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Claressa Shields

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Anthony Edwards gets a shout-out ahead of his new role! The Minnesota Timberwolves guard is fresh off his national duty and the first thing he picked up is not a basketball. The 23-year-old strapped boxing gloves on his bare knuckles in the lead-up to the much-awaited Saturday scrap between Floyd Mayweather and John Gotti III. Above all, T-Rex A. K. A. Claressa Shields dropped a personal note to the Olympian on his special role.

The long overdue boxing exhibition between Mayweather and Gotti III is finally on the cards. The last time the two pugilists took to the ring, fans couldn’t witness a result as the match came crashing down on the 6th round after the mayhem outside the ring. After a year, the fighters have come together for another face-off. But this time, the undisputed money will have a special company. It’s none other than Anthony Edwards.

Floyd Mayweather in woman's body" - Claressa Shields feels like Money  Mayweather after getting hate throughout her career

 

According to TMZ, Ant-Man and Anthony Davis would accompany Floyd Mayweather to the ring on Saturday. So, the fans expect the two Olympians in Mexico City for the August 24 event. Moreover, ahead of the matchup, Edwards dropped a video on his Instagram. It was a video of gloved-up Edwards, throwing punches at a trainer. The baller certainly seemed to be prepared for the boxing game, even though he would be off the ring. Notably, he received a shout-out from Claressa Shields as she wrote, “Ok ok favorite!!!” in the comments.

Notably, this isn’t the only time when the new WBC heavyweight champion is involved in Anthony Edwards’ affairs. But before we head to that, let’s clear out the Floyd Mayweather business. Why are Edwards and Anthony Davis accompanying him to the ring? Well, this isn’t the first time. Earlier, Mayweather walked in with Justin Bieber and Lil’ Wayne by his side. Moreover, Jarred Vanderbilt is also expected to join the NBA duo.

Claressa Shields publicly backs Anthony Edwards

In the last few days, Noah Lyles and Anthony Edwards hit the headlines after the sprinter’s statement resurfaced again. Ahead of the Paris Olympics, Lyles has done some damage to Edwards in an interview with Sean Gregory. Apparently, Adidas had invited Lyles for the Ant-Man signature shoe launch event, which the sprinter didn’t turn up.

Claressa Shields Floyd Mayweather

Speaking of which, Lyles said, You want to do what?’ You want to invite me to [an event for] a man who has not even been to an NBA Finals? In a sport that you don’t even care about? And you’re giving him a shoe?” And went on to make a case to get himself a signature deal with the sporting brand.

While the Wolves guard remained silent about the interview both during the time of its release and after it was resurfaced, Shields didn’t keep quiet. The boxer reshared Lyles’ comments on her X handle and wrote, This looks [like] jealousy to me.” Days later, she has given a shout-out to the star’s new role in the Mayweather fight. Ant-Man certainly has a star cheerleader off the court.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.

Claressa Shields entered the ring at her heaviest fighting weight and left with the quickest win of her career.

The self-proclaimed GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time) won her fourth divisional with a second-round, technical knockout of Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse. Three knockdowns forced a stoppage at 1:09 of round two Saturday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

With the win, Shields claimed the WBC heavyweight (though technically light heavyweight) and WBO 175-pound titles in the DAZN main event. She is now a four-division champ after a stellar amateur career where she won back-to-back Olympic Gold medals.

Claressa Shields knocks out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in 2nd round, winning  4th and 5th titles – Orange County Register

 

“I shocked myself, I’m not gonna lie,” Shields told DAZN’s Al Bernstein.

Shields (15-0, 3 knockouts) hadn’t enjoyed a knockout finish in seven years, almost to the day. Her last one came in her first title win, an Aug. 2017 5th round stoppage of Nikki Adler also in Detroit. Shields won the WBC and IBF super middleweight titles that evening to begin her pound-for-pound run.

Championship wins followed at middleweight, junior middleweight and back to middleweight. Shields fully unified the divisions (twice at 160) but has already run out of challenges at those weights. Evidence of that was in her inactive stretch of nearly 14 months.

With that came the decision to climb further up the scale.

Lepage-Joanisse (7-2, 2 KOs) attempted the first defense of the title she won earlier this year. The 29-year-old Quebec native edged Abril Argentina Vidal (10-2, 4 KOs) via split decision on March 7 in Montreal. It was her fourth straight win following a stoppage defeat to Alejandra Jimenez in their Aug. 2017 WBC heavyweight title fight.

Shields proceeded with caution in the opening round. Primarily a boxer (and a gifted one at that), the intent was to feel out the naturally heavier Lepage-Joanisse and test her own power in a new weight.

The returns were a pleasant surprise.

“I went in there real slow in the first round,” acknowledged Shields, who was a career heaviest 174.8 pounds. “I’m no dummy. Vanessa is a heavyweight and she was punching.

Claressa Shields destroys Vanessa Lepage

“When the hook hit her, I was like damn. I knew I was strong in camp and I was super strong [on Saturday]. Maybe I can stay at heavyweight.”

Lepage-Joanisse was visibly rocked near the end of the first round. Shields kept throwing punches until the bell. Despite the defending titlist remaining on her feet, the confidence was there that the stoppage was on its way.

Shields delivered in a big way.

A clean right hand floored Lepage-Joanisse early in the second round. Referee Ben Rodriguez issued a count while Lepage-Joanisse’s corner appeared ready to stop the fight. Shields was summoned to continue and sent her down twice more before the fight was brought to a halt.

