Claressa Shields Reacts to Brutal KO of Former Champion That Led to Medical Emergency

In what quickly became one of the most surprising moments of the night, Shadasia Green saw her momentum halted in dramatic fashion against Lani Daniels. Entering the bout as the IBF and WBO unified champion, Green looked sharp early, controlling the action behind a steady jab and clean right hands. For stretches, it appeared she was on her way to a routine title defense before the fight suddenly turned.

Green was outboxing Lani Daniels through the opening rounds, landing crisp combinations and controlling range. Daniels, a former opponent of Claressa Shields, absorbed the pressure and stayed composed under fire. That patience paid off in the ninth round when Daniels surged forward, trapping Green in the corner and unloading a relentless flurry that forced the referee to step in for a TKO victory.

The aftermath added a concerning layer to an already shocking result. Green appeared disoriented following the stoppage and had to be taken out on a stretcher for medical attention. The moment quickly shifted from upset to concern, with attention turning to her condition after the fight.

Claressa Shields didn't hold back reacting to the moment on X. "and this who y'all said was gonna beat me? Fk outta here! Lani just TKO'd Shadasia Green," The message added another layer to the ongoing tension, as Shields quickly reminded critics of her stance following the upset.

and this who y'all said was Gonna beat me ? Fk outta here! Lani just TKO'd Shadasia Green

— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) April 18, 2026

The reaction didn't come out of nowhere. Green and Shields have been engaged in a heated back-and-forth in recent weeks, with a potential superfight gaining traction. A win here could have positioned Green firmly in line for that opportunity.

Instead, the division now resets. Daniels enters the conversation in a major way, while questions remain about what comes next for Green-and whether that long-discussed clash with Shields still carries the same momentum after a night that changed everything.

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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 11:02 PM.