Jesselyn Silva was the embodiment of the never-give-up spirit that she learned as one of the many lessons during her boxing training. While she triumphed over every punch that her opponents threw in the boxing ring, the tussle with her brain cancer proved to be too steep. Her demise, because of DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), an aggressive type of brain cancer, has left Claressa Shields devastated. Silva looked up to the two-division undisputed champion and wanted to replicate her success by following in her footsteps, but cancer cut short her life at just 18 years old.

Jesselyn Silva was 7 when she first entered a boxing gym and never looked back. She impressed everyone, not only with her boxing skills but also with her joyous nature. Destined to be an Olympic boxer, she racked up two national championships and also became a junior Olympic medalist. She had a promising amateur career as she climbed to the #1 spot in the US for 95 lbs. She had also attained the #1 rank in the country at 90 lbs before she decided to move up. However, Silva’s DIPG diagnosis at 15 made it difficult for her to train with the same intensity as she did before.

Sliva was undergoing radiation therapy, and the Christian Rivera Foundation had been helping her since July 2021, when she first detected the DIPG. The New York native’s meteoric rise in amateur boxing had ensured she met and fostered bonds with professional boxers. One such special bond that Silva made was with ‘GWOAT’, who turned to her X handle and shared an emotional message.

Shields, 29, wrote in her post, “🥺💔 Pray for Jesslyn & her family. I pray God wraps his hands around them so tight. I’m torn ☹️.” Shields and Silva had trained and spent some time together, where she gave some tips and boxing knowledge to the rising boxing star. In addition, the 15-0 record holder had posted a string of Instagram stories where she also penned, “My heart is so broken. Rip Jesslyn!!!” In another story, Shields wrote, “This hurts so bad!!! Sweetest baby girl I’ve ever met.”

Women’s boxing world champion Claressa Shields has fumed over the decision to allow two fighters who failed gender tests to compete against females at this summer’s Paris Olympics.

Olympic chiefs have sparked outrage by allowing Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan – who were both thrown out of last year’s world championships after being deemed biological males – to enter the women’s boxing category in Paris.

Khelif, who also competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was disqualified from the competition after failing gender eligibility tests prior to her scheduled gold-medal bout, while Yu-Ting was stripped of her bronze following a similar result.

Despite this, the two boxers are set to fight against women athletes in the coming days after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) bosses insisted they have met all the required eligibility criteria to do so.

But Shields, who currently holds professional women’s world titles in three separate weight classes, has become the latest high-profile figure to hit out at the decision.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist wrote on X: ‘So they got men fighting against women in the Olympics boxing ! I wouldn’t have stood for no stuff like that!

‘That is so heartbreaking to the women who have to have their dreams ruined by a man. Sad asf!’

Shields first rose to fame in women’s boxing when she captured two gold medals at the Olympics; first coming out on top at the 2012 Games in London before repeating the feat four years later in Rio de Janeiro.

Claressa Shields floored Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse on three occasions in second round knockout win in Detroit; the American star stepped up two weight classes to fight for the WBO light-heavyweight title and also claimed Lepage-Joanisse’s WBC heavyweight belt

Claressa Shields knocked out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse with ease in the second round to secure world titles in a fourth and fifth weight division.

Shields stepped up two weight classes to fight for the WBO light-heavyweight title and also claimed Lepage-Joanisse’s WBC heavyweight belt after flooring the Canadian on three occasions in Detroit.

Spiteful combinations from Shields troubled Lepage-Joanisse from the opening bell and she ruthlessly ended the fight in the following round.

With her back to the ropes, Shields unloaded a flurry of punches that sent Lepage-Joanisse crashing to the canvas.

Lepage-Joanisse rose unsteadily and was floored again by a follow up attack from Shields that ended with a short, sharp right hand.

Another overhand right sent Lepage-Joanisse down again and the referee waved it off, sparking celebrations from Shields and her hometown fans.

“Looking at Vanessa in her fights, she pushed girls back because her legs are very strong,” said Shields.

She knocked out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse

Claressa Shields has achieved another milestone in her illustrious career, becoming a four-weight champion by knocking out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.

After moving up two weight classes, Shields claimed the WBC heavyweight title, further cementing her status as the Greatest Woman of All Time (GWOAT) in boxing

She celebrated her victory on social media, thanking her supporters and sponsors, including NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, who has been one of her most vocal supporters.

“YEAHHHH GWOAT 15-0, 3KOS Thank you to all my sponsors @SNACsystem, @SHAQ, @area56ent & @ivhydrationandaesthetics,” she wrote on X.

O’Neal, known for his enthusiasm for combat sports, has been a significant backer of Shields, not only promoting her on social media but also sponsoring her through his brand, Shaq.com. His support highlights his belief in Shields‘ prowess and his investment in her career.

Historic achievement

Shields‘ latest accomplishment adds to her already impressive legacy in boxing, and her partnership with O’Neal underscores the strong support she has from prominent figures in sports. Her continued success serves as an inspiration, showcasing her skill and determination in breaking new ground within the sport.

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FLINT, MI – Flint boxer Claressa Shields will host a block party at Berston Field House to rally support for her upcoming heavyweight title.

Shields, otherwise known as the “GWOAT,” is hosting an event from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 21, at Berston Field House, 3300 Saginaw St., on the city’s north side.

Shields is stepping up two weight classes to take on WBC heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, 28, on Saturday, July 27, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

If she wins the fight, it would be the fourth weight division in which Shields, 29, has won a world boxing championship.

In addition to the middleweight division, Shields previously won world championship belts as a super welterweight and super middleweight.

The two-time Olympic boxing champion has a 14-0 professional record with two knockouts. Lepage-Joanisse’s record stands at 7-1 with two knockouts.

The community center is located across the street from where she grew up.

As a two-time Olympic gold medal winner, Claressa Shields had some of her fondest boxing memories from the Olympic Games.

So as far as the Paris 2024 Olympics go, who does “The GWOAT” like to win gold? The undisputed middleweight women’s world champion is going with Jajaira Gonzalez, a 27-year-old from Glendora, California.

“Jajaira Gonzalez is the best, she’s like a sister to me,” Shields recently told SportsHandle.com. “We’ve traveled the world together. I believe her and Morelle McCane had some of the best fights back in 2016 to make the Olympics. Morelle made it by a hair, but Jajaira has been around for a long time.”

And through that time, Shields believes that Gonzalez has gained invaluable ring experience that will pay off in the Olympics.

“She’s been in the ring with the best, like Queen Underwood and the girls who are now pros doing big things,” added Shields who will clash with Vanessa Joanisse for the WBC heavyweight women’s title on July 27, live on DAZN.

“I believe Jajaira has the best chance at the gold medal because of her experience,” she tacked on. “I know all of them can do it, but Jajaira has the most experience.”