Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse vs. Claressa Shields: Press Conference Quotes and Fight Prediction

The winner of the clash between Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-1, 2 KOs) and Claressa Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) has the chance to achieve something only a select few have done.

Lepage-Joanisse will be defending her WBC heavyweight title for the first time. Additionally, the vacant WBO light heavyweight title will be on the line. This means that the victor will win world titles in two different weight classes on Saturday night. While the WBO recognizes a women’s light heavyweight division, the WBC considers anything above 168.1 lbs to be heavyweight. As a result, world titles from two different weight classes are at stake.

There is precedent for this. “Sugar” Ray Leonard once beat Donny Lalonde to win the WBC super middleweight and light heavyweight titles. In a rematch against Marcos Maidana, Floyd Mayweather Jr. defended his WBA and WBC welterweight titles and his WBC super welterweight strap.

Lepage-Joanisse and Shields headline a Salita Promotions card – in collaboration with Eye of the Tiger Management – at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. Fight fans around the world can catch the action live on DAZN. Ahead of their July 27 bout, the two women spoke at a press conference. Below is some of what they had to say.

Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse vs. Claressa Shields Press Conference Quotes

Claressa Shields

“We spent so much time getting ready for this fight and I am excited about this,” said Shields. “I’m just going to get right off into it. Vanessa did not train hard enough for this fight. I saw her hitting the pads yesterday. I’m like she’s trying to impress me. I was not impressed. Then I want to start there and she sparring against girls I smoked already. Mary Spencer, you could’ve gotten some better sparring than that. I sparred against bears for this camp. Franchón Crews-[Dezurn] for this camp but she sparring against little old Mary Spencer. I beat Mary Spencer here, I beat Mary Spencer here in Detroit, and that’s who you’re going to pick to get ready? Stop it. I don’t get it, I don’t get it…”

Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse

“I’m so thrilled to be here,” said Lepage-Joanisse through an interpreter. “It’s such an honour to be able to fight here in front of so many people at the stadium. My homework is done. I am not the trash talker kind. I respect Claressa Shields very much, I know what she had accomplished. But a fight is a fight and I’m ready Saturday night. I know I had a great camp. My team is behind me. A lot of fans from Quebec will be here also. I’m going to make sure I come back with the belt in my suitcases. So it’s going to be a fight, but we’re going to win that one.”

Fight Prediction

Shields is a tough opponent to face. Her only loss was in the amateur ranks to Savannah Marshall, a defeat she later avenged as a professional. It is hard to see Lepage-Joanisse defeating Shields, as determined as she is going into this contest. However, the Canadian in me likes to think there is a way. Lepage-Joanisse by unanimous decision.

Note: The author being Canadian most certainly impacted predicting this fight and he has done this before.

Full Press Conference

For the entire press conference, click here or the play button below. Video courtesy of FightHype.com.