Savannah Marshall called out Claressa Shields for a huge showdown after she produced yet another dominant display by stopping Maria Lindberg in round three to retain her WBO middleweight title.

The two women were competing on the undercard of Conor Benn’s clash with Samuel Vargas at the Copper Box Arena in London on Saturday, live on Sky Sports and DAZN.

Marshall (10-0, 8 KOs) was in total control throughout the fight, dropping Lindberg (19-7-2, 10 KOs) in round two, before following that up with another knockdown in the following round that the Swede was unable to recover from, meaning that Marshall got the win after 1:11 of round three.

Marshall becomes the first fighter to stop Lindberg, and has now made her intentions clear that she wants a battle with Shields next.

She said: “Utmost respect to Maria. I’m really grateful that she stepped in. On Sunday it looked like I wasn’t even fighting, so credit to her. Maria had never been stopped, and I didn’t think it would go like that but I’m happy with how I performed.

“It’s all about flow. Everything Peter Fury teaches me is all about hitting correctly and getting the most power. I’m over the moon with the progress I’m making with Peter.

[caption id="attachment_36424" align="alignnone" width="300"] *** FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE ***
Savannah Marshall vs Maria Lindberg, WBO World Female Middleweight title Fight.
10 April 2021
Picture By Dave Thompson Matchroom Boxing

“I punch too hard for Claressa Shields. She doesn’t want to know. She would much rather roll about it in the Octagon and call out Katie Taylor who is four weight classes lower. I won’t wait forever, I want to be out in the summer.

“The IBF title is vacant at my weight, and if not that then I will go back up to super-middleweight and win a world title there. If Shields then gets some guts then we can have a big showdown at the end of the year.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn added: “We’re making good progress on a Shields fight. Her teams know how dangerous the fight is and they want a lot of money, but I’m prepared to pay them.

“There is no way Shields goes 10 rounds with Savannah Marshall. Savannah is the only girl to beat Shields in her entire life. She beat her in the amateurs and she will do in the professionals.

“Shields is one of the top three female pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but she is wide open and can’t stand up to Savannah’s power. Savannah is the hardest pound-for-pound puncher in women’s boxing. Marshall vs. Shields is superfight that can headline in the USA or England, and I will do everything to try and make it.”

Photos by Mark Robinson/Dave Thompson/Matchroom Boxing

CLARESSA SHIELDS VS. MARIE-EVE DICAIRE UNDISPUTED WBO JR, MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT TO HEADLINE ‘SUPERWOMEN’ A BOXING CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2021 ON FRIDAY, MARCH 5, LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW

AFTER BECOMING ONLY AMERICAN TO WIN BACK-TO-BACK OLYMPIC BOXING GOLD MEDALS, WINNING NINE WORLD TITLES IN THREE WEIGHT DIVISIONS FASTER THAN ANY MAN OR WOMAN IN HISTORY, AND UNDISPUTED MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION, TRAILBLAZER SHIELDS ATTEMPTS TO AGAIN GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BY WINNING SECOND UNDISPUTED WORLD TITLE

In the 10-round main event of “SUPERWOMEN,’ an herstoric night of live, all-female pay-per-view boxing (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) celebrating women’s sports and dedicated to International Women’s Day 2021, undefeated three-division world champion Claressa Shields will attempt to become the first boxer in the four-belt era to become an undisputed WBO world champion in two weight divisions when she faces unbeaten IBF Champion Marie-Eve Dicaire in a 154-pound unification bout between the #1 and #2 junior middleweights in the world.

Presented by Salita Promotions in association with Groupe Yvon Michel, the pay-per-view telecast will be available at a suggested retail price of just $29.95 and will be distributed by InDemand to all major cable, satellite and telco outlets and livestreamed by FITE TV through the www.FITE.tv portal. ‘SUPERWOMEN’ will be held on Friday, March 5, from the Dort Financial Center in Shields’ hometown of Flint, Michigan.

The winner of the women’s superfight will walk away with Shields’ WBC and WBO titles, Dicaire’s IBF belt, and the WBA (Super) crown, the first time in its 99-year history that the WBA has awarded a Super Champion belt to a female boxer. In the four-belt era, only seven fighters have been undisputed in one division, including Shields, Katie Taylor, Cecilia Braekhus, Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor, Terence Crawford, and Oleksandr Usyk. Shields, if victorious, will make history as the first man or woman to have become undisputed champion in two weight divisions in the four-belt era.

With the pandemic taking a serious bite out of the sport in 2020, ‘SUPERWOMEN’ will demonstrate and celebrate the power and empowerment of women in combat sports for 2021 and beyond by providing an entire evening of fights featuring some of the best female boxers in the world. Appropriately, the event is dedicated to this year’s International Women’s day (Monday, March 8, 2021) and its theme of #ChooseToChallenge, that looks to call out gender bias and inequity and celebrate women’s achievements.
The most accomplished amateur boxer in U.S. history, 25-year-old Shields (10-0, 2 KOs) is the first American boxer – male or female – to win two consecutive Olympic Gold Medals. She turned professional following the 2016 Olympics and headlined the first women’s boxing main event in premium cable television history in just her second professional fight in 2017.

Shields became Unified Super Middleweight World Champion in just her fourth professional fight, the Unified Middleweight World Champion in her sixth professional fight and Unified Super Welterweight World Champion in her tenth fight. She now holds the record for becoming a two- and three-weight world champion in the fewest professional fights. Shields participated in the biggest fight in women’s boxing history by beating Christina Hammer for the Undisputed Middleweight Championship of the World on April 13, 2019. On January 10 in Atlantic City, N.J., Shields became the fastest fighter in history, male or female, to win world titles in three different weight divisions by claiming the WBC and WBO 154-pound world championships with a dominating unanimous decision over Ivana Habazin.

“I’m excited to be fighting another undefeated champion and to have the opportunity to make history by becoming the first fighter – male or female – to be undisputed champion in two weight divisions in the four-belt era,” said Claressa Shields. “Headlining my first pay-per-view event with this historic all-women’s card, particularly at such an important time in the evolution of women’s boxing and around the International Women’s Day celebration, is so meaningful to me. We’re going to put on one heck of a show for the world to see. It’s one big step for boxing and one giant step for Womankind. I can’t wait to fight Marie Eve Dicaire on March 5.”

34-year-old Dicaire (17-0) is from Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada, and started karate at the age of six. She worked her way up through the ranks until she obtained her black belt. After winning five world championship titles, Dicaire turned her attention to boxing and won the IBF Super Welterweight World Championship in December 2018 by dethroning Uruguay’s Chris Namus at the Quebec City Videotron Center. In her last fight, in November 2019, Dicaire defended her title for the third time beating experienced Venezuelan Ogleidis Suarez by unanimous decision. Dicaire will be fighting outside of the province of Quebec for the first time on March 5.

“I’m happy to finally be able to get back in the ring and face Claressa Shields,” said Dicaire. “It’s been a year now that I’ve been preparing exclusively for this fight. I’m used to making history in women’s boxing. I was the first woman to lead an event in a major amphitheater in Canada. On two occasions, my IBF defenses have been shown on pay-per-view in Canada. I have a lot of respect for everything Shields has accomplished; I am excited about this opportunity for my career and for the advancement of international women’s boxing. Like Claressa I am undefeated and, just like her, I am coming to defend my world crown. We are going to have a lot of fun on March 5 measuring our skills, without restraints, and putting on a grandiose and memorable show. We have been waiting for this moment for a very long time. I would like to thank all those who made this event possible and I invite you to be there on March 5 in large numbers!”

“Claressa will be fighting the toughest fight of her career,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions, “as she strives to once again make history and do what no man or woman has done in boxing against undefeated IBF World Champion Marie Dicaire by winning a second undisputed world title. I am thrilled to be the promoter of her first PPV main event on the important weekend of International Women’s Day. March 5 is going to be a Herstoric night inside and outside the ring live on PPV from the Dort Financial Center in Claressa’s hometown of Flint, Michigan.”

“Claressa Shields and Marie Eve Dicaire are not just undefeated champions in the ring, they are fierce supporters of women’s boxing and equality outside the ring,” said Mark Taffet, President of Mark Taffet Media and Manager of Claressa Shields. “At a time when too many networks in the US are under-supporting women’s boxing, Claressa and Marie deserve tremendous credit for taking matters into their own hands and agreeing to take their undisputed world championship fight to pay-per-view. As the best female fighter on the planet, and with the courage and broad shoulders to carry the message of power and empowerment on behalf of all female athletes, Claressa will not rest until there is equality on every front in women’s combat sports. I am proud of her, and I encourage men and women everywhere to support this SUPERWOMEN pay-per-view fight event on Friday, March 5, so that women fighters can continue to ascend.”

“From the first time I met Marie-Eve Dicaire, I knew she was special,” said her promoter, Yvon Michel. “Her charisma and social intelligence are only matched by her ambitions and uncompromising determination to always prepare well and get better as a boxer and a person every day. These are the same traits I noticed when I first met Roy Jones Jr. and got to know him in training camp. The fight against Claressa Shields and the event on March 5 is going to happen because Marie wanted it and insisted with conviction on doing whatever it takes to make it happen, despite all the constraints. March 5 will be a great day for IBF champion Marie-Eve Dicaire, you shouldn’t miss it!”

The supporting bouts will highlight some of the best talent of today and a look at rising stars of the future and is expected to include outstanding undefeated 6-foot tall 198-lb heavyweight Danielle Perkins, powerful undefeated Floyd Mayweather Sr.-trained light heavyweight Nadia Meknouzi and super-talented current WBA interim super welterweight champion Raquel Miller – all in bouts to be announced over the next days and weeks.

