Claressa Shields is the daughter of Clarence "Bo Bo Shields" and Marcella Adams.
Claressa's father Clarence, who is also known as Bo Shields, is a former amateur boxer. He is famous for winning 27 street fights without a single defeat. He reportedly cracked a bricklayer in a parking garage, which won him $35 thousand.
Claressa was only two years old when her father went to prison after getting convicted of breaking and entering charges.
He was in jail from 1996 to 2004 during which time he remained estranged from his daughter. While in prison, Bo made a name for himself as a fighter.
At the same time, Claressa's mother Marcella struggled with alcoholism and was often fired from jobs due to her reckless behavior.
Claressa was forced to take care of her children because of her mother's frequent absence. She lived with her mother until the age of five, after which she was taken in by her grandmother Joanne Adams. She lived with Joanne until the age of 10 and again during her freshman & sophomore years. Shields moved out after the death of her grandmother.
Shields' father was released from prison when Claressa was nine years old. Although he didn't teach her boxing, Bo helped her pursue a career in fighting.
After serving his prison sentence, Bo Bo left street fighting, but his reputation stopped his daughter from bullying. He also became a vital part of Claressa's life as the father-daughter mended their estranged relationship.
As of 2022, Claressa's mother Marcella still lives in Flint, Michigan. Meanwhile, her father Bo Shields currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
Apart from Clarence, Shields had another father figure in her life, her training coach Jason Crutchfield. Jason trained her for years before the two parted ways in 2014.
Reportedly, Jason had banned Shields from dating boxers. However, she went against him and started dating a boxer-trainer named Ardeal Holmes. Crutchfield broke off their partnership after he discovered her relationship.
