reputation with impressive, technically sound performances in the super bantamweight division, quietly doing the good work that pushes women's boxing forward. Then there is the name we believe will ultimately inherit the GWOAT throne: Caroline Dubois. The unbeaten WBC lightweight champion (12-0-1, 5 KOs) possesses technical sharpness, spiteful power, and fearless ambition reminiscent of a young Shields. Still only 24, Dubois already headlines major all-female cards, most recently set to face Terri Harper in a lightweight unification bout at the historic MVPW-01 event in London. She moves with a poise that hints at greatness to come—and she's hungry to chase that very status. Speaking of MVP (Most Valuable Promotions), the outfit markets itself as the “global home for women's boxing” and has launched MVPW, a dedicated platform for the sport. There is substance to that claim: they stage all-female fight nights, represent elite fighters, and have secured major broadcast deals with ESPN and Sky Sports. But the branding rings somewhat hollow while the GWOAT herself fights elsewhere. Shields confirmed she was “super close” to signing with MVP but ultimately rejected the offer, later stating bluntly, “I'm never going to sign to an MVP.” She instead signed a landmark $8 million deal with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records. You simply cannot be the definitive home of women's boxing without the greatest to ever do it. As Shields continues to stack historic milestones, Dubois watches, learns, and builds a case that one day the torch will be passed. For now, though, the crown sits securely on the head of the woman from Flint. Claressa Shields is the undisputed GWOAT, and the boxing world is her kingdom. Photo credit: Claressa Shields Facebook

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