“I guess the ref wanted me to throw one more right hand to put her down,” noted Shields. “The GWOAT stays.”

The question now is whether Shields will stay at this weight.

The fight was billed as a heavyweight title fight, only because of how the

Claressa Shields ("T-Rex") | Boxer Page | Tapology

 

BC brands anything above 168 pounds. Shields believes she can still fight as low as 154 for the right opportunity, or back to 160 where she remains the undisputed champion.

The feeling of not having to cut weight also has her considering a future in her most recently conquered division.

“I’m the cash cow, the girls who got the belts at 168 gotta come up to fight me,” insisted Shields. “It’s just 175. It wouldn’t be that big of a leap.”

Shields is now 12-0 (2 KOs) in title fight spanning four weight division and The Ring’s reigning pound-for-pound queen.

The “GWOAT” also picked up the WBO light heavyweight world title.

If there were any questions about how Claressa Shields would fare at heavyweight Saturday night, she crushed them just as she did Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.

The “GWOAT” (Greatest Woman of All Time) dropped Lepage-Joanisse three times in the second round toward a sensational second-round TKO to become the new WBC heavyweight world champion at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, and live on DAZN. Shields (15-0, 3 knockouts) also picked up the vacant WBO light heavyweight title in the process.

With the victory, Shields adds the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles to her previously won undisputed crowns at middleweight and junior middleweight, and unified titles at super middleweight, now making her a five-division world champion.

Claressa Shields knocks out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in 2nd round, winning  4th and 5th titles | Sports | bozemandailychronicle.com

 

After establishing the jab to start piecing together combinations in the first round, Shields produced a ferocious second round. The fireworks started when Lepage-Joanisse made the costly mistake of rushing Shields against the ropes. Shields responded by ducking and dodging everything Lepage-Joanisse threw at her only to catch the Canadian with a right hand to the temple for the first knockdown.

Lepage-Joanisse would slowly get up off the canvas only for Shields to rush her this time and absolutely sit on an overhand right across the jaw to leave the Canadian in a heap for the second knockdown.

That vicious knockdown prompted Lepage-Joanisse’s trainer to get up on the ring apron in preparation to throw in the towel but Shields saved him the trouble by knocking her down for the third time, forcing the referee to stop the fight.

Following the win, Shields was in awe of her own performance, telling DAZN: “I shocked myself” and “I put her down three times, so hey, the GWOAT stays.”

She added that “maybe I can stay at heavyweight if I’m going to be this strong inside the ring.”

Here’s how the entire main card went.

Claressa Shields has challenged Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano to fight her and settle the greatest woman fighter of all time debate.

Shields, nicknamed the GWOAT and considered one of the world’s best boxers, male or female, aims to become a four-weight world champion on Saturday.

READ MORE:Claressa Shields vs. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse: How to Stream, Betting Odds and Fight Card

The undefeated American steps up to 12st 7lb (175lb) to fight for the WBC heavyweight title and WBO light-heavyweight belt.

Shields felt the referee should have stopped her fight against Ema Kozin as  she won by unanimous decision

Speaking at a news conference before her fight in Detroit with Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, Shields addressed her rivals.

“Any of those girls who want to be the GWOAT, all you got to do is make the fight with me,” she said.

“Alycia Baumgardner, Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor – all you got to do is make the fight with me. Then I can show you, you’re not the GWOAT.”

RELATED:Claressa Shields said that Shakur Stevenson is the only boxer who can beat Gervonta Davis

Shields, 29, is undefeated in 14 pro fights and was the first fighter, male or female, to be undisputed champion in two weight classes in the four-belt era.

The two-time Olympic champion has been world champion at middleweight, light-middleweight and super-middleweight.

Irishwoman Taylor replicated Shields’ undisputed achievement last year, while Puerto Rico’s Amanda Serrano is a seven-weight world champion.

Claressa Shields Claims 'GWOAT' Status on a Big Night for Women's Boxing -  The New York Times

“Everyone is talking about who’s the GWOAT? Who’s undefeated? Who got the most belts?,” Shields added.

“Who made the million dollars last couple of time she fought? Without a promoter giving her a handout? That’s what a GWOAT is. Who fights the best?

“Who don’t struggle in fights no matter what size? Exactly.

UPDATE:Davis and Shields have had a public disagreement in the past, with Davis making derogatory comments about Shields

“All that comparison about who the GWOAT is, I can go to any weight class and win. That’s who the GWOAT is.”

The WBC title Shields challenges for is classified as ‘heavyweight’ by the sanctioning body, but it is contested at the light-heavyweight limit of 12st 7lb (175lb), hence why the fight is being advertised as both at heavyweight and light-heavyweight.

 

On Saturday, July 27, Claressa Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) attempts to add another world title to her ever-growing collection as she moves up to heavyweight to face Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-1, 2 KOs) for the Canadian’s WBC title. The entire card at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan will be shown live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe.

Shields was last seen in the ring on June 3, 2023, when she defeated Maricela Cornejo. She holds notable wins against Savannah Marshall and Ema Kozin. Lepage-Joanisse won the WBC crown by a split decision against Abril Argentina Vidal.

Max Boxing - News - Claressa Shields dominates Maricela Cornejo

 

Can Shields create history at heavyweight? All eyes turn to Detroit, Michigan as the GWOAT moves up to heavyweight.

How to Stream and Everything Else for Claressa Shields vs. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse

Betting Odds

Per Sportsbook Draftkings, Shields will enter the bout as an overwhelming -2500 betting favourite. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse is the +1200 underdog as we get closer to fight night.

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