Undisputed Middleweight World Champion and boxing celebrity Claressa “GWOAT” Shields of Flint, Mich., and her subsequent opponent, Vanessa Joanisse of Quebec, Canada, mentioned their forthcoming struggle.
On Saturday, July 27, at Little Caesars Enviornment and reside on premier world sports activities platform DAZN, Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) will rise of two weight courses to problem Joanisse (7-1, 2 KOs) for her WBC Ladies’s Heavyweight World Championship and within the course of try to win a historic title in a fourth weight division. The vacant WBO Mild Heavyweight Championship can even be on the road.
The ladies’s tremendous struggle will headline a really particular version of “Huge Time Boxing USA” offered by Salita Promotions and 313 Presents.
Claressa Shields
It’s all the time good to be right here. I knew I blew the roof off this place final yr, so I used to be excited to get the decision they wished to have us come again.
Folks speak about my stardom, however they all the time skip that I used to be poor till I used to be 16. They all the time skip that I didn’t have a mattress till I used to be 17, after I received the Olympics. They all the time skip that I needed to go and purchase my first automobile as a result of I watched my mother struggling within the snow whereas I used to be using the bus. Folks by no means see the arduous work I’ve to place into who I’m.
I’ve fought as little as 154 kilos. Vanessa has fought as large as 231 kilos. I’m not taking her calmly in any respect. I’ve lots of respect for her.
I’ve by no means had the pleasure of padding my document (towards shedding opponents) in my profession. I’m the perfect feminine fighter on the planet as a result of I’ve overwhelmed the perfect. In three totally different weight courses, I beat the perfect and I’m going for a fourth weight class on July 27.
I consider that on July 27, I can be heavyweight champion of the world. As we are able to see, I’m not a real heavyweight and that’s okay. For the game of ladies’s boxing, I’d go miles and miles to show we deserve equality, equal pay, equal alternatives and equal struggle venues.
I’ve been saying for years I can refill stadiums like Little Caesars or Madison Sq. Backyard. They by no means gave me the chance. Now I’ve had the chance as soon as and on July 27 there can be 19000 folks and it’s going to be a fantastic struggle.
I sit up for dealing with off with Vanessa. She does come ahead and he or she’s a head-hunter. She’s large and he or she throws her weight round. I can’t watch for her to do this stuff to me so I can present her ‘you large and all the things, and also you’re sturdy, however there hasn’t been anybody I fought who wasn’t large and robust.’ I’m within the gymnasium placing on some weight for you. I squatted 230 yesterday and I’m benching 185, simply to maintain this large woman off me.
Ensure you come to the struggle July 27. Let me present you what ladies’s boxing is all about. It’s all about nice competitors and nice opponents and proving who is de facto the perfect. Not simply speaking about it.
Folks speak about how I don’t have knockout energy, however I’ve to kill myself to make weight too. Now that I don’t, I believe I can be placing all that speak to relaxation. She’s coming large, sturdy and quick, however I’m coming large, sturdy and quick too.
Vanessa Joanisse
(When she acquired the decision to face Shields) I stated let’s go! I need the recognition Claressa has. She’s the face of ladies’s boxing and I need this struggle. She has what I need.
(Are you prepared for the massive stage?) Folks know my power and energy, however what they don’t see is my coronary heart. I’ve been by means of a lot in my life. Similar to Claressa, I feed off it. Little Caesars can be crammed with lots of followers screaming for her, however I’ll have all of Quebec behind me. They know my story and so they know I’m going to carry that belt again dwelling with me on July 27.
That is historical past within the making. I’m impressed by the historical past of Quebec boxing. Once I received my belt, it was a dream come true. However now I wish to take it additional by beating Claressa Shields right here in Detroit.
Chosen quotes:
Dmitriy Salita, Salita Promotions – Claressa goes to observe within the footsteps of Roy jones Jr and likewise grow to be the one feminine fighter to ever leap from junior middleweight to heavyweight and win the world title. I wish to thank Eye of the Tiger and Mr. Estephan for serving to to make this occur.
We’re going to announce the undercard subsequent week, and it’ll characteristic among the greatest fighters in Michigan and all over the world in probably the most aggressive fights. We’re bringing Huge Time Boxing again to Detroit and making Detroit, as soon as once more, a hub of world-class skilled boxing.
Howard Handler, President 313 Presents – We’re so excited to companion up with two nice fighters. 313 Presents promotes and produces over 350 reveals yearly and entertains over 2 million folks per yr. This venue is the place lots of unimaginable issues occur and it’s an incredible backdrop to host a fair greater struggle this yr.
Everyone is aware of Detroit has a deep legacy in boxing and I can not wait to see this struggle. That is going to be an unimaginable battle. We wish to hold establishing Detroit as a preeminent boxing vacation spot on the planet. We’ve to indicate them what we’re manufactured from in Detroit.
Camille Estephan, Eye of the Tiger – This can be a crucial struggle for ladies’s boxing. I’m right here to current Vanessa, the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the world. We’re going again dwelling nonetheless holding this belt after the struggle.
This would be the greatest struggle of 2024. The objective for us, frankly, is to go to Detroit to take one thing crucial with us. Not solely the belt, however Claressa’s reputation as nicely, with no disrespect.
Mark Taffet, President Mark Taffet Media – Vanessa is a good ambassador for ladies’s boxing. She involves struggle, and he or she represents the model that girls’s boxing desires to exhibit. For her to step up and put her WBC heavyweight championship on the road… she didn’t have to do that. She has the power and braveness to go ahead.
Claressa makes historical past in each struggle. In 2003, Roy Jones grew to become the primary man in 100 years to maneuver up from middleweight and win the heavyweight championship of the world. On July 27, Claressa will try to duplicate that and grow to be the primary girl to do it. We’re thrilled once more to have her proceed to increase her legacy on this sport on her option to the boxing corridor of fame sometime. She has lots of historical past nonetheless to make and he or she’s dedicated to creating it.
Tickets for the July 27 occasion are on sale now and will be bought at Ticketmaster.com and the XFINITY Field Workplace at Little Caesars Enviornment.
