Claressa Shields has her sights on turning into a four-weight world champion after stepping as much as problem girls’s WBC heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.
The 29-year-old has been competing in blended martial arts with Skilled Fighters League since August final yr, successful her most up-to-date battle in February with a split-decision verdict over Kelsey DeSantis.
Shields will return to boxing on July 27 to face Lepage-Joanisse on the Litte Caesar’s Enviornment in Detroit, the place she efficiently defended her undisputed middleweight world champion standing towards Maricela Cornejo in June final yr.
“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,” Shields mentioned.
“I plan to do what I do finest: deliver that GWOAT vitality and proceed placing girls’s boxing on the map.
“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.”
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Shields, who’s 14-0 (2) as knowledgeable, has already been a world champion at light-middleweight, middleweight and super-middleweight.
The conflict with Canada’s Lepage-Joanisse (7-1 (2)) will see the vacant WBO light-heavyweight title on the road as will probably be fought at that division’s restrict of 12st 7lb.
Nevertheless, the WBC class that as heavyweight for his or her girls’s title, with the 28-year-old Lepage-Joanisse having gained that belt through a split-decision victory over Abril Argentina Vidal in March.
“It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s Claressa or someone else,” Lepage-Joanisse mentioned. “My life is all about challenges.”
Watch Richard Riakporhe problem Chris Billam-Smith for the WBO cruiserweight world title at Selhurst Park, reside on Sky Sports activities on Saturday June 15
