Undisputed Shields Nails The Hammer – “Legendary Glory”

BY Scottie “THE CONTEXT” White

Hooray for women’s boxing who galvanized much more of a collective interest for a special epoch to the boxing annals.

Double Gold champion Claressa Shields long removed from her binominal Olympic badges, a talking point to a boxing narrative that galas a legendary gown for a single fighter out of Flint Michigan. Shields ring-walked could be considered one for the pantheon of boxing as she contended against undefeated German opposition Christina Hammer.  Sports writers and media segways were fueled differently on their charter leading up to the Adrian Phillips Theater at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Viewing Shields and Hammer face-to-face intervention on showtime revealed lighthearted concern on the lead up as both ladies bantered the social media munition of the other. As the minutes brushed away hours, seriousness set in the final days for both champions to wrangle the course in a ten-round raucous for middleweight supremacy.

A verbal metric underscored the neighboring fighter Hammer lengthy title reign with her fundamental pluses could possibly create problems for Shields who was contending as the unified champion as she split the ropes that night. We couldn’t just ignore the amateur pedigree of shields as if the depth of measure wouldn’t influence such an epic boxing showcase witnessed last night. Some fighters, not all, are very active in frolicking through social media matrix in reviewing what the fans of the boxing globe is thinking. Furthermore, residing in a broad landscape where social media allows accessibility for fighters and others to spy their opponents moves in a predatorial shield of secrecy in gaining any advantages rendered.

Days prior Shields has this to say “When I beat Christina Hammer on Saturday, I want everyone’s headline to say, Shields nails the Hammer.” So its fitting that I will obliged the “Undisputed” women’s middleweight champion demands, for she has earned all of it.

With bravado volumes the vociferous correspondence to prove or justify the zip-line of confidence. And what a proven ground it would be for thousands in attendance

On both sides, the women ring-walk was lightly concerted from that of their male compeers. The talk was over as their eyes locked, this moment was grand for both competitors. All the talk is over as the referee enters the opening bell.

Shields first round was patient, calculative and gauging data from an active Hammer.  The jab of Hammer was mentioned for its power in which she fired off early.  Shields virtue was evident, her focused levels up this bout as her compliance was strict, her head movement elusive to the string of a cello. We were witnessing growth in the professional grace of Shields. A visual consensus from the second bell chorused a boxing symphony in which Shields was the conductor.

Shields jab was a rotary turbine, her piston like jab was a strict line of security, one, two, three, and sometimes a quadruplet stick chaperoned with punishing straight left hands.  Hammer bewildered early, puzzled to find an open register to cash in some effective punches but the bank was close. Yes, for anyone understand the love of the sport, these are those salivated ingredients to the sweet science fruition right before your eyes.  A lateral left to right dance swag from Shields as she sees Hammer punches in super slow motion. 

An amazing mirror for Hammer was missing data every round, asking “what am I not seeing exactly,” where is the forward pressuring recklessness, how is the differential much different from the tape we study from her previous opponent and how is Shields head tardy from the glove presence from majority of Hammer jabs. 

My friends if you wasn’t entertained simply from the point of the bout consisting of two female champions, then rewatch the entire ten rounds of boxing mastery distributed from a fighter who firmly advocated that she was indeed “The GWOAT” (Greatest Women Of All Time) bookmarked in the archival greatness of boxing

Observation from the judges for ten-rounds read as such, 98-91 x two for Shields encompassing a 10-8 frame in the eight absent of a Hammer knockdown but from sheer dominance. Yes, boxing heads it’s possible, and the final judge scored it 98-92 for Shields.

Let’s highlight the SHOSTATS numbers –

Shields grouping was bundled with all the divisional title cache, post fight comments echoed this from Shields;

“I am the greatest woman of all time,” Shields said. “I did it. She didn’t win a round. I almost knocked her ass out. I swear, I feel like I’m dreaming right now. Thanks to Christina Hammer and her team. They said shehad a hard jab, and they weren’t lying. Her jab is off the chain.”

Shields greened up her ledger to 9-0(2 KOs). If the saying “worth your weight in Gold”, then wall street needs to have Shields ring the bell to open the trading i.e. 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medal prestige. 

She didn’t hold back now she is the second female boxer ever to hold all the belts in a single division since the four-belt inception but quickly called out her boxing luminaire to a duel. Top of the list is the only other undisputed women holding the undisputed thrown @154-pound division for a potential future pay-per-view extravaganza. If this bout is reachable, the magnitude of grand proportions will set the bar in womens boxing. will set the bar

As for Hammer, she endured the first marker to a blemished right side of her ledger now 24-1 (11 KOs). Hammer is still young in the sport with a lengthy lea to compete if she choose to. A tough rangy striker who was a step behind the much skillful evasive Shields. Hammer mentioned “I couldn’t land my jab as good as I expected. That’s boxing. I’ll come back, and I’ll be back stronger

Merit to this part of the story holds much integrity, the narrative underscoring the fact Hammer was unable to find Shields throughout the fight to inflict any damage.

Shields vigilance was reflected in these post fight words from early in the fight-

“I was just calculating – what is her jab like? How fast is she? I was just calculating in the first round, and after that I started picking her apart,”

With just a couple of knockouts to her professional ledger, Shields seemingly poised in working for an epic stoppage. In the eight frame, Shields landed a blistering shot flush to chin of Hammer that unseated her mouthpiece to the canvas. Shield pounced until the referee halted the action. Fight resumed and Shields gassed forward landing her right-hand followed up with a stinging left hook. On her bicycle, Hammer retreated to create space as Shields cut off the ring to reengage scoring big for the round. 

Each time Shield collapse the pocket, Hammer was holding intently throughout the fight.

“I knew I could hurt her. I thought I finished her in round eight. I thought the fight should have been stopped,” Shields said. “She was holding on to me. I just told myself, stay cool, stay cool. I was trying to get the perfect punch to get her out of there.”

“I did everything I wanted to do,” Shields said. “They say 98-92. Give me 100-90. I won every round. I am the greatest woman of all time. Give me that. You all said I couldn’t do it. Come on.” and I leave you with those words.

Congratulations and Salute to Claressa Shields “UNDISPUTED”

BY Scottie “The Context” White