As an amateur, Danielle Perkins was a 2019 Amateur Boxing World Champion. With a dream of becoming world professional heavyweight champion, Perkins registered an impressive victory in her August 20, 2020, pro debut when she knocked down and unanimously decisioned previously unbeaten Monika Harrison. Already a world-class athlete standing 6’0” tall and weighing 197 pounds, Perkins was a standout collegiate basketball player at St. John’s University where she led the team in rebounding and blocked shots including two trips to the NCAA Tournament, followed by a professional basketball career in Europe. After an automobile accident left her critically injured and temporarily paralyzed, Perkins underwent a rigorous rehabilitation program for five years. Upon her recovery, Perkins dedicated herself to boxing and quickly demonstrated great skill. She won the USA National Championships, and then as a member of Team USA, won the 2019 World Championships in Russia, becoming the first American man or woman to win a world championship since Claressa Shields won the gold medal at the world championships in 2016. Perkins trains under the tutelage of trainer James Cooper.

Originally from the country of Morocco, Nadia “The Lion” Meknouzi first rose to prominence around the globe in the martial arts, achieving multiple black belts and remaining undefeated for two years with 200 fights at 2 minutes each, bringing home 40 gold medals. In July 1998, she was honored by His Majesty the King of Jordan El Hussein, decreeing her, “Top Female Fighter.” Meknouzi moved to the USA in the year 2000 and gradually moved away from her combat-sport background. Meknouzi met Floyd Mayweather Sr. in November 2018, who ordered her to get back to training, regardless of her weight of 249 pounds. After just two months, she had her boxing pro debut in December 2018. Meknouzi is trained in boxing by Floyd “Joy” Mayweather Sr and Cromwell “Bullet” Gordon and also continues training in MMA and plans to go back to competition July 2021. Away from fighting, Meknouzi does stunt work in various projects and films.

Known for her exciting, aggressive style, Raquel “Pretty Beast” Miller (10-0, 4 KOs), from San Francisco, CA, won the interim WBA super welterweight title in her last fight against the previously unbeaten Alma Ibarra. She was a U.S. Olympic Alternate, as she lost a close split decision to Claressa Shields in the finals of the Olympic Trials, and she is determined to avenge that defeat in the professional ranks. Prior to winning her world title, Miller seized the NABF belt as well. She was also a 2012 National champion, a silver medalist at the Women’s World Championships and a gold medalist at the 2013 Colorado Springs Golden Gloves tournament.

About International Women’s Day
The first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909. In 1910, Europe established a Women’s Day to honour the movement for women’s rights and to build support for achieving universal suffrage for women. After World War II, March 8 started to be celebrated in a number of countries. In 1975, during the International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day. In 1995 the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap signed by 189 governments, focused on 12 critical areas of concern; and the inclusion of Goal 5: “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

For more information, please visit internationalwomensday.com.

WBO World Title showdown rescheduled following positive COVID-19 test

Savannah Marshall and Hannah Rankin will contest the vacant WBO Middleweight World Title on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Derek Chisora on Saturday October 31, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US.

The pair were scheduled to meet on the Lewis Ritson vs. Miguel Vazquez show in Peterborough on Saturday October 17 but Marshall’s trainer Peter Fury returned a positive COVID-19 test, resulting in the fight being postponed in line with the British Boxing Board of Control rules.

“Honestly it has been a dream to have this fight rescheduled so quickly,” said Marshall. “After the past week I’ve just been overjoyed with the news. I couldn’t have asked for a better or bigger platform than on the Usyk vs. Chisora bill.

“It was frustrating that the fight fell through, but it’s one of those things. There was nothing I could have done about it. Peter is okay which is the main thing.

“My training won’t change and will just be like any other training routine 10 days out from a fight. Nothing will change. It hasn’t got more personal for me, as me and Rankin are just two girls that can’t wait for a dust up with each other.”

“It is great that the fight has been rescheduled so soon, thank you to Eddie Hearn and Matchroom for sorting it all out,” said Rankin. “Nothing changes for me. I will be crowned WBO Middleweight World Champion on October 31.”

Adam Smith, Head of Boxing Development at Sky Sports, said: “It’s fantastic news that Savannah Marshall’s World Title fight with Hannah Rankin has been swiftly rescheduled for the Usyk-Chisora bill, which is fast becoming an unmissable night of action.

“Women’s boxing has never been stronger, with Ellie Scotney showcasing her talent last weekend, and now we can look forward to an all-British battle between Marshall and Rankin, with the WBO Middleweight belt at stake. Savannah, a former Sky Scholar, has those polished amateur skills but Rankin has greater professional experience – it’s an enthralling encounter.

“Lee Selby is also targeting another World Title shot on a stacked undercard, which also features Tommy McCarthy’s European Title fight, before Usyk and Chisora take centre stage, in what promises to be a Heavyweight classic!”

Marshall vs. Rankin is part of a huge night of boxing as pound-for-pound star Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) faces his first real Heavyweight test in Derek Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs), Lee Selby (28-2, 9 KOs) and George Kambosos Jr (18-0, 10 KOs) square off in a Final Eliminator for the IBF Lightweight World Title, Heavyweight fan favourite Dave Allen (18-5-2, 15 KOs) returns to action, Belfast’s Tommy McCarthy (16-2, 8 KOs) meets Belgium’s Bilal Laggoune (25-1-2, 14 KOs) for the vacant European Cruiserweight Title and Amy Timlin (4-0) faces off with Carly Skelly (3-0) for the vacant Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight Title.

Women’s boxing superstar Claressa Shields has added two more impressive distinctions to her already unparalleled boxing career laurels.

25-year-old “T-Rex” Shields (10-0, 2 KOs), currently the unified WBO World Female Junior Middleweight and undisputed WBO Middleweight Champion, has been named #1 in both The Ring and ESPN’s inaugural pound-for-pound women’s rankings of the best female fighters in the world.

During an exciting renaissance for the sport, Shields was able to best a strong lineup of female fighters including Irish unified lightweight champion Katie Taylor, seven-division champ Amanda Serrano, Norway’s long-time undisputed queen Cecilia Braekhus and her recent conqueror Jessica McCaskill.

Among her many accomplishments, Shields is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and the first American boxer – female or male – to win consecutive Olympic boxing gold medals.

She became Unified Super Middleweight World Champion in her fourth professional fight, Unified Middleweight World Champion in her sixth professional fight, and Unified Super Welterweight World Champion in her tenth.

She also holds the record for becoming a two and three-weight world champion in the fewest professional fights and is one of only seven boxers in history, female or male, to hold all four major world titles in boxing—WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO—simultaneously.

Claressa Shields – Women’s boxing superstar Claressa Shields has added two more impressive distinctions to her already unparalleled boxing career laurels.

“Claressa is the driving force for women’s boxing!” said her promoter, Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions. “I am happy to see that ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, and the well-respected “Bible of Boxing” Ring Magazine unanimously and indisputably recognize Claressa’s incredible accomplishments as the best in the world.”

“I’m proud to see two more Herstoric achievements added to the unprecedented resume of Claressa Shields,” said her manager, Mark Taffet, President of Mark Taffet Media.

“She continues her march toward equality for female boxers using her broad shoulders from both an athletic and a social perspective. I look forward to the day when she appears on the top pound-for-pound list among the men with no gender labels.”

It’s been a long time coming, but — knock on wood — this Friday night on Showtime from Atlantic City, we’re set to finally get WBO World title bout between Claressa Shields vs Ivana Habazin, headlining the first Showtime boxing event of 2020.

The meeting between these two has been planned since last year, after Shields routed Christina Hammer to fully unify the middleweight division at Boardwalk Hall. The plan from there was for Shields to move down again, this time to 154, as she sought to make further “herstory” by winning world titles in three weight classes faster than anyone else in boxing ever has.

The 24-year-old Shields’ story is well-known at this point. Fighting out of Flint, Michigan, “T-Rex” was dominant at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, winning gold handily both years as the women were allowed to fight in the competition for the first two times ever. Pound-for-pound, she may have been the best women’s fighter both years, and given the fact that US men’s boxing has struggled so mightily at the Olympics this millennium, Shields becoming the first American boxer to win a gold medal since Andre Ward in 2004 became a story.

She gave off the impression of being very humble, very dedicated, very focused. Someone who was born to do what she was doing. But over seven years since the public first got to really know her, the impressions have changed for many.

Shields (9-0, 2 KO) is now seen as boastful and arrogant by some. She has followed a promotional blueprint that has been used many times over. She absolutely has her fans and supporters, but she has her detractors and “haters,” too. And the bottom line is, she wants everyone to watch, whether they’re tuning in to see her win or lose.

Shields’ confidence/arrogance comes from an honest place, at least. Since turning pro in Nov. 2016, she has absolutely dominated as a professional. Her amateur experience brought her into the women’s pro ranks a mile ahead of just about anyone she was going to face, first at 168 and then 160. Even when a fight was supposed to be competitive, against Hammer, it wasn’t. At all. Other than her constant promising of knockouts that don’t come, Shields backs up what she says she’s going to do in every fight, and there’s little reason to believe that changes on Friday.

.@Claressashields looks to make history on Friday night.

Watch #ShieldsHabazin 1.10 at 9PM ET/6PM PT on @Showtime. pic.twitter.com/3XcZLWmuD4

— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) January 8, 2020

The 30-year-old Habazin (20-3, 7 KO) won a vacant welterweight title in 2014, and lost it six months later to 147-pound queen Cecilia Braekhus via shutout decision. She’s also dropped fights to Eva Bajic in 2013 and Mikaela Lauren in 2016, and is a natural welterweight, though she has gone 4-0 since moving up to junior middleweight in 2017.

“She can say what she wants. Lions don’t concern themselves with the opinions of sheep.” – @IvanaHabazin #ShieldsHabazin pic.twitter.com/xIW0nbi5lv

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 7, 2020

Via Scott Christ / badlefthook.com

💥TONIGHT December 28th – Vacant WBO NABO Jr. Featherweight Championship: Angelo Leo Vs. César Juarez @ State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia.

