Claressa Shields gets candid about eyeing four-weight world championship against Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse
Undefeated boxing champion Claressa Shields sets her sights on a historic achievement as she challenges Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for a world title on July 27. However, the upcoming fight comes with a weight-class controversy.
Shields, a dominant force across multiple weight divisions, will face Lepage-Joanisse in Detroit. While the bout is billed as a heavyweight championship fight, the situation is more complex.
The confusion stems from the differing weight limits set by the two major boxing organizations involved. The WBC, sanctioning the fight for their heavyweight title, has a limit of 175 pounds. However, the vacant WBO light heavyweight title will also be on the line, with a 175-pound limit as well.
Speaking to Sporting News, Shields had this to say about the upcoming matchup:
"Even though I'm coming up two weight classes, and these girls are bigger, they're stronger, they're world champions… I still have enough in me to beat them. We're going for our fourth division, and I can't wait to see how hard these heavyweight girls hit. And I hope they hit harder than Savannah [Marshall] because if they don't, it's going to be a long night for them."
She added:
"The confusion is the inequality between women's and men's boxing once again. I'm going to come in at 168-170 pounds; she's going to come in at 175 because that's the weight... I'm just as confused as you. I'll be under 175. I don't care what she weighs in at. She can come in at 180, 190, 200, that's not my problem. It's just that we're fighting for the heavyweight title and that's it."
Claressa Shields blames lack of recognition for decline in US Olympic boxing
Appearing in the same interview, Claressa Shields also shed light on a potential reason behind the dwindling success of Team USA Boxing in the Olympics.
Shields, who remains the only American boxer to secure gold since Andre Ward in 2004, shared her thoughts on the issue:
"A lot of these amateur guys in the U.S. see professional boxing being more lucrative than the Olympics."
Shields highlighted the stark contrast in support offered to Olympic boxers in other countries.
"In some countries when you win the Olympics, male or female, some countries will give you a house and a car and take care of you for life. Here in the USA, you can win a gold medal (Shields shows medal one), you can win two gold medals (Shields shows medal two), and you still have to fight for your right to be recognized, fight for sponsorships, fight for money." [H/t: Sporting News]
She believes this lack of long-term support discourages talented fighters from fully committing to the Olympic path.