History is going to be made on Thursday, and Claressa Shields wants to be the one to make it.

The first Olympic gold for women's boxing will be awarded, with the American Shields slugging it out with Russia's Nadezda Torlopov.

The 17-year-old Shields has won over the London crowd with a combination of style, skill and charisma. And all this success is just starting to sink in for the final American in the boxing competition.

"I'm still kind of shocked," Shields says. "I'm thinking in my head, 'Is it really true? Am I fighting for a gold medal (Thursday)?'"

— Greg Beacham — Twitter http://twitter.com/gregbeacham

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EDITOR'S NOTE — "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.