💥Five WBO Bouts on December 31st @ Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan:

Main Event – WBO Jr. Bantamweight World Champion Kazuto Ioka Vs. Jeyvier Cintron

Co-Main Event – WBO Flyweight World Champion Kosei Tanaka Vs. Wulan Tuolehazi

WBO Jr. Bantamweight Female World Champion Miyo Yoshida Vs. Li Ping Shi

Vacant WBO Asia Pacific Jr. Featherweight Championship: Yusaku Kuga vs. Jhunriel Ramonal

WBO Mini-Flyweight Asia Pacific Champion Ginjiro Shigeoka Vs. Rey Loreto

💥January 10, 2020 – For vacant WBO Jr. Middleweight Female Championship Claressa Shields Vs. Ivana Habazin @ Ocean Resort Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.

💥January 11, 2020 – Vacant NABO Light Heavyweight Championship title Jesse Hart vs. Joe Smith, Jr. @ Mark G Etess Arena, Atlantic City, NJ.

💥January 18, 2020 – Vacant WBO Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Eleider Alvarez vs. Michael Seals @ Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, NY

Also, WBO Asia Pacific Jr. Middleweight Champion Takeshi Inoue Vs. Cheng Su @ Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan.

💥January 30, 2020 – WBO Middleweight World Champion Demetrius Andrade Vs. Luke Keeler @ Meridian at Island Gardens, Miami, Florida.

💥February 1, 2020 – Unified WBO Jr. Welterweight Champion José Ramirez Vs. Viktor Postol @ Mission Hills Haikou, Haikou, China.

💥February 20, 2020 – WBO NABO Jr. Welterweight Champion Yomar Alamo Vs. Kendo Castaneda @ Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Florida.

💥February 20, 2020 – Vacant WBO European Featherweight Championship David Oliver Joyce Vs. Lee Haskins @ Ulster Hall, Belfast.

More to come…

☑️Upcoming WBO World Title Bouts:

💥November 30 – Undisputed WBO Welterweight Female Champion Cecilia Braekhus Vs. Victoria Noelia Bustos @ Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin, Monte Carlo, Monaco.

💥November 30 – WBO Bantamweight World Champion Zolani Tete Vs. John Riel Casimero @ Arena Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom.

<p> bet.co.za app is an online betting site with a lot of South African users. It is famous for many reasons, including the fact that it was the first online betting site in Africa. When you think about betting websites like bet365, they are usually associated with Europe and North America; not South Africa.</p>

The long-awaited showdown between undisputed middleweight world champion Claressa Shields and former champion Ivana Habazin has been rescheduled for Friday, January 10 live on SHOWTIME from Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. Shields and Habazin will face off for the vacant WBC and WBO 154-pound world titles as Shields attempts to make history as the fastest fighter in boxing, male or female, to become a three-division world champion.

Shields and Habazin were scheduled to fight on October 5 in Flint, Mich. The bout was called off less than 36 hours from the opening bell following an altercation at the official weigh-in that resulted in an injury to Habazin’s trainer, James Ali Bashir. This is the third date for Shields and Habazin. They were first scheduled to meet on August 17 before Shields withdrew due to a minor knee injury.

The January 10 SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature a WBA Super Lightweight World Title Eliminator between Shohjahon Ergashev (17-0, 15 KOs) and Keith Hunter (11-0, 7 KOs). The winner becomes the mandatory challenger for WBA Super Lightweight World Championship currently held by Mario Barrios.

Shields vs. Habazin is promoted by Salita Promotions in association with T-REX BOXING PROMOTIONS. Ergashev vs. Hunter is promoted in association with Greg Cohen Promotions. Ticket information for the live event will be announced next week.

The 24-year-old Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) became the undisputed middleweight champion with a near-shutout victory over previously undefeated world champion Christina Hammer in April on SHOWTIME. In doing so, the two-division titlist joined Terrence Crawford, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, Oleksandr Usyk and Cecilia Braekhus as the only fighters to have unified all four major world titles in any weight class (Katie Taylor has since joined the prestigious list). On January 10, Shields will seek to make even more history in her sixth headlining appearance on SHOWTIME. With a win over Habazin, Shields would become a three-division champion in just 10 bouts, breaking the record of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Kosei Tanaka, who both accomplished the feat in 12 fights.

“My goal is to become three-division champ faster than any man or woman in history,” Shields said. “This is a very significant fight for both of us. We have both trained really hard twice and great opportunities await the winner, so hopefully three times is the charm.”

Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs), of Zagreb, Croatia, is ranked No. 1 by the WBO at 154 pounds. The 30-year-old, who will be making her U.S. debut, won the IBF Welterweight Title over Sabrina Giuliani in 2014. In her next fight, Habazin dropped a unanimous decision to Braekhus in a historic unification bout where Braekhus picked up all four major world title belts. Most recently, Habazin avenged one of only three losses in her career to Eva Bajic in Zagreb.

Habazin will train in her native Croatia and has dedicated the fight to Bashir.

“I’ve been thinking about this since October and I have more of an incentive now given what happened,” Habazin said. “I feel like I’m fighting for James Ali Bashir, as well as for my own pride and respect. I’m also fighting for my country. I want to make Croatia proud that I am their daughter, and I feel that I now have their full support. Claressa is just a brief stop on my journey. I have bigger dreams and bigger shoes to fill in my life. I’m on my way to fulfilling my personal legend – being crowned the undisputed women’s junior middleweight champion. This is just another step on that journey. Given my faith, I feel that while what happened in October was incredibly unfortunate, this was God’s plan. And I have faith that my hand will be raised in victory in January.”

Shields was the first American boxer in history – male or female – to win consecutive Olympic gold medals. She turned professional following the 2016 Olympics and headlined the first women’s boxing main event in premium television history in just her second professional fight in 2017. Shields became unified women’s super middleweight world champion in just her fourth professional fight, and a two-division champion in her sixth professional contest. She was crowned the undisputed 160-pound champion in her ninth fight, less than three years after turning professional following the 2016 Olympics.

“January 10 is going to be an important date in boxing history as Claressa continues her unprecedented journey toward greatness,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “A win over Ivana Habazin would make Claressa – in just her tenth fight – the fastest boxer ever to acquire world title belts in three weight categories. But a very determined, skilled and experienced boxer stands in her way, and Ivana is pursuing her own world championship dream. History will be claimed in the ring on January 10 at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City and live on SHOWTIME.”

“With five world titles in just nine professional fights, Claressa Shields has been making women’s boxing history at a record pace,” said manager Mark Taffet. “Now, in her 10th fight on January 10, she seeks to win a world title in a third weight division faster than any man or woman in history, and in remarkable fashion by going down in weight each time. Claressa continues to render the impossible possible. It’s truly Herstory.”

“Ocean is proud to host Shields vs. Habazin inside Ovation Hall this January,” said Michael Donovan, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President, Ocean Casino Resort Atlantic City. “We are excited to bring world class boxing to Atlantic City and look forward to more shows in 2020.”

Unified WBO Middleweight world champion Claressa Shields and former world champion Ivana Habazin went face to face Thursday at the final press conference two days before they battle for the WBO world title live on SHOWTIME from Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center in Flint, Mich.

At Thursday’s press conference, Gordon Hall, SVP, Production, SHOWTIME Sports and Event Programming and Executive Producer of Saturday’s telecast, presented Claressa Shields with a $10,000 donation to the “Claressa Shields Community Project.” The project is a summer camp designed to help Flint youth learn how to cope with stress, anxiety, anger, sadness and depression, and provides educational tutoring services to dozens of children. With this $10,000 donation, Shields will surpass her current fundraising goal for the project.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, in association with T-REX BOXING PROMOTIONS, can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and at the Dort Center box office.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday from the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center:

CLARESSA SHIELDS

“Starting my community project with the kids and spending a lot of time with them really taught me a lot. It reminded me of the childhood that I didn’t have. My whole life has always been about boxing. That’s why these girls can’t beat me. Growing up, boys didn’t matter. Punching the bag the fastest mattered. Punching the bag the hardest mattered. Doing 25 pushups faster than the boys mattered.

“I always knew I would be the one to do it for women’s boxing. Yeah, we had Laila Ali, respect. But she can’t do for women’s boxing what I’m doing. I put a lot on the line, I started my career at 168. This fight on Saturday is going to be at 154. I had to lose a lot of weight for this fight because I cleaned out the division at 160. Every time I came out of a division, there’s somebody else telling me I’m not the greatest woman of all time. I love when they say that because I want you to come show me I’m not the greatest woman of all time. Ivana is here to do that.

“I don’t know what Ivana came here to do, but I’m telling you right now it’s going less than five rounds. She said her game plan was to stand there and bang with me. Not with muscles like this. She’s going to sleep and her coach is going to be carrying her out on a pillow.

SHIELDS says Habazin’s style doesn’t change
“I watched every fight of hers. Her last six or seven fights, nothing changes. It’s the same combinations. Same hand speed. Getting caught with the same shots. When you see me box, you see improvement. I’m not coming here to Flint to play no games with her.

“I’m a 168 fighter. And I have to keep coming down to these girls’ weight because they’re scared to come see me. So I came to 154 and I came to see her. I’m going to show her. As you can see, this is the Claressa Shields show. It’s about me. There’s no friction in my camp. We are about business and we’re about the money. Pay me.”

Claressa on fighting @IvanaHabazin in Flint: "This is my f***ing house."

Is there anybody more confident than @Claressashields?? pic.twitter.com/dWL68pOB6Z

— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) October 4, 2019

IVANA HABAZIN
“I’m definitely ready for this fight. I had a very tough four-month training camp. This is the best preparation I’ve ever had in my life for a fight. I’m in the best shape of my life.

“I am 100 percent focused on this fight. And I trained harder than I ever have before. I had the ability to work on a lot of new things. And I had five different sparring partners who brought a lot to help me improve. I gave everything into this camp and I believe I will receive something in return.

“None of the pre-fight talk bothers me. I’m not going to make a big show and trash talk. For me, this is just part of the job of what I have to do before I fight. All that matters is what is going to happen in the ring.

“This win on Saturday is going to change my life. This is my biggest fight ever. She’s right now the top women’s boxer, so there couldn’t be a bigger victory.

“I didn’t come here to lose. And I came here to win. I don’t want to waste my energy talking before the fight, but I just want to say I’m excited to see how happy everyone here is right now for Claressa, because they’re going to be sad on Saturday when I win.”

