Cris Cyborg Calls Out Claressa Shields After TKO Win: ‘I've Got More KOs in 5 Fights'

Yahoo

20-05-2025

Claressa Shields has carved out a legendary path in the world of boxing. Undefeated with a 16-0 record, she's a multi-division world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist. Despite her dominance in the ring, she's often drawn criticism for her knockout ratio—just three of her sixteen wins have come by stoppage. And now, one UFC icon who fought last night had some choice words about that—sparking a fresh round of drama that could shake up the entire combat sports world.
Cris Cyborg, fresh off a first-round TKO win over Precious Harris-McCray at Fight Night 3 in San Jose, took to social media and threw verbal jabs at Claressa Shields. The tweet was blunt: 'Only 5 boxing fights but I've already got more KO's than @Claressashields'. That post alone made waves—but the context behind it makes it even louder.
Cyborg's win over Precious Harris-McCray marked the 20th anniversary of her combat sports debut, a milestone few athletes ever reach. The co-main event at the Tech CU Arena saw Cyborg bulldoze her opponent in the opening round, earning her fifth professional boxing victory—and her fourth by knockout.
Cris CyborgImagn Images
The rivalry between the two isn't new. They've sparred together in the past and had a public fallout afterward. Their exchanges, often fiery, have largely centered around weight. Cyborg has called for fights at 147 pounds, while Shields has aimed closer to her standard boxing weights of 160–168 lbs. The tension, though rooted in sportsmanship, has become a battle of legacy and leverage.
Claressa ShieldsGetty Images
Whether this latest shot reignites serious talks for a crossover bout or just keeps the feud alive online, one thing is clear: Cyborg isn't done making noise in the fight game. With both women being marquee names in their respective sports, a matchup between Cyborg and Shields could generate massive buzz and deliver one of the biggest crossover events in recent memory.
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