Claressa Shields dominates Lani Daniels to retain championship

Claressa Shields is still undefeated, still an undisputed champion, and once again goes back to the drawing board to try finding a challenge.

Shields routed Lani Daniels, a predictable outcome that saw the champion improve to 17-0 (3 KO) on scores of 99-91, 99-91, and 100-90.

Daniels (11-3-2, 1 KO) had nothing with which to actually challenge the American star, but that makes the 37-year-old New Zealander no worse in the end than almost all of Shields’ opponents have been, owing to the simple and obvious reality that Shields is simply operating on her own level, and having cleared out every division from 154 to heavyweight, there just isn’t much left for her to prove at the age of 30.

Shields’ dominance, though, has turned her into a legitimate star and live draw in Detroit and Flint, and while that’s not Las Vegas and New York, it’s not nothing. We’re at a point now where the chatter is about Shields trying to drop 20 lbs again and move back to 154, a weight she made twice in 2020 and 2021, in order to potentially fight someone like Mikaela Mayer, a natural lightweight who now campaigns at 147.

Undercard notes

Former super welterweight titleholder Tony Harrison returned from over a two-year layoff with a win over Edward Diaz on scores of 96-93, 97-92, and 98-91. It wasn’t a perfect outing for the 34-year-old Harrison (30-4-1, 21 KO), who got dropped in the ninth round, but there were some rounds where he looked sharp. He was definitely rusty — or, at least, he better hope that’s what it was if he intends to get back into contention, now at 160.

28-year-old heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor improved to 9-0 (6 KO) with a decision win over Robert Simms, a fan favorite, 41-year-old Michigan native. Scores were 80-72 across the board, and should have been, but Taylor left a lot of questions with this performance.

Samantha Worthington claimed the interim WBA super lightweight title with a majority decision win over Victoire Piteau on scores of 95-95, 96-94, and 99-91. The 99-91 score is pretty hard to defend, to say the least. Worthington (12-0, 7 KO) believes she’s ready to face Katie Taylor, and realistically she may be as ready as she’s going to get, because she’s had struggles in both of her wins this year at a level way below Katie Taylor.

Caroline Veyre won a WBC featherweight eliminator over Licia Bourdesa on scores of 98-92, 99-91, and 99-91, which were all fair. The former Olympian Veyre (10-1, 0 KO) is now in position for a shot at the belt held by Tiara Brown.