Claressa Shields Dominant, Takes 168-Pound Titles from Nikki Adler

Some may have doubted her prowess inside the ring against such an accomplished pro, but two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields proved on Friday night that she is just as good as a pro as she was an amateur.

Shields was nearly flawless inside the MGM Grand Detroit in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation on Showtime. The Michigander was precise throughout her encounter with reigning super middleweight champion Nikki Adler and she picked her apart round after round. Shields (4-0, 2 KO) missed virtually nothing as she routinely rapped the German across the head and to the body. When Shields felt that Adler was ready to go, the American turned up the heat and unloaded on her until referee Michael Griffin had no choice but to intervene.

The end came officially at 1:34 of the fifth round, allowing Shields to capture the WBC and IBF female 168-pound titles. There is no word on when the budding star will fight next and she didn’t address the proposed boxing “super fight” with MMA icon Cris “Cyborg” Justino.

In the co-feature, featherweight prospect Jesse Angel Hernandez bolstered his pro ledger to 9-1 by scoring his seventh knockout when he bludgeoned Vladmir Tikhonov (16-1, 9 KOs). Hernandez was dominant from the start and when he rocked his foe in the fifth, he unloaded a volley of punches until referee Ansel Steward stepped in. The end came at 2:25 of the frame.