Claressa Shields Readies For February Middleweight Defense

On Tuesday afternoon, Unified Ladies World Middleweight champ Claressa Shields met with the media in advance of her upcoming latest title defense February 5th in Cardiff, Wales, U.K. And, the self professed – GWOAT (Greatest Women’s Fighter of all-time) knows that a lucrative clash with WBO titleholder Savannah Marshall awaits her with victory.

Shields made clear what her intentions in the ring will be should all go well two weeks from now,

Claressa Shields says having a mentality of "everyone wants me to lose" will help her prepare for her world title defence against Ema Kozin in Cardiff on Saturday, February 5, live on Sky Sports.@Claressashields | @BOXXER

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) January 19, 2022

“The boxing world has forgotten who the best female fighter is since I’ve been doing MMA. The other girls like Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor have been showcasing some great skills, but I’m planning to showcase even better skills in my fight February 5,” Shields said.

“I hope Savannah Marshall shows up at the fight. She can jump up in the ring after I win and talk some stuff. But talking doesn’t win fights, training does. She’s going to see a great performance and I’m going to prove that I haven’t been running from her. We’ve been chasing her.”

Shileds, 11-0, 2 KOs, will be making the third defense of her Unified Middleweight titles when she takes on Ema Kozin  live on pay-per-view in the U.S. and Canada. Her bout will be the co-main event from Motorpoint Arena Cardiff in Wales, with star U.K. middleweights Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Williams meeting in the top billing.

It will be the Michigan native’s first bout since she stayed down a weight class and defended the Undisputed Jr. Middleweight world titles she also owns, with a 10 round domination of Eve Marie DiCaire in March of last year. And, that bout has been the only one for Shields in a boxing ring since January of 2020. She has also been competing as an MMA fighter, but took a loss in October in her second bout by decision in the Professional Fight League.

Now, she’l be back in the boxing ring looking to get the shot at Marshall, who beat her previously in the amateur ranks.

Guided by Salita Promotions, Shields has signed a lucrative multi-fight deal with promoter Boxxer and broadcaster SKY Sports in the U.K. and the bout with the Eubanks-Willams main event will be available through Fite TV and InDemand PPV in the U.S. Saturday afternoon.