The self-proclaimed “GWOAT,” Claressa Shields (and you recognize what the initials stand for – Biggest Girl of All Time!), will attempt to show her credentials much more in her subsequent struggle. As has been reported by a number of information retailers, Shields, 14-0(2), will go as much as heavyweight on July twenty seventh, when she is going to problem reigning WBC ladies’s heavyweight champ Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.
The struggle will happen in Detroit and can see Shields try and develop into a four-weight world ruler. Shields says that is an thrilling transfer for her, and he or she says the struggle will serve so as to add to the excitement ladies’s boxing is at the moment having fun with; that and the struggle will, with a win, add to her greatness.
That is an attention-grabbing struggle and likewise a considerably complicated one by way of the world titles that will likely be contested. Lepage-Joanisse of Canada is the WBC ladies’s heavyweight champion, however she weighed a little bit below 174 kilos in successful the belt, and as such, the vacant WBO gentle heavyweight title may even be on the road on July 27 (form of like when Sugar Ray Leonard fought defending 175-pound belt-holder Donny Lalonde again in 1988, with a vacant 168-pound strap additionally up for grabs). Shields has, in fact, received world titles at 154, 160, and 168 kilos.
Lepage-Joanisse would be the naturally larger fighter on the evening, however this struggle will see right here take a giant step up by way of class. The 28 yr previous walked away from the game after struggling her sole profession defeat, this a stoppage loss to Alejandra Jimenez in a earlier problem for the WBC heavyweight title, this again in August of 2017. Since returning in March of final yr, Lepage-Joanisse has received 4 on the spin, along with her successful the vacant WBC heavyweight title with a break up determination victory over Abril Argentina Vidal in March of this yr.
To make issues clear, the oldsters at BoxRec have the Shields-Lepage-Joanisse struggle down as one that can contest the WBC heavyweight title, the vacant WBO gentle heavyweight title, and the WBA interim gentle heavyweight title.
Lepage-Joanisse, 7-1(2) says she may be very a lot up for the problem, as a lot as Shields is.
So, who is aware of what we’ll see on July 27. Will the bounce as much as 175 be an excessive amount of for Shields? Will Lepage-Joanisse be outclassed by the pound-for-pound star? What occurs after the struggle, win or lose – will Shields drop again down in weight, and in that case, who will she struggle?
As particular as she is, Shields has by no means actually met a dance accomplice able to bringing out her best stuff. Possibly this can change subsequent month. Or perhaps not.
