RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, 21st February 2024: Ahead of the biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) event of the year, multiple-time boxing world champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Professional Fighters League (PFL) fighter Claressa Shields took time out of her busy schedule and met with members of the Saudi Boxing Federation to discuss her combat sports journey.

The 28-year old American, who hails from Flint, Michigan, shared her experiences with the Federation and also imparted some words of wisdom as well as important tips and advice for the future generation of athletes.

Shields herself began her boxing journey at a young age, winning two Junior Olympic Championships at age 16, before capturing her first Olympic Gold Medal at age 17 during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

In 2016, after capturing her second Olympic Gold Medal, Shields turned pro and has since won all of her 14 professional bouts, winning world championships in three different weight divisions along the way.

Nicknamed 'The GWOAT' or 'The Greatest Woman of All Time', Shields world title reigns include light middleweight, middleweight, and super middleweight championships from all major boxing governing bodies. She currently holds the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, WBF, and The Ring female middleweight titles.

When asked for advice for young girls who want to follow in her footsteps, Shields encouraged them to do the hard work.

'For girls who want to be like me, my advice is to train hard! Have a healthy diet, do what others won't do,' she said.

Shields also hopes that she inspires not only the young girls, but their parents as well.

'I'm hoping the impact that I can make on women's MMA and boxing is for people to get their girls into sports younger,' she added. 'Sports build character.'

In 2020, Shields signed with the PFL and expressed her desire to be the first person to simultaneously hold world championships in both boxing and MMA. In 2021, Shields won her professional MMA debut, defeating Brittney by third-round TKO. This week, she returns to the PFL SmartCage to face Kelsey DeSantis on the undercard of the PFL vs. Bellator Champions card in Riyadh.

Already one of the most decorated athletes in combat sports, Shields hopes to even add more to her legacy by becoming a two-sport world champion.