She captured the IBF and WBO middleweight titles Saturday night with a 10-round shutout of Desley Robinson, winning 100-90 on all three scorecards. It was her first time going 10 rounds, and she had to deal with a cut caused by an accidental head clash.
Gaining extra ring time would help, but there comes a point where waiting becomes counterproductive. If Thibeault spends another two or three years building her record against lower-tier middleweights, she will be 31 or 32 before getting Shields.
Who is she supposed to fight in that period that prepares her for Claressa?
There isn’t another Shields available at middleweight. Thibeault can collect defenses and complete rounds, but opponents at levels below Shields aren’t going to duplicate her hand speed, reflexes, or ability to make adjustments.
Shields hasn’t exactly been sharpening herself against elite opposition, either. Savannah Marshall in 2022 was the last opponent who presented her with the kind of threat Thibeault potentially brings. Shields has continued collecting titles since then without facing someone capable of seriously testing her.
That doesn’t make Thibeault the favorite. Shields remains the more accomplished professional and has dominated everyone put in front of her.
Thibeault’s best opportunity may come sooner rather than later. She possesses the amateur schooling, size, southpaw stance, and physical strength to make the fight interesting.
Waiting years for preparation that lesser opposition cannot provide may leave Thibeault older without making her any more ready for Shields.
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