(Photo credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME)

CLARESSA SHIELDS VS. IVANA HABAZIN FLINT AND DETROIT PRESS CONFERENCES QUOTES AND PHOTOS

FLINT, Mich. (August 14, 2019) – Undisputed WBO Middleweight champion Claressa Shields and former world champion Ivana Habazin squared-off and exchanged words at a pair of press conferences in Flint and Detroit on Wednesday, as they previewed their battle for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Championship taking place Saturday, October 5 live on SHOWTIME from Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Mich.

In the main event of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT), Shields will aim to make history as the fastest fighter in boxing, male or female, to become a three-division world champion, in her first professional fight in her hometown of Flint.

Shields vs. Habazin is promoted by Salita Promotions. Tickets for the live event can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and at the Dort Center box office.

Here is what the press conference participants had to say Wednesday from the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint and the Hotel St. Regis in Detroit:

CLARESSA SHIELDS

“I’m so happy to be here. This moment is a long time coming. I’ve been a pro for nine fights and all I’ve wanted to do is come back home and fight. I haven’t fought here since the amateurs when I was 18.

“To be here now as a pro with two Olympic gold medals, all my belts and my whole team here, it just feels really good. Our city has gone through rough times with the water crisis, but I wanted to show that we’re still fighting people.

“A lot of us here are fighting daily. I’m happy that I can be in the ring doing what I’m doing, but outside of the ring I get to inspire kids. Having a summer camp here this summer really changed me. My knee injury gave me more time to spend with the kids, and that time with them made me stronger.

“Being at 154-pounds, I’m going to be stronger and I’m going to be faster. I’ve never had a problem making weight and it won’t be a problem at 154.

IVANA HABAZIN

“This is a really big opportunity for me. I was a world champion and I’m looking forward to winning a title in another division.

“Claressa Shields is a spectacular fighter and I have respect for her, but I’m going to bring the fight to her. I didn’t come here just to fight; I came here for victory.

“She is taking on a big challenge. If she says she’s going to make the weight, then I believe her. But I know that it’s going to be tough for her because it’s not her natural division. I hope she makes the weight and that we’ll have a good fight. Fighting at 154-pounds is an advantage for me.

“When I decided to fight at middleweight, I started fighting there because I wanted to fight her. She’s the best fighter out there, and I know that I can beat her. When they told me that she wanted to go down in weight, I knew it was the perfect time.

“It doesn’t matter to me if the fight is in Flint, London, New York or anywhere. The ring is my home and what happens in there is the most important thing. I’m always the underdog and I like to be in that position. I won my title in my opponent’s hometown and I’m going to do it again.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME

Undisputed WBO Middleweight world champion Claressa Shields’ attempt at history has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 5 live on SHOWTIME. Shields will aim to make history as the fastest fighter in boxing, male or female, to become a three-division world champion when she takes on former world champion Ivana Habazin for the vacant WBO Junior Middleweight Title on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT) from Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Mich.

The homecoming fight was initially scheduled for August 17 and postponed in June after Shields suffered a minor injury to her right knee while doing roadwork.

Claressa Shields vs. Ivana Habazin ticket information
Shields vs. Habazin is promoted by Salita Promotions. Tickets for the live event go on sale today/Tuesday, August 6 at 2 p.m. ET and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and at the Dort Center box office.

The 24-year-old Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) is a two-division titlist who became the undisputed middleweight champion with a near-shutout victory over Christina Hammer in April on SHOWTIME. In doing so, she joined Terrence Crawford, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, Oleksandr Usyk and Cecilia Braekhus as the only fighters to have unified all four major world titles in any weight class (Katie Taylor has since joined the prestigious list).

Now, the Flint star seeks to make even more history in her sixth headlining appearance on SHOWTIME. With a win over Habazin, Shields would become a three-division champion in just 10 bouts, breaking the record of Vasiliy Lomachenko, who accomplished the feat in 12 fights.

“I’m more excited than ever. I’m 100 percent recovered, and I can’t wait to get back in the ring and fight in front of my hometown fans in Flint as undisputed champion of the world,” said Shields. “Having the opportunity to become world champion in a third weight division faster than any man or woman in boxing history will make October 5 a night I will cherish forever. It’s another big step in history, and giant step forward in lifting women’s boxing on the road to equality.”

Ivana Habazin pleased to be fighting in U.S

Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs), of Zagreb, Croatia, is ranked No. 1 by the WBO at 154 pounds. The 29-year-old, who will be making her U.S. debut, won the IBF Welterweight Title over Sabrina Giuliani in 2014. In her next fight, Habazin dropped a unanimous decision to Braekhus in a historic unification bout where Braekhus picked up all four major world title belts. Most recently, Habazin avenged one of only three losses in her career to Eva Bajic in Zagreb.

“It’s an honor and a dream to fight in the U.S. on national television,” Habazin said. “A lot of fighters never get this opportunity in their careers so I know I need to make the most of it. I’ve been training for this fight since June and the postponement has only given me more time to get ready. I intend to put my best effort forward to impress the fans and show that I am for real.

“And, I am not just coming to fight for a world title, I am fighting for my life and my career. I believe I am the best and now I got the chance to prove that, and there is no better opponent for that than Claressa Shields.”

Shields was the first American boxer in history – male or female – to win consecutive Olympic gold medals. She turned professional following the 2016 Olympics and headlined the first women’s boxing main event in premium television history in just her second professional fight in 2017. Shields became unified women’s super middleweight world champion in just her fourth professional fight, and a two-division champion in her sixth professional contest. She was crowned the undisputed 160-pound champion in her ninth fight, less than three years after turning professional following the 2016 Olympics.

Showtime executive producer Gordon Hall comments on Claressa Shields
“From Christy Martin and Laila Ali to Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey, and now Claressa Shields, SHOWTIME has long been the pioneer in women’s combat sports,” said Gordon Hall, Executive Producer of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION. “Without question, Claressa Shields is the face of women’s boxing and we’re excited to present yet another historic milestone in her career as she looks to capture a third division championship in record time. This is Claressa’s sixth appearance on SHOWTIME and yet another test as she continues her personal quest to become the greatest of all time.”

“With the new date, this fight is going to be even more significant,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “Claressa has had time to get 100 percent healthy and in the best shape of her life as she goes down in weight to fight for another historic accomplishment. On the other hand, Ivana has used this extra time to prepare for Claressa both mentally and physically. She has remained in camp throughout the summer as she prepares to come to America to upset Claressa and fulfill what she feels is her destiny. It’s going to be two fighters at the top of their games.”

“October 5 will be a magnificent event for Claressa Shields, for women’s boxing, and for Claressa’s hometown city of Flint,” said Mark Taffet, manager of Claressa Shields. “Claressa continues to shine a beacon of light on the sport, making history in each and every fight and reaching levels previously unimaginable. She is a once in a lifetime athlete and young woman, and if she is victorious on October 5 she will become the fastest man or woman in boxing history to win a world title in a third weight division.”

Steve Farhood, Raul Marquez and Barry Tompkins to Shields-Habazin fight for Showtime
Barry Tompkins will call the SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

The undercard for the telecast will be announced in the coming weeks.

WBO Championship Committee Resolution Designating Claressa Shields as WBO Female Super Champion

The present ruling is issued upon a petition filed on Wednesday, June 19th 2019, by Mr. Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions on behalf of Undisputed WBO, WBA, WBC & IBF Female Middleweight Champion of the World Ms. Claressa Shields, whereby official designation as WBO Female Super Champion is requested.

The WBO World Championship Committee having reviewed the foregoing request, considered WBO Participant Shields’ distinguished amateur record and professional accomplishments including, having fulfilled a historic achievement by unifying all four major Female Middleweight Championship Titles from the recognized sanctioning organizations (WBO, WBA, WBC & IBF), in just nine (9) professional fights, in light of the aforementioned, and in accordance with our governing rules and regulations, their applicability, and enforcement, and having been fully advised in the premises, it is hereby determined as follows:

WHEREAS, in 2012, Ms. Shields won a Gold medal for United States of America (USA) Olympic team at the Middleweight Division, in London, United Kingdom. It was the first time international competition recognized Olympic Female Boxing; and,

WHEREAS, in 2016, Ms. Shields won a Gold medal for the United States of America (USA) Olympic Team at the Middleweight Division, at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and,

WHEREAS, Ms. Shields is the first American boxer female or male to win consecutive Olympic medals; and,

WHEREAS, Ms. Shields is the first American women to win an Olympic Gold medal in boxing; and,

WHEREAS, Ms. Shields finished her decorated amateur record with seventy-seven (77) wins, with only one (1) loss and eighteen (18) if said wins by way of knockout; and,

WHEREAS, on Saturday, November 19th 2016, Ms. Shields made her professional female boxing debut facing Ms. Franchon Crews Dezurn, winning via Unanimous Decision (UD); bout held at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; and,

WHEREAS, on Friday, March 10th 2017, Ms. Shields fought her second professional bout and won the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Female Middleweight Championship against Ms. Szilvia Szabados winning via Technical Knockout (TKO) in round four (4); bout held at the MGM Grand Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, USA; and,

WHEREAS, on Friday, June 16th 2017, Ms. Shields in just her third professional bout, won the Vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Female Super Middleweight Championship by defeating Ms. Sydney LeBlanc via Unanimous Decision (UD); bout held at the Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan, USA; and,

WHEREAS, on Friday, August 4th 2017, Ms. Shields fought for the Vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Female Super Middleweight Championship against former IBF and WBC Female Super Middleweight Champion Ms. Nikki Adler (16-0-0), winning via Technical Knockout (TKO) in round five (5); bout held at the MGM Grand Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, USA; and,

WHEREAS, Ms. Shields became a Unified Female Super Middleweight Champion from two of the major recognized sanctioning organizations in just her third professional fight; and,

WHEREAS, on Friday, January 12th 2018, Ms. Shields defended successfully her Unified Female Super Middleweight Championship Titles against former World Boxing Council (WBC) World Female Middleweight Champion Ms. Tori Nelson (19-2-3), via Unanimous Decision (US); bout held at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, USA; and,

