Claressa Shields (13-0, 2KOs), the self-proclaimed “greatest woman of all time”, has vowed to claim a knockout victory over Hannah Gabriels (21-2-1, 12KO's) as the pairing rematch on June 3rd at the Little Caesars Arena, Detroit. The pair initially faced each other in 2018, with Shields proving to be the victor over ten rounds to retain her then IBF & WBA world super-middleweight titles, despite being famously knocked down in the opening round by Gabriels.
Shields has since then become a two-weight undisputed world champion at middleweight and super-welterweight, making herself one of the hottest commodities in boxing. However, Gabriels herself has had her success since 2018, capturing titles at super-welterweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight. However, one difference between the pairing is that Shields has been more active than her Costa Rican counterpart.
Shields, in 2022, saw herself fight twice in the UK after signing a co-promotional agreement with promotional entity BOXXER. Her spell in the UK was fruitful, but she starred in a thrilling encounter with Savannah Marshall in the first all-female fight card on the UK at the 02 Arena, London. Victory over Marshall saw Claressa claim undisputed title glory in the 160lb division alongside being named the British Boxing Board of Control’s overseas fighter of the year for 2022.
Shields is pleased that she can now return to Michigan and fight at the home of the Detroit Pistons NBA franchise, something she didn’t imagine was possible when she first turned professional.
“This is a dream come true for me. Born and raised in Flint, you know I’ve come to many games here to watch the Pistons play. Me and my grandmother watched the Pistons play on TV when they won the championship and now to actually be here fighting in front of all these fans…This was unheard of in women’s boxing when I turned pro.
“I’m fighting here in Detroit in front of all my family and all my friends. Hanna Gabriels is in a real heap of trouble come June 3rd. Y’all want to be there because this is the fight that will solidify what I’ve been saying, that there’s no girl in this world who can get in the ring with me and take me. I’m a problem.”
Ultimately, Shields still is not satisfied with her 2018 showing against Gabriels, wanting to right the wrong in her opinion from that encounter of, which is to claim a convincing knockout victory in her favour.
“The knockdown pissed me off because it was a flash knockdown. After the fight, I was very upset and very frustrated and I said ‘I want to fight her some more.’ I wanted to do the rematch immediately.
“I beat her unanimously after being knocked down and this time I don’t want a unanimous decision. I want the knockout. She’s able to get knocked out, it’s happened to her before. I’m able to get knocked down. It happened to me before, but I got back up and won.”
Gabriels herself, in her opinion, has unfinished business with Shields and felt that she was avoided following their 2018 fight. Gabriels stated that she thought that their original fight was more competitive than the scorecards at the time suggested and is aiming to remove the undisputed crown from Shields.
“I remember that fight was a great fight. I think it was a close fight and I wasn’t mad about Claressa winning. I was mad about the cards, because I think I didn’t deserve those cards. Even for your fights afterwards, I don’t think the other girls gave you as much of a fight and they did better on the cards, so I am here to redeem myself.
“Two years ago, you fought for the undisputed at 154 and I was still the champion there and you avoided me for whatever reason. I am here to take what’s yours at 160.”
