“Good job. You did what you needed to do. Now let’s have some fun!” (Stacey Verbeek)
Shields is the second youngest boxer to ever win a gold medal.
With this win in the Olympic debut of Women’s Boxing, she has secured
her place in history…
The first-ever Women’s Olympic Boxing came to a close today
highlighted by middleweight Claressa Shields’ fierce and dominant win
over Russia’s Nadezda Torlopova, the two-time European champion, to win a
gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Shields displayed her confidence even before the fight started, making her way into the ring and feeling it out like a seasoned pro, not a 17-year-old amateur. She looked serious and focused from the start. But a surprising round one, where few punches were thrown, found the scoring even at the bell to end the round.
Round two got underway with Shields advancing aggressively and consistently against Torlopova, but also getting caught as well. It wasn’t until a time out for Shields’ shoe to be tied with 48 seconds left on the clock that we saw the “real” Claressa Shields emerge. With self-assurance, power and what felt like more action than we saw in all the fights this morning combined, Shields took the round with a score of 7:4.
Between rounds Claressa’s trainer told her, “You’re getting hit too much. I don’t want you getting hit so much.”
With that advice ringing in her ears and her confidence soaring, Shields began hitting Torlopova with impressive combinations in round three, especially in the final seconds, which she went on win 5:3. But Shields’ defense in this round, at least to me, as well in as the round to follow, proved why she is a champion. She masterfully avoided countless punches thrown her way by using her head, body and defensive posture as effectively as any professional boxer fighting today.
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