WHEREAS, on Friday, June 22nd 2018, Ms. Shields made history in just her sixth (6) professional bout in becoming a two-division Female World Champion upon winning the Vacant WBA & IBF Female Middleweight Championship Contest against former Unified Female WBO & WBA Jr. Middleweight Champion Ms. Hanna Gabriels (18-1-1); bout held at the Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan, USA; and,

WHEREAS, on November 17th 2018, Ms. Shields successfully defended her Female Unified WBA & IBF Middleweight Championship Titles and also, won the Vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Female Middleweight Championship against Ms. Hannah Rankin via Unanimous Decision (UD); bout held at the Kansas Star Arena, Mulvane, Kansas, USA; and,

WHEREAS, on December 8th 2018, Ms. Shields successfully defended her Female Unified Middleweight Championship Titles against former WBO Female Super Middleweight Champion Ms. Femke Hermans (9-1-0) winning via Unanimous Decision (UD); bout held at the Stubhub Center, Carson, California, USA; and,

WHEREAS, on December 17th 2018, the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) selected Ms. Shields as the 2018 Female Boxer of the Year; and,

WHEREAS, on April 13th 2019, Ms. Shields made history in just her ninth (9) professional bout by successfully defeating then-undefeated (24-0-0) and former Unified Female WBO & WBC Middleweight Champion Ms. Christina Hammer via Unanimous Decision and becoming the Undisputed Female WBO, WBA, WBC, and IBF World Middleweight Champion; bout held at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New York, USA; and,

WHEREAS, Ms. Shields currently holds a perfect professional record consisting of nine (9) wins with no losses and no draws; and,

WHEREAS, the total combined record of Ms. Shields’ opposition consists of one-hundred ten (110) wins, sixteen losses (16) with five (5) draws; and,

WHEREAS, in just nine (9) professional bouts Ms. Shields became a Two-Division Female Unified World Champion; and,

WHEREAS, Ms. Shields is one of the only seven boxers in history, female or male to hold all four of the major recognized sanctioning organizations championship titles (WBO, WBC, WBA and IBF) along with Bernard Hopkins, Jermaine Taylor, Ms. Cecilia Braekhus, Terrence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk and Katie Taylor; and,

WHEREAS, on Wednesday, June 19th 2019, Mr. Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions on behalf of Undisputed WBO, WBA, WBC & IBF Female Middleweight Champion Ms. Claressa Shields, filed a petition officially requesting designation of Ms. Shields as WBO Female Super Champion in consideration of the foregoing amateur and professional accomplishments; and,

WHEREAS, the petition arises upon Ms. Shields continuous desire in accomplishing history in different weight divisions specifically, vying in her next professional bout the WBO Female Jr. Middleweight Championship Title; and,

WHEREAS, said request was forwarded to this Committee for consideration and ruling accordingly based upon all the foregoing amateur and professional accomplishments stated herein, and in accordance with the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests, specifically, those provisions relevant with the WBO Super Champion Status recognition; and,

WHEREAS, This Committee having carefully examined, reviewed and considered all the foregoing accomplishments of Ms. Shields, and pursuant with this Committee’s full authority as per our WBO Rules and Regulations of World Championship Contests to resolve any and all matters with the following being within our powers and discretion, and shall be interpreted to include any or all powers necessary, helpful or convenient to accomplish the purpose, policies and the intent of these rules; and,

WHEREAS, Section 14 of the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests provides as follows:

SECTION 14. SUPER CHAMPIONS

(a) “ It is the policy of the World Boxing Organization to encourage its Champions to pursue recognized status as undisputed World Championship and to unify the Championships of the four major world sanctioning organizations (the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF) . A World Champion who has achieved preeminent status may require and be entitled to additional scheduling flexibility to achieve his place in boxing history and for the good of the sport .”

A boxer may be considered for designation for Super Champion status when he meets the following criteria:

(1) The boxer presently or previously has or had a multiple bout contract with a major television network or other similar broadcast company for multiple years; and,

(2) As a WBO Champion,

(A) The boxer has successfully defended his title cumulatively a minimum of ten (10) title bouts, or;
(B) In the event of less than ten (10) successful defenses has defended his title against opponents of high recognition and high skills; and,
(C)“ Has substantially met the other standards set forth herein .”

(3)“ The boxer’s amateur history will be considered; and, ”
(4) The quality of prospective Super Champion’s record including the quality of his opponents and their records will be considered.
(5) Additionally, the following factors will be considered in determining Super Champion designation:

(A) If the prospective Super Champions has been a WBO World Champion in more than one (1) weight division;or      (B)“If the Prospective Super Champion has held more than one (1) Championship of the four major world sanctioning organizations; or”
(C)“If the prospective Super Champion has unified the Championships of more than one (1) of the four (4) major world sanctioning bodies.”
(D) Current champion status is not required to qualify or continue as a Super Champion.
(E) The Championship Committee may recommend Super Champion status for the boxer to the Executive Committee, if a boxer has substantially complied with the conditions set forth herein. Super Champion status shall be determined by the vote of the Executive Committee.

(F) PRIVILEGES AFFORDED SUPER CHAMPIONS. Those fighters recommended by the Championship Committee and approved by the Executive Committee qualify for the following rights and privileges:

(1) EXTENSION OF MANDATORY TITLE DEFENSE
The Championship Committee may extend a Super Champion’s mandatory title defense for good cause shown mandatory title defense for good cause shown one or more times beyond the time provided for in the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests for the purpose of giving a Super Champion opportunity or opportunities to unify the titles of more than one major sanctioning body either in a unification bout or a unification tournament, or any other important match or matches that the Committee determines would contribute to the Super Champion’s legacy or would be of great interest to boxing fans.

(2) ELIGIBILITY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR DESIGNATION AS THE MANDATORY CHALLENGER IN HIGHER OR LOWER DIVISION.
“If requested by a Su per Champion, the Championship Committee may designate the Super Champion as the Mandatory Challenger for the immediate higher or lower division .”

(3) ELIGIBILITY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR DESIGNATION AS THE MANDATORY CHALLENGER IN THE SAME DIVISION
If requested by a Super Champion who has lost his title and who wishes to fight for the title again, the Championship Committee may designate the Super Champion as the Mandatory Challenger in the Super Champion’s division.
(4) An Honorary member of the WBO for life

(e) PURSE BID
(1) In case of a purse bid involving a contest between contestants one or more whom are WBO Super Champions, or a contest between a current WBO Champion and another current WBO Champion or a contest between a WBO Champion and a WBO Interim Champion, or a contest between two Interim Champions he following rules shall be applied in conjunction with the purse bid rules contained in the WBO Regulations for World Championship Contests; these provisions concerning the division of purse bids shall supersede the rules for division of purse bids contained within Section 13 of these WBO Rules, “DIVISION OF PURSE for CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD PURSUANT TO PURSE BID”

(2) In any of the situations described in Section 14(e)(1) above and a purse bid takes place, the division shall not be greater than 80/20 in any case and shall be calculated by the Championship Committee using a ratio based upon the average purse of each fighter’s last three (3) fights. The WBO may rely upon the purses reported to the WBO on the WBO Participant’s Promoter’s receipts for the fights that are used to calculate the Purse Division for this purpose. By way of example, if contestant A has had his last 3 purses of $1,000,000, $500,000, and $400,000 (a total of $1,900,000) and contestant B has had his last 3 purses of 1,000,000, $2,000,000, and $2,500,000 (a total of $5,500,000), the purse division would be $1,900,000/$7,400,000 or 25.68% for contestant A and $5,500,000/$7,400.00 or 74.32% for contestant B. If by way of further example, if contestant A has had his last 3 purses of $500,000, $400,000, and $300,000 (a total of $1,200,000) and contestant B has had his last 3 purses of 1,000,000, $2,000,000, and $2,500,000 (a total of $5,500,000) the purse division would be 20% for contestant A and 80% for contestant B (as the ratio of the purses is $1,200,000/$6.700,000 or 17.91% for contestant A to $5,500,000/$6,700,000 or 82.09% for contestant B and the purse division cannot be more that 80/20.

(f) LOSS OF PRIVILEGES

(1) All Super Champion privileges referred to in Section 14(d) shall be terminated in the event (a) a Super Champion violates any of the WBO Rules and Regulations, (b) for unsportsmanlike conduct or activities unbecoming to a professional boxer, (c) for drug abuse (of either illegal drugs or performance-enhancing drugs), or (d) conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude.

(2) The Super Champion Privileges referred to in Section 14(d)(1) to 14(d)(3) shall be terminated in the event of the loss of any boxing contest unless the World Championship Committee recommends that Super Champion status be retained and a majority of the WBO Executive Board resolves that Super Champion status be retained.

WHEREAS, the WBO World Championship Committee having considered Ms. Shields decorated amateur record, having reviewed her exceptional professional record whereby in just nine (9) professional fights of her young career Mr. Shields has accomplished a milestone both in the professional ranks; and,

WHEREAS, Ms. Shields won two consecutive Olympic Gold medals during her amateur career, became a Two-Division Female World Champion (Middleweight and Super Middleweight), and became the Undisputed WBO, WBA, WBC & IBF Female World Middleweight Champion; and,

WHEREAS, Ms. Shields substantially meets the criteria set forth in our WBO Super Champion Status provision and therefore, warrants consideration for such designation; thus, this Committee rules as follows:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the WBO Championship Committee pursuant to the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests as follows: The WBO World Championship Committee hereby recommends to the WBO Executive Committee official designation of Ms. Claressa Shields as WBO Female Super Champion in accordance with the foregoing.

This is a final decision of the WBO Championship Committee. The affected WBO participant may appeal such determination to the Complaint and Grievance Committee as per Rule 34, which as per Rule 3(e) of the WBO Appeals Regulation, must be submitted in writing to the WBO President within fourteen (14) days of this decision as its sole and exclusive remedy.

