Claressa Shields wins heavyweight title with TKO of Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse - ESPN

DETROIT — Claressa Shields predicted the fight to end early. But not that early.

After three knockdowns, Shields captured the vacant WBO light heavyweight title and the WBC heavyweight championship at the 1 minute, 9 second mark in the second round with a TKO victory over Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse on Saturday night.

Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) moved up to capture a world title in a fourth and fifth weight class in front of a star-studded crowd at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Among those watching was legendary boxing champion Thomas «The Hitman» Hearns.

«The newfound power does feel good,» Shields said. «It f----ing shocked me. I'm not gonna lie.»

From the opening bell, Shields got off to a fast start, landing a flurry of combinations. Shields fed off the crowd's energy to dominate in the second round.

Shields dropped Lepage-Joanisse (22-3-1) for the third and final time with an overhand right before the fight was stopped. Her speed and power were too much for Lepage-Joanisse, who was making her first defense of the WBC title.

«I've had some great performances, but is it my best knockout? Absolutely,» Shields said. «But is it my best performance… I have fought so many great fighters and I have looked very, very good. Maybe. I have to go look. The way that I grade myself and how y'all grade me is completely different.»

Prior to her latest victory, Shields had won 10 straight wins by decision. Her last stoppage victory was in August 2017 over Nikki Adler in her fourth professional bout.

During training, Shields said she focused on her power in camp. She said she gained 15 pounds of muscle but had to lose five pounds to actually make the 175-pound weight limit.

«I think we were very strategic with that; I was able to eat all of