Claressa Shields became a four-weight world champion in sensational fashion Saturday in Detroit, defeating Vanessa Lepage-Joanis in two rounds.
The 29-year-old Shields has won the WBC heavyweight and WBO light heavyweight titles while also unifying the 12st 7lb (175 lb) weight class.
The unbeaten American knocked Lepage-Joanis down three times in a row, starting with a counter right punch.
The referee stopped the bout after the third knockdown, giving Shields his first stoppage win since 2017.
“The new power definitely feels good,” Shields said.
“I was shocked at myself, I'm not going to lie.”
The two-time Olympic gold medalist is undefeated in 15 fights as a professional and has held world titles at super middleweight, middleweight and light middleweight since turning pro in 2016.
Although Shields' WBC title is classified as a heavyweight by the governing body, the bout was advertised as both a heavyweight and a light heavyweight due to it being contested at the light heavyweight limit of 12 stone 7 pounds.
Shields could defend her new title in her next bout or move down a weight class to face someone like Liverpool fighter Natasha Jonas.
“I've had some great performances before, but is this my best knockout? Absolutely,” Shields said.
“But is this my best performance? I've fought so many great fighters and performed so well.”
Shields said he would “decide within 10 days” whether to continue at heavyweight, adding that he believes he “can compete at any weight class” but will discuss his next moves with his team.
