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(Reuters) - Twice-Olympic
boxing champion Claressa Shields is making a move into mixed
martial arts, the three-division world champion announced on
Tuesday saying she will join the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Shields, the middleweight gold medallist at the 2012 and 2016
Olympics, turned professional after the Rio Games and has a
perfect 10-0 record becoming the fastest boxer to earn titles in
three different divisions.
The 25-year-old American will continue to box professionally and
joins the PFL with the stated goal of becoming the "greatest
two-sport athlete of all time".
"What drew me to the PFL is that it is definitely a
fighter-first organization, and I can’t wait to be a part of
that," said Shields in a statement. "Since turning pro it has
been my goal to be the GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time) and to
be a two-sport star like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders.
"I want to go where no man or woman has gone and hold
championships in both boxing and MMA at the same time."
Shields will participate in a series of "special attraction"
fights in 2021 and look to enter the league for the 2022 season.
PFL presents MMA in a format where individuals compete in a
regular season, playoffs, and championship for a million-dollar
prize.
Shields will not be the only double Olympic champion in the PFL
as the league also includes Kayla Harrison, the winner of judo
gold at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games.
"Claressa is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete who has already
accomplished in boxing what no man or woman has ever done," said
Shields' manager, Mark Taffet.
"She now looks to continue to make history by becoming the first
man or woman to hold championships in both boxing and MMA
simultaneously."
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Christian
Radnedge)
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