Dated in San Juan, Puerto Rico on this 24th day of June 2019
WBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE

By: Luis Batista Salas, Esq.
Chairman Championship Committee

A minor injury in training has forced undisputed middleweight world champion Claressa Shields to suspend training and postpone her bid to become the fastest fighter in boxing history, male or female, to become a three-division world champion.

Shields injured her knee doing roadwork early this week, while preparing to take on former world champion Ivana Habazin for the vacant WBO Super Welterweight Championship on Saturday, August 17, at the Dort Federal Event Center in Shields’ hometown of Flint, Mich., and televised live nationally on SHOWTIME.

The 24-year-old Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) says she looks forward to resuming training and having the fight take place this fall.

“There’s nothing I love to do more than boxing, and I train hard for all of my fights. It’s going to be tough for them to keep me out of the gym for a few weeks,” said undisputed champion Claressa Shields. “But I will heal quickly and then go to training camp, so I can make history in front of all my fans in the fall. I can promise you this – I’ll be training harder than ever soon again, and I will provide a spectacular performance and make history for everyone in attendance and for the viewers on SHOWTIME.”

Shields’ promoter, Dmitriy Salita, says a new date for the fight is already being hammered out, as he works feverishly behind the scenes.

“Claressa will bounce back quickly,” said Salita. “Unfortunately, training injuries are part of the sport. A great champion like her will take it in stride and move forward to the new fight date we are currently working to finalize.

In an attempt to become the fastest fighter – male or female – to win three world titles in three different divisions, Flint native Claressa Shields will fight professionally in her hometown for the first time.

The undisputed middleweight world champion faces former world champion Ivana Habazin for the vacant WBO junior middleweight on Saturday, Aug. 17 at Dort Federal Event Center.

“It’s hard to even put into words how excited I am to be returning home as undisputed champion and fighting in front of all my fans in Flint,” said Shields, 24, in a news release. “And having the opportunity to become world champion in a third weight division faster than any man or woman in boxing history will make August 17 a night I will cherish forever. It’s another big step forward in lifting women’s boxing on the road to equality.”

The 24-year-old Shields (9-0, two knockouts) is the first American boxer to win consecutive gold medals in 2012 and 2016.

“The world’s attention will be on women’s’ sports this summer with two of its’ biggest events in the FIFA women’s World Cup, which is just getting started, and another Shields’ blockbuster event happening in August,” said Dmitriy Salita, Shields’ promoter. “We’re continuing our goal of advancing the state of women’s sports to new heights and Claressa’s greatness helps make this happen.”

Habazin, 29, is the No. 1 fighter at 154 pounds. The Zagreb, Croatia, native is 20-3 in her professional career, and will be making her United States debut.

“It’s a dream come true and this is a huge chance for me to prove that I am one of boxing’s elite fighters,” Habazin said in the release. “I will not let this opportunity pass. I’m not just coming to the U.S. to fight, I’m coming for victory.”

The fight will be shown on Showtime, with coverage beginning at 9 p.m.

Article by Greg Levinsky /www.freep.com : glevinsky@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregLevinsky.

FULL Article:
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2019/06/11/claressa-shields-fights-flint/1424484001/

ATLANTIC CITY – Claressa Shields backed up virtually every provocative word Saturday night.

The brash, unbeaten women’s middleweight champion proved her superiority in what was supposed to be the most difficult fight of her two-year pro career. Shields’ speed, power, aggression and defense earned her a convincing victory over long-reigning middleweight champ Christina Hammer at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Theater.

All three judges – Lynne Carter, Guido Cavalleri and Robin Taylor – scored eight of the 10 rounds for Shields in the main event of a Showtime tripleheader. Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) nearly knocked out Hammer in the eighth round, but she settled for a unanimous-decision win in what was promoted as the biggest fight in women’s boxing history.

Cavalleri and Taylor scored the one-sided eighth round 10-8 for Shields, and thus had it 98-91 for her. Carter scored Shields a 98-92 winner.

“Well, first of all, I can say I am the greatest woman of all time,” Shields told Showtime’s Steve Farhood in the ring. “Give me that! Give me that! Y’all told me I couldn’t do it. Y’all said she was 24-0, 11 knockouts. Ain’t no way Claressa will beat her. She 8-0, two knockouts. Claressa’s gonna get knocked out. Claressa don’t hit hard. Come on.”

Shields defended her IBF, WBA and WBC middleweight titles and won the WBO championship from Hammer. Germany’s Hammer had owned the WBO 160-pound title since October 2010, approximately 22 months before Shields won the first of two gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Shields, of Flint, Michigan, also joined welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus as the only woman to own the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles at the same time.

Hammer, of Dortmund, Germany, lost for the first time as a pro (24-1, 11 KOs, 1 NC).

More on https://www.boxingscene.com/claressa-shields-beats-up-christina-hammer-results–137944

Undefeated middleweight champions Claressa Shields and WBO World Champion Christina Hammer went face-to-face one final time during a tension-filled official weigh-in for the most significant event in women’s boxing history. Both fighters made weight as the two champions aim to become the undisputed middleweight champion tomorrow in the main event of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION live on SHOWTIME (9:10 p.m. ET/PT) from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

For all the belts. #ShieldsHammer TOMORROW 9:10PM ET/PT on @Showtime. pic.twitter.com/wFXIrT8iUL

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) April 12, 2019

Top American heavyweight prospect Jermaine Franklin will take on former No. 1-ranked U.S. amateur Rydell Booker in the 10-round co-featured bout while undefeated Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin will battle highly decorated amateur Nick Kisner in a 10-round clash that will open the tripleheader.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are priced at $150, $100, $55 and $35 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster and at boardwalkhall.com.

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS:

IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO Middleweight World Championship – 10 Rounds

Claressa Shields: 159 ½ pounds

Christina Hammer: 159 pounds

Referee: Sparkle Lee; Judges: Lynne Carter (Pa.), Guido Cavalleri (Italy), Ruben Taylor (Ariz.)

FINAL QUOTES:

Claressa Shields

“I’m very relaxed. When I feel this relaxed, I know it’s going to be a good fight. I don’t even feel like there’s a fight; I feel very calm and I always fight better when I feel this way. I’ve checked all the boxes for this fight. The conditioning, the nutrition, the training, everything. I am entirely focused on the fight.

“I’ve played this fight in my head many times. The first round is a very important round. She’ll find out just how strong I am in the first round and I’m going to let her know she’s in with a fighter. I’m going to let her know she won’t control this fight in any aspect. I can outbox Hammer. I’m way faster and I have great head movement. I came to fight. I want to see where her heart is and how strong she is. If she’s not as strong as she says she is, she’s going to want to get out of there.

READ Claressa Shields, Christina Hammer, Jermaine Franklin Interview Transcript
“Every time I box, I feel like I need to go out there and perform so that women’s boxing isn’t in the position we’re in now. I want the little girls coming up not to have to go through what I’ve gone through in terms of equal pay and trying to get on TV. I was able to box my way up to get here and it shouldn’t be as hard for other women to do the same. This fight is bigger than me.”

Christina Hammer

“I’ve worked really hard for this. I’ve sacrificed everything for this fight and it’s time to show who’s the real champion and who Christina Hammer is. I feel like I’m the stronger one, mentally. I showed her at the stare down that I’m not scared. Every fight, there’s a mental battle and I think I won the mental battle for this fight.

“I have to stick to my game plan and not worry about hers. Shields is beatable. Hanna Gabriels showed that. I have to make her pay for every mistake. We’ve analyzed her a lot and I’ve known for a long time that I would one day fight her.

“I’m not scared of her one bit. Why would I be scared of her? I worked really hard for this opportunity and now it’s the point where I have to show it. I have to focus in every single round. This will be a tough fight and I know my opponent also wants to win but on Saturday night, I will be the undisputed champion of the world.

“I hope that a lot of women will be inspired by this fight. I want women to know that if they work hard, they can make it to whatever level they aspire to be in whatever sport it is they do.”

(Photo credit Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME)

Undefeated middleweight champions Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer went face-to-face in New York on Wednesday just three days before arguably the most significant event in women’s boxing history this Saturday live on SHOWTIME from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

Face off: Claressa Shields vs Christina Hammer pic.twitter.com/pgxo4PXCSP

— Boxing Insider.com (@BoxingInsider) April 10, 2019

IBF, WBC and WBA Champion Shields (8-0, 2 KOs) will unify with WBO Champion Hammer (24-0, 11 KOs) for the undisputed middleweight world championship. The winner will become only the second undisputed champion in women’s boxing history and only the sixth fighter – male or female – to unify all four recognized world titles.

Joining Shields and Hammer at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in Manhattan was unbeaten heavyweight contender Otto Wallin, who takes on Nick Kisner as part of the SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION tripleheader beginning at 9:10 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are priced at $150, $100, $55 and $35 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster and at boardwalkhall.com.

Shields and Hammer spoke with media and had a tense face-off as they near Saturday’s showdown. Here is what the participants had to say Wednesday:

CLARESSA SHIELDS

“Hammer signed up for something she shouldn’t have signed up for. She’s going to get hurt on Saturday. I love that she has an accomplished record. People say I don’t have power or this and that but on paper I’ve been an underdog in most of my fights and I’ve beat all those women.

“When I beat Christina Hammer on Saturday, I want everyone’s headline to say ‘Shields nails the Hammer’. It’s not a game to me. It’s going to be bad for her.

“I’m happy that everyone came out for this event and has supported it. This isn’t as big as women’s boxing can get, but it’s the beginning of something great.

“This is the hardest I’ve ever trained for a fight. Not because I don’t think that I can beat her, but because of the spotlight, I don’t want to let my fans down. I don’t want to let the women who came before me down. They never got to have a fight as big as this one. I don’t want anyone to say it’s all hype. I want to put on a show.

“I’m just being myself. I can’t put all the pressure on me to be something I’m not. I love talking trash, that comes natural. There’s a bit of truth in there too. When it gets to times like this, I’m not afraid to say how I feel.

