Claressa Shields is ready to take on a new challenge in her fighting career and she has already set sights on her next goal.

The 27-year-old is looking to establish herself as the GWOAT of combat sports after beating long-standing rival Savannah Marshall to become the undisputed middleweight world champion.

The two were the first female boxers to headline a major UK venue last month and now Shields is ready to use the momentum for an even bigger dream.

After her unanimous decision win over Marshall, Shields revealed her plans to return to MMA.

The US icon, who is ranked the best active pound for pound female boxer by ESPN and The Ring, made her MMA debut in 2021.

She signed a three-year contract with PFL and has one win and one loss on her record so far.

Now, after defeating Marshall, she is ready to expand her combat sports legacy.

Claressa Shields is universally considered the GWOAT
Boxing - Claressa Shields & Savannah Marshall Weigh-In - Genesis Cinema, London, Britain - October 14, 2022 Claressa Shields during the weigh-in Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Claressa Shields is universally considered the GWOAT

What is next for Claressa Shields?

"I feel like my legacy in boxing is really cemented, which it already was, but now it’s really cemented," Shields told DAZN while watching the 2022 PFL World Championship at Madison Square Garden.

"I want to be boxing champion and PFL world champion at the same time. Being PFL world champion is my next goal. 

"MMA seems harder [than boxing]. I just want to keep making history and prove everybody wrong who doubted me."

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 10: Claressa Shields of the United States celebrates her win over Brittney Elkin of the United States during the lightweight bout in Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort on June 10, 2021 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Before making her professional boxing debut, Shields won two gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, making her the first American boxer to win back-to-back titles at the Games.

She is undefeated as a professional and is the only fighter in history, regardless of gender, to hold all four major titles simultaneously in two weight classes.

Now, after proving her pedigree inside the ring, she is ready to return to the cage for unfinished business.

When is Claressa Shields returning to MMA?

Shields has said she is definitely planning to return to PFL next year.

The original plan was to compete at the 2022 PFL World Championships this weekend, but her postponed boxing match with Marshall affected this.

Claressa Shields poses with belts after win v Savannah Marshall
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Claressa Shields and trainers pose with the WBC Elizabethan Belt and IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO World Middleweight Title belts after victory in the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO World Middleweight Title fight between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall on the Shields vs Marshall Boxxer fight night which is the first women's only boxing card in the UK at The O2 Arena on October 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Claressa Shields and trainers pose with the WBC Elizabethan Belt and IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO World Middleweight Title belts after victory in the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO World Middleweight Title fight between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall on the Shields vs Marshall Boxxer fight night which is the first women's only boxing card in the UK at The O2 Arena on October 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

The historic bout had already been pushed back after Marshall underwent surgery on an arm injury, then the death of Queen Elizabeth II further delayed the action.

It left Shields with very little time to recover from her fight in London but she is ready to throw herself back into the PFL cage in 2023.

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