Boxing Live: Claressa Shields is a well-known athlete in the field after claiming several world titles as well as two gold medals at the Olympics.
But she thinks they may bring in a thrilling new age for women’s professional boxing with opponents progressing through championship class as well.
Shields anticipates a series of high-profile battles with all the top female boxers in her weight class, inspired by the ‘Four Kings’ era, which saw Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran, and Marvin Hagler square off against one another.
Naturally, why not? If I had to think of the “Four Queens” right now, Shields told Sky Sports, “if you speak about the middleweight class plus super-middleweight division, we have myself, you got Franchon [Crews-Dezurn], you got Savannah Marshall, and you had Shadasia Green.”
Shields defeated Savannah Marshall through boxing to claim the title of undisputed middleweight champion, but he is still open to a rematch.
To compete against Franchon Crews-Dezurn for the undisputed super-middleweight belt in July, Marshall is increasing his weight to 168 pounds.
Green, who has a perfect 12-0 (11) record, is the required challenger for the WBC super-middleweight championship.
Shields will compete against substitute opponent Maricela Cornejo on Saturday night in Detroit, the hometown of Tommy Hearns and the renowned Kronk gym.
“Tommy was the skinniest, but he packed a powerful punch and always had that Detroit meanness, so it means a lot to see him and to know that he is rooting for me. He’s watching me now because I grew up watching him,” said Shields.
“Big-time boxing is returning to Detroit,” I said. “More significant conflicts will result from this in Detroit, but it all starts with me. I’m thus eager about that.”
It’s yet another crucial period in Shields’ career. “It’s a big deal. I’ll get the opportunity to compete in front of 15,000 spectators,” she declared.
“Women’s boxing has been thriving in the US, but not quite at the same rate as in the UK since we haven’t been given the possibilities.
“Being able to compete in front of 15,000 spectators at Little Caesars Arena, where the Pistons play, simply confirms what I’ve been saying all along: I am, in fact, the greatest woman of all time (the GWOAT), and I will be the one to alter how people perceive women’s boxing in the USA.
“This is unprecedented, and I’m just ecstatic that they chose me, you may say.”
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