“The reason why I’m here is because I’ve taken on the biggest challenges and fought the best fighters. It feels good. I know that I’m going to beat her and take all of these belts home.

“I think she’s shook. She doesn’t want to say anything after all the social media talking she was doing. This is her time to say it to my face.

“Women’s boxing is becoming bigger and with ‘All-Access’ you can see that I train hard, spar against men and go hard for three minutes for 12 rounds. We’ve been around for a long time and we haven’t gotten our just do yet. We’re getting more and we’re getting to the point where one day it can all be equal.

“I’m glad Hammer is here and we’re really going to fight. She’s tough, but I’ve beat girls way stronger, faster and taller than her over and over again. I can’t wait to do it again on Saturday.”

CHRISTINA HAMMER

“I’m so happy to be here and have this great opportunity. I can’t wait to get in the ring on Saturday and get all of these belts. I’m ready.

“I’m very confident and I can’t wait to show everyone why I’m 24-0 and been a champion for as long as I’ve been.

“She can say whatever she wants here, because I’m going to show it in the ring. I don’t like to talk too much. I’m here to show my skills in the ring and get all these belts.

“I’m emotionless in the ring, because it’s my job. None of her talk will affect me. When you’re emotional in the ring, you make mistakes.

“I know that it’s a risk to come from Germany to the U.S. to fight Shields. But I have done everything to bring it to her and break her down round-by-round. I want to show the people who the real champion is. A real champion fights everyone, all over the world.

“I’m very focused. I know that this is a historic fight. There is only one champion who can take these belts and that will be me. I’ve given everything for that goal. I sacrificed day after day in camp to achieve that.

“I want to show that I’m the undisputed champion. I’m the longtime champion and I’m going to let the people see that women’s boxing is exciting just like the men. This is a great match to show that.

“We’re both undefeated and in our primes. People wanted to see this fight and they got this fight. All of the talk is over. Now it’s time to fight.”

OTTO WALLIN

“I come from a small town in Sweden and started boxing in a basement. I could never dream of making it here. I read about it, but it wasn’t attainable. Now I’m here and I’m ready to make a statement on Saturday.

“It’s very important to make an impression. This is a very big opportunity for me to be fighting on SHOWTIME in my first fight on the U.S. A lot of people will be watching and I want to put on a good performance. Most important is to get the win and take care of business.

“My opponent is smaller than me and I think that suits me well. He likes to be a little cute in the ring and I think he’ll try to be tricky early on. I want to establish my jab and my body work, because I know he won’t like those body shots. I’m going to break him down.

“I have a good plan and a really good trainer. He’s prepared me well with good sparring. I think I’ll know what to do to stay focus. I’ve always been able to do that and focus on what’s best for me in the ring.

“It’s very nice to be here. I’m very happy to be on this show. It’s great for women’s boxing that the two best fighters are facing each other.”

DMITRIY SALITA, President of Salita Promotions

“This promotion has lived up to the expectations. This is the biggest fight in women’s boxing history. It feels very big today and I’m sure in a month a day or a year after this fight, we will know that it was a historic event.

“SHOWTIME’s support for this fight has raised the awareness of women’s boxing for the fans in the U.S and around the world. I think women everywhere have benefited from the lead up to this fight.

“in the opener on SHOWTIME, world ranked heavyweight Otto Wallin will make his U.S. debut. Otto is an example of hard work and dreams coming true. He grew up in a small town in Sweden and had a dream to become world champion. He’s been training in New York Joey Gamache and we can’t wait for his fight Saturday.

“For a great fight to happen it takes two to tango. Hammer is a longtime world champion and a dominant force in the middleweight division. You have seen how prepared she is for this fight. It takes championship character to fly to another country to put it all on the line and she deserves respect for that.

“Claressa Shields has passed every test ever put in front of her. She has been dominant as a pro, winning a world title in her fourth fight a second division title in her sixth fight. April 13 will be her toughest test. This is a fight that she is taking very seriously and I’m excited to see her in the ring Saturday.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President Sports & Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

“I want to acknowledge Claressa and Christina, because it’s easy to forget that this is a fight. That may sound strange, but it’s because there is so much discussion about the meaning and symbolism of this fight. You still have to remember, that beyond all that, these are two athletes preparing for a fight. They each want to win.

“Each of them has taken on the challenge of representing women’s boxing and that should not be overlooked. It would be very easy as a competitor to say that you’re not going to get into that extra stuff. That would be the easier thing to do. But what Claressa and Christina have done is accept that mantle and that challenge. They’ve taken on those discussions. Not just promoting their fight, but engaging in discussions about the future of women’s boxing.

“I’m sure they’re tired of talking at this point and just want to fight. That challenge is something that makes the process more difficult and something they’re doing for selfless reasons. It’s really for the advancement of the sport as a whole. Both women deserve a lot of credit for that.

“This fight is already a success. I know there’s one big piece that still remains, and I’m very excited to see the fight take place. I know they’re anxious to get in the ring. But what this promotion has done is advance the conversation and advance the dialogue. It’s all of our hopes that this will persist beyond this event and lead to a new era of women’s boxing.”

# # #

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are priced at $150, $100, $55 and $35 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster and at boardwalkhall.com.

(Photo credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME)

Showtime releases its second installment focusing on the the women’s middleweight title fight.
It’s fight week leading into Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer’s undisputed middleweight title unification. And in anticipation of the bout Showtime Sports has released its second episode of All Access, covering the build-up to the fight.

In this latest episode covering the behind-the-scenes action, we start of with Shields training out of the USA Boxing Gym in Colorado Springs.

“To me this is like War City. This is where I got prepared for both my Olympics,” Shields explained. “Everybody wanna be a champion, but don’t nobody wanna work for nothing. You can’t be like me if you don’t work. Hammer out there snowboarding — what the fuck is that gon’ do?! Nothing!”

Shortly after we segue into Hammer’s training camp in Seefeld, Austria, where Hammer does some light shadowboxing before going for a run in the cold weather.

“When I train I have only one goal and one vision, and that’s dance with a champion,” Hammer says. We got up to the mountains and train three times a day, and it’s very, very tough.”

Some time later we revisit Shields’ camp where she talks about how Hammer has been on her radar since she was an amateur, while trainer John David Jackson discusses the improvements he’s trying to make in Shields’ game.

Check out the full installment from Showtime above!

SHOWTIME Sports released the first installment of ALL ACCESS: SHIELDS vs. HAMMER on YouTube and Facebook as the undefeated middleweight world champions prepare for arguably the most significant women’s boxing event in history. Episode two will be available across SHOWTIME Sports social media platforms next Friday, April 5.

The two-part installment of the Sports Emmy Award-winning series will chronicle the path toward the April 13 showdown for the undisputed middleweight world championship live on SHOWTIME from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Episode one sets the stage for this monumental event as Shields and Hammer usher in a new era for women’s boxing. From the kickoff press conference in New York to training camps in separate countries, ALL ACCESS highlights the clash of styles both in and out of the ring as the pound-for-pound greats prepare to make history.

The second installment will chronicle two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Shields at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and long-reigning German champion Hammer in the town of Seefeld in the Austrian Alps, as they train for a showdown that will crown only the second undisputed champion in female boxing history.

It all leads to the blockbuster unification in the main event of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION (9 p.m. ET/PT) as Shields and Hammer look to join an elite list of fighters – Terrence Crawford, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, Oleksandr Usyk and Cecilia Braekhus – as only the sixth champion in boxing history to unify all four major world titles.

WBC, IBF and WBA Middleweight World Champion Claressa Shields arrived in Miami yesterday to hold the final portion of her training camp at the Fifth Street Gym as she prepares to take on WBO Middleweight World Champion Christina Hammer in the main event of a SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION tripleheader Saturday, April 13 live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT) from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Shields spent the last five weeks training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., following a two-week pre-camp in her hometown of Flint, Mich.

“We’ve been going twice a day every day except Sunday for five-straight weeks,” said Shields. “We put in lots of rounds sparring, tons of sprinting, pad work, push-ups, crunches and drills to help with my head movement.

“I’ve put my body through so much on this camp, and now it’s time to start cutting it down a bit. I’m in great shape and my weight is on point. I’m also in a great place mentally and very happy with this camp overall.”

In Florida, Shields is looking to prime herself for her showdown for the undisputed middleweight women’s world championship, in what is considered by many as the biggest fight in women’s boxing history.

“My main focus now is trying to relieve my body while keeping my conditioning,” said Shields. “I’m making sure that I go into fight week with no injuries or soreness. I’ve been in Colorado for over a month and it was time for some new scenery.

“I’m still going to be training very hard in Florida. I just need a little more sunshine and the additional space that’s provided for me down here. We did what we had to do in Colorado. Florida is just an ideal environment all-around and a happy place for me to be these last couple weeks.”

As Shields and trainer John David Jackson near fight night, the two-time Olympic Gold Medalist has a message for her fellow unbeaten opponent. “I know what I can and will do on April 13,” said Shields. “I already told Christina I’m going to beat her and mess her up. I’m taking this fight 100 percent seriously. I’m going to go out there and dominate her.

“I don’t want these belts handed to me. I’m coming to win every round on April 13. I’m a different kind of animal and Christina is going to see that on fight night. I’m ready. That’s it.”

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are priced at $150, $100, $55 and $35 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster and at boardwalkhall.com.

Two undefeated middleweight champions went face-to-face Tuesday as Unified Champion Claressa Shields and WBO World Champion Christina Hammer met in New York at a press conference ahead of their battle for the undisputed women’s middleweight championship Saturday, April 13 live on SHOWTIME from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. (photo by Stephanie Trapp).

The SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will feature a long-awaited unification in what is arguably the most significant event in women’s boxing history. In addition to world titles from all four sanctioning bodies, this fight will be for the Ring Magazine Women’s Middleweight Championship, the first time a Ring divisional title has been at stake in a women’s boxing match.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are priced at $150, $100, $55 and $35 and are on sale Friday, March 1 at 11 a.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster and at boardwalkhall.com. Pre-sale tickets are available now at the link HERE by using the code BOXING.

