The 16-year-old phenom returned to a hero's welcome after going undefeated in boxing tournament
FLINT -- After going undefeated and winning the inaugural United States women's middleweight olympic trials tournament, Claressa Shields returned home from Spokane, Washington to Flint to a hero's welcome.
Family and friends greeted the 16-year old with cheers and signs as she smiled and posed for pictures with her championship trophy in-hand.
Shields went undefeated in the tournament and won the "Most Outstanding Fighter" award, an honor given to the best fighter in all categories. She said, however, her best moment came early in the tournament when she beat number-one contender Franchon Crews.
"I've been wanting to fight her because she had been talking trash," Shields said. "When we got into the ring I showed her that yes, she's a woman but I'm a boxer."
Her coach, Jason Crutchfield, is just glad she didn't give in to the pressure.
"I was a little worried about her panicing, a 16-year old on a big stage like this," Crutchfield said of the tournament in Washington. "But she handled it very well."
Shields now has to place eighth at the World Championships in China to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
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