The WBA has decided to finally acknowledge the women’s heavyweight division, days before Claressa Shields’ historic undisputed heavyweight win over Danielle Perkins. With the match drawing attention from all the sanctioning bodies, with the WBO and IBF in particular making their own moves to recognize the weight class and make titles available for the Shields-Perkins bout, the WBA has also proceeded to create an entirely new rankings board for this division starting this year. Additionally, the WBA women’s heavyweight title was first introduced during Shields’ match against Perkins, officially heralding her as both the first WBA and undisputed women’s heavyweight champion in the history of the sport.
The women’s heavyweight (175+ lbs) division had been virtually non-existent over the past couple of decades with the light-heavyweight (175 lbs) division having seen much more action and recognition. However, since the announcement of Claressa Shields (16-0, 3 KO’s) fighting Danielle Perkins (5-1, 2 KO’s) at heavyweight, all of the sanctioning bodies―including the WBA―have made a concerted effort to draw attention to the weight class by introducing world titles and new rankings.
The WBA’s decision to join the widespread recognition of the division went relatively unannounced but did see them introduce their WBA heavyweight title for the first time in the Shields-Perkins fight held this past Sunday on February 2nd. As such, Shields became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the history of the sport as she netted the WBA, WBO and IBF titles which had been made available for her fight. Shields further defended the WBC heavyweight title that she acquired during her previous fight against Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-2, 2 KO’s).
In lieu of their decision to incorporate the women’s heavyweight division, which is set at any weight above 175 pounds, the WBA has further created a new rankings board for the division that includes several fighters already ranked in the sanctioning body’s light-heavyweight rankings:

With the women’s heavyweight division now in full swing, it will be interesting to see the course of this weight class over the next couple of years―especially considering Claressa Shields’ status as undisputed champion.
With a future first-ballot Hall of Famer in Shields recognized as the first female heavyweight champion on many of the ranking boards, the pressure is now on future champions and contenders to carry on the division’s legacy and seek to match the men’s heavyweight (200+ lbs) division when it comes to stature and notoriety.