Also on Tuesday, SHOWTIME Sports announced that it will chronicle the buildup to Shields vs. Hammer with a two-part digital installment of the Sports Emmy® Award winning programing ALL ACCESS. ALL ACCESS: SHIELDS vs. HAMMER will premiere on March 29 with the second installment on April 5 on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page and take viewers into the training camps of both champions. Cameras will be embedded with Shields at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and with Hammer in the town of Seefeld in the Austrian Alps as the undefeated rivals prepare for the most significant fight of their careers.

via https://www.boxingscene.com/photos-claressa-shields-christina-hammer-face-face-nyc–136599

Undefeated middleweight world champions Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer will meet on Saturday, April 13 live on SHOWTIME to crown the women’s undisputed 160-pound world champion. The blockbuster unification from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. will be the main event of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION live at 9 p.m. ET/PT and is arguably the most significant women’s boxing event in history.

Shields vs. Hammer features two of the consensus top-10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world squaring off to crown only the second undisputed champion in female boxing history. The fight, originally scheduled for November 2018, was postponed due to a now-resolved medical issue suffered by Hammer.

The 23-year-old Shields (8-0, 2 KOs) is a two-division champion who holds the IBF, WBA and WBC 160-pound titles. The 28-year-old Hammer (24-0, 11 KOs) owns the WBO belt, is the WBC Champion in Recess, and has dominated the women’s middleweight division for more than eight years. Shields and Hammer fought on the same card last June on SHOWTIME, with both fighters winning impressively to set up the first undisputed showdown in the women’s 160-pound division.

The winner of Shields vs. Hammer will join Terrence Crawford, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, Oleksandr Usyk and women’s welterweight Cecilia Braekhus as the only fighters to have unified all four major world titles in any weight class.

Shields vs. Hammer is promoted by Salita Promotions. Ticket prices and on-sale date will be announced next week by Boardwalk Hall.

“I always seek the biggest challenges and set the highest goals. I will be ready like never before and will defeat Christina Hammer on April 13,” said Shields. “Nothing will stop me from becoming undisputed champion and continuing my journey to carry women’s boxing to never-before-seen heights. I want to be the greatest of all time and change the game forever for all women in sports, and April 13 is an important step on that road to history.”

“I have waited a long time for this moment,” said Hammer. “I am bigger, stronger and more experienced than Claressa Shields. I am undefeated and have been a champion for over eight years. I can’t wait to show the world that I am the best and undisputed middleweight champion of the world.”

“SHOWTIME Sports has a long history of featuring the best in women’s combat sports, whether it was with Laila Ali and Christy Martin in boxing, or Gina Carano, Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey in MMA,” said Gordon Hall, Executive Producer of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION. “More recently, since 2016 we have featured today’s elite with Claressa Shields, Christina Hammer, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano appearing in an industry-leading 10 presentations of women’s boxing. Male or female, SHOWTIME has delivered the best fighters in their toughest matchups, and April 13 will be no different. We have two of the best pound-for-pound female fighters in the world facing each other with all four middleweight titles at stake. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

“The biggest women’s fight of all time is set to take place on April 13 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City,” said promoter Dmitriy Salita. “Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer, both champions, both in their prime, are not only taking on the biggest challenge in their respective careers by meeting each other in the ring, but are breaking barriers for boxing and for women in sports. April 13 is destined to be an electric and historic night of boxing live on SHOWTIME.”

“Shields vs. Hammer is the biggest and most important fight in women’s boxing history – two undefeated unified champions in their prime battling for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world,” said Shields’ manager Mark Taffet. “Christina Hammer is indeed a very good fighter and champion, but Claressa Shields is once-in-a-lifetime. The same intense focus and determination that got Claressa through life, earned her two Olympic gold medals, and won her five world titles in eight pro fights will carry her to victory on April 13.”

“We are very excited to bring world-class championship boxing back to Atlantic City’s Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall,” said Matt Doherty, Executive Director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. “This reinforces the CRDA’s commitment to attract world-class sporting events and increase visitors to our destination.”

Shields was the first American boxer in history – male or female – to win consecutive Olympic gold medals. The Flint, Mich., native turned professional following the 2016 Olympics and became unified women’s super middleweight world champion in just her fourth professional fight. Shields moved down to middleweight for her June 22 headliner on SHOWTIME, defeating Hanna Gabriels to win the IBF and WBA titles and become a two-division champion in just her sixth professional contest. After Hammer was named WBC Champion in Recess due to her medical issue, Shields picked up the vacant WBC title last November with a unanimous decision over Hannah Rankin. She most recently defended all three titles in December against Femke Hermans.

Hammer, of Dortmund, Germany, has been the dominant force in the women’s middleweight division since winning the WBO title in 2010. Hammer became unified champion in 2016 with a unanimous decision over WBC titlist Kali Reis and made four defenses as unified champion. In her eight years as champion, Hammer has lost just a handful of rounds across 16 world title fights. Hammer, who also models professionally and was recently featured at Fashion Week in New York City, made her U.S. debut on June 22 after campaigning mostly in Germany since turning professional in 2009. After being forced to withdraw from the November unification due to the health issue, Hammer won a non-title fight via second round knockout last Saturday, February 9 in Germany.

The much-anticipated fight for the undisputed female middleweight championship between Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer on November 17 in Atlantic City is off. Shields stated via social media that Hammer has an undisclosed medical condition.

Claressa Shields: Very, very, very disappointed. I’ll let my team do the announcement! But what I will say is… I want this fight 100%. I am not the one sick. Idk the ins and outs of Hammers condition, but she can’t box til March the doctor says. I’m still going to fight the 17th of Nov 😟 I’m sorry to hit y’all with the bad news…. it should be some kind of press release announcing about what’s going on. I’m just putting out the information that I know. But umm yeah…. I’m just going to stay focused and in the gym. Love and peace

Christina Hammer: Dear Hammer Fans 🙏🏼, I have problems with my health I try my best as a CHAMP to train hard for this special Fight but I feel bad, my doctor doesn’t allows me to fight and no hard training for a few more months, it’s really sad now but this fight will come!!! I promise you that all fans will get this Hammer Fight🙌🏼 ✊🏻🔨I step into the Ring when I’m 💯 % health, I will WIN !! thanks to my family& coach who takes care of me ❤️❤️ thanks @wbcboxing @worldboxingorg @capocounselor 👈🏼 Do my best to get fast health 🙏🏼🙏🏼l’ll be back stronger 🙌🏼💪🏼thank you 🙏🏼 ❤️

https://fightnews.com/shields-hammer-blockbuster-is-off/31275

The long-discussed Claressa Shields-Christina Hammer fight finally has been scheduled.

Showtime announced Tuesday that the women’s middleweight title bout between these unbeaten champions is set for November 17 at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Theater in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Shields-Hammer match will be broadcast as the main event of a special edition of Showtime’s “ShoBox: The New Generation” series.

They’ll fight for Shields’ IBF and WBA 160-pound championships, as well as Hammer’s WBC and WBO titles, in one of the biggest bouts in women’s boxing history. The winner will join ex-middleweight champions Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor, former 140-pound champion Terence Crawford, cruiserweight champ Oleksandr Usyk and women’s welterweight champ Cecilia Braekhus as the only boxers to own the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles at the same time.

“I’ve worked hard my whole life to overcome every obstacle, represent my country and win two Olympic gold medals, and win world championships in two weight divisions as a pro,” Shields said. “I want to be part of the biggest fight in women’s boxing history, I want to be undisputed world middleweight champion, I want women’s boxing to reach new heights, and the only thing standing between me and the achievement of all those goals is Christina Hammer. I will defeat Hammer on November 17, and I will do it in a way that will leave no doubt who is the best in the world.”

The 23-year-old Shields (6-0, 2 KOs), a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Flint, Michigan, overcame a first-round knockdown during her last fight to convincingly defeat Costa Rica’s Hanna Gabriels (18-1-2, 11 KOs) by unanimous decision in a 10-rounder June 22 in Detroit. The 28-year-old Hammer (23-0, 10 KOs, 1 NC), of Dortmund, Germany, easily out-boxed Tori Nelson (17-2-3, 2 KOs) to win a 10-round unanimous decision on the undercard that night.

“I am beyond excited and motivated to fight Claressa,” Hammer said. “I am the best middleweight in the world and will make that point very clear when we get in the ring. It’s been my dream to fight in the biggest women’s fight of all time and raise women’s boxing to an all-time high. I will be crowned the undisputed middleweight queen on November 17.”

Tickets to the card headlined by Shields-Hammer range in pric from $35 to $150 and go on sale Friday (ticketmaster.com).

https://www.boxingscene.com/claressa-shields-christina-hammer-set-1117-atlantic-city–132167
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.

Christina Hammer coming off her 12th world title defense, and becoming the first German fighter since Max Schmeling to successfully defend their world title in the USA, looks forward to fighting Claressa Shields in biggest women’s fight of all time.

Source: https://fightnews.com/hammer-looks-forward-to-shields-showdown/24982

Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan – In a lopsided win in her highly anticipated U.S. debut, Christina Hammer (23-0, 10 KOs) remained undefeated with a unanimous decision against Tori Nelson (17-2-3, 2 KOs). The scores were 100-90, 99-91 twice, to retain her WBO and WBC Middleweight World Title belts.

“It would have been better to get a KO,” said Hammer, who is 27 years old and from Dortmund, Germany. “I tried everything I could to get the knockout. She was tough. I hope the USA is good with this and I’m still the champ.”

“I’m really looking forward to fighting Claressa. She will try and fight me on the inside but my footwork and my reach will make the difference. The fight with Claressa will be a game-changer. It will be the biggest women’s fight ever. I would like to fight her at a neutral site.”

“I’m very disappointed in my performance tonight,” said an emotional Nelson after the fight. “It’s a loss, of course it’s disappointing. I wasn’t busy enough, I guess.”

https://www.boxingscene.com/hammer-fight-with-shields-biggest-womens-fight-ever–129404