Fans React As Claressa Shields Moves Up To Heavyweight – ‘This Is Wild, Are You Serious?’
Boxing fans have reacted to Claressa Shields’ next fight, as she will take on WBC Heavyweight Champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.
The fight will take place on July 27 from Detroit. The decision has drawn many talking points, given Shields’ career. She became undisputed at 154 pounds before moving up to 160 to do the same. A win against Savannah Marshall in 2022 won her all the belts at middleweight. She followed that up with a successful title defense against Maricela Cornejo. Shields then decided to sign with the PFL. She won on her debut against Kelsey De Santis on the PFL vs. Bellator Champs card.
Now, she is turning her attention to boxing. Shields will have to jump up three weight classes from 160 to heavyweight. While this is less than what the men’s division does, it is still a tough task. Vidal’s has a 7-1 record. Two of her wins are by knockout. Her last loss was against Alejandra Jimenez in 2017.
But since then, she has won five fights in a row. Shields’ decision also raises doubts about whether she will return to 160. Fighters have shown previously that they are no longer the same after coming down from heavyweight. Roy Jones Jr.’s career stalled once he moved up to heavyweight to box John Ruiz to beat him for the WBA Heavyweight Title. Shields will have to guard against this.
Reaction
“The Queen of Boxing is back. I’m so excited to return to the ring, especially after my MMA victory in February. I’m excited to bring another entertaining fight to Little Caesars Arena. Last time 12,000 fans filled the arena, and this time we’re going to lift the roof off the building.
“This is a significant and unique fight where I am moving up two weight classes against a very tough champion in my quest to become World Champion in my fourth weight division. It’s an exciting time for women’s sports, and I thank DAZN for providing a global platform for women’s boxing. I plan to do what I do best: bring that GWOAT energy and continue putting women’s boxing on the map,” Shields
“From the beginning of her career, Claressa has been on a quest to make her story a part of history. This fight is one of Claressa’s hardest challenges, moving up two weight divisions to challenge the current Heavyweight World Champion.
“It’s ‘Claressa vs. Vanessa’ for the unified world title in Detroit, one of boxing’s historic homes. There is no better venue for this epic showdown than the beautiful, world-class Little Caesars Arena,” Shields’ promoter (Dmitriy Salita)
“It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s Claressa or someone else. My life is all about challenges. I’ve always faced them head-on, and I intend to keep it that way,” Lepage-Joanisse
“With every fight, Claressa Shields continues to raise the bar for women’s boxing. Claressa embraces the challenge of moving up two weight classes in her quest to win a world title in her fourth weight division. It is a real privilege to be by her side on her game-changing journey,” Mark Taffet (Shields’ manager)
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