By Shawn Smith

It may not have been the performance USA’s Claressa Shields expected from herself, but it was enough for a victory.

In her first fight of the tournament after receiving a first-round bye, Shields was victorious over Ioraslava Iakushina of Russia via a unanimous decision.

“It was my first fight. I couldn't get her timing,” Shields told NBC Sports’ Chris Mannix. “I had to fight on the inside.”

Shields is now just two victories away from becoming the first American boxer to ever win two Olympic gold medals, something she hopes will increase the respect she receives in the boxing industry.

“When I won at 17, I wasn't respected. Honestly, I'm still not respected,” Shields said. “Maybe the boxing world will respect me now, after I become the first American boxer to win two Olympic Gold medals.”

Kazakhstan claimed its fourth straight Olympic gold at 69kg. with Daniyar Yeleussinov’s unanimous decision victory over Shakhram Giyasov in the main event of the evening.

Tomorrow’s session will include a semi-final bout for Britain’s Nicola Adams and USA’s Shakur Stevenson.

Quick results:

Women’s lightweight (60kg.): Junhua Yin (CHN) def. Mira Potkonen (FIN)

Women’s lightweight (60kg.): Estelle Mossely (FRA) def. Anastasiia Beliakova (RUS)

Women’s middleweight (75kg.): Claresa Shields (USA) def. Iaroslava Iakushina (RUS)

Women’s middleweight (75kg.): Dariga Shakimova (KAZ) def. Khadija Mardi (MAR)

Women’s middleweight (75kg.): Qian Li (CHN) def. Andeia Bandeira (BRA)

Women’s middleweight (75kg.): Nouchka Fontijn (NED) def. Savannah Marshall (GBR)

Men’s flyweight (52kg.): Shakhobidin Zoirov (UZB) def. Elvin Mamishzada (AZE)

Men’s flyweight (52kg.): Yoel Finol (VEN) def. Mohamed Flissi (ALG)

Men’s flyweight (52kg.): Misha Aloian (RUS) def. Ceiber Avila (COL)

Men’s flyweight (52kg.): Jianguan Hu (CHN) def. Yosbany Veitia (CUB)

Men’s welterweight (69kg.): Daniyar Yeleussinov (KAZ) def. Shakhram Giyasov (UZB)