Claressa Shields vs. Ivana Habazin - Vacant WBO/WBC 154 Title - January 10, 2020

[Ruthless-RKO]

Barely a year after Vasiliy Lomachenko and Kosei Tanaka became three-division titlist quicker than anyone else in boxing history, Claressa Shields is ready to raise the ante.

The unbeaten, undisputed middleweight champion is ready to add a third divisional crown to her arsenal as she vies for a vacant 154-pound title. Her mad dash towards creating more boxing history will come versus former welterweight titlist Ivana Habazin on August 17 in Shields’ hometown of Flint, Mich.

“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 (9-0, 2KOs), who is coming off of a tour-de-force performance in a 10-round whitewash of Christina Hammer this past April in Atlantic City.

“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,” notes Shields, the only American boxer in history to capture back-to-back Olympic Gold medals. “It’s another big step forward in lifting women’s boxing on the road to equality.”

Standing in her way is Croatia’s Habazin (20-3, 7KOs), who hopes to once again avoid the wrong side of history.

The 29-year old previously held a welterweight title, conceding the strap to unbeaten pound-for-pound queen Cecilia Braekhus who became the first female boxer in history to claim all four major titles in a single weight class following their Sept. 2014 clash.



Now in her U.S. debut, the former titlist looks to become a two-division champ.

“I’m honored to fight on SHOWTIME and to be making my debut in the U.S.,” said Habazin. “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. I will not let this opportunity pass. I’m not just coming to the U.S. to fight, I’m coming for victory.

“I’m actually a big fan of Claressa. She made history for women’s boxing and will be a great opponent for me. She’s very confident in herself, she’s aggressive, she can move, she has speed and good defense. But I have all of this too, and I can punch. I can’t wait to see what she is made of. They said her fight against Hammer was the biggest of all time, but I think this one will be the greatest ever.”

The bout will headline a hybrid Showtime Boxing: Special Edition telecast, live from Dort Federal Event Center in Shields’ Flint, Mich. hometown.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Great!

Not tryna hate but we’ll never hear the end.

That too a Vacant belt.

Any other boxers become 3-weight champions working down the scale?

[Boxing Prospect]

Great!

Not tryna hate but we’ll never hear the end.

That too a Vacant belt.

Any other boxers become 3-weight champions working down the scale?

Very rare a boxer goes down the scale with any success at all, Sung Kil Moon (118 to 115) is one of the very few... Seems a much harder achievement than most other

[gilgamesh]

After this one Claressa needs to pick up a Welterweight belt, and then shoot all the way back up to Light Heavyweight to win a 5th belt

I kid, but she seriously probably will do that one of these days.

The closest thing there could be to a fight that the general public could get behind in Women's Boxing is her against Katie Taylor I guess, and I imagine the size differential might just be too great. Welterweight is the only possible meeting place I'd think, unless Claressa can somehow squeeze down to 140. Not even sure she could make 147.

[lazboy]

I'm sold on her as the best woman boxer of today. That is unless Katie Taylor can avenge her "loss" as unfortunately she got her backside whooped. However it must be noted that the UFC seem to have the money for woman and that has attracted the talent.

I don't see Shields being beat although I'll mostly root against her as she comes across extremely obnoxious.

[jamamb]

to bad the warrior for womens boxing equality has total pillow fists

[Ruthless-RKO]

I'm sold on her as the best woman boxer of today. That is unless Katie Taylor can avenge her "loss" as unfortunately she got her backside whooped. However it must be noted that the UFC seem to have the money for woman and that has attracted the talent.

I don't see Shields being beat although I'll mostly root against her as she comes across extremely obnoxious.

UFC treat their women as if they’re men. Full whack treatment. And it can be exciting too.

[IKSRTFO]

After this one Claressa needs to pick up a Welterweight belt, and then shoot all the way back up to Light Heavyweight to win a 5th belt

I kid, but she seriously probably will do that one of these days.

The closest thing there could be to a fight that the general public could get behind in Women's Boxing is her against Katie Taylor I guess, and I imagine the size differential might just be too great. Welterweight is the only possible meeting place I'd think, unless Claressa can somehow squeeze down to 140. Not even sure she could make 147.

What about Cecilia Braekus moving up to 154 or fight her at 147?

[gilgamesh]

What about Cecilia Braekus moving up to 154 or fight her at 147?

How could I forget about Cecilia? Yes that'd be big too.

Women's Boxing doesn't exactly have a lot of "names" Cecilia and Katie are about the only ones left. She's already beat Hammer. Thoroughly, so I don't figure anybody would care to see a rematch there. All she can do now is rack up the numbers of title defenses, and the achievements against relative unknowns.

[Ruthless-RKO]

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.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Claressa Shields has recovered from the minor knee injury she sustained a month-and-a-half ago.

Now that the undisputed women’s middleweight champion is able to train without restrictions again, her fight for a world title in a third weight class has been rescheduled. Showtime announced Tuesday that Shields’ bout with Ivana Habazin has been reset for October 5 in Flint, Michigan, Shields’ hometown.

Showtime will televise Shields-Habazin as the main event of a broadcast from Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center. They’ll fight for the vacant WBO junior middleweight title.

Shields was supposed to box Habazin on August 17 at the same venue in Flint. Their fight was postponed indefinitely June 20, once Shields suffered an injury to her right knee while doing roadwork.

“I’m more excited than ever,” said Shields, who’ll move down from 160 to 154 pounds for this fight. “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. 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 a giant step in lifting women’s boxing on the road to equality.”

The 24-year-old Shields (9-0, 2 KOs), a two-time Olympic gold medalist, became women’s boxing’s undisputed middleweight champion by dominating Germany’s Christina Hammer in her last fight. Shields beat Hammer (24-1, 11 KOs, 1 NC) by unanimous decision April 13 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to add Hammer’s WBO title to her IBF, WBA and WBC championships.

Shields will attempt to capture a title in a third weight class in just her 10th professional fight. That would break the record of Ukraine’s Vasiliy Lomachenko (13-1, 10 KOs), who won a championship in a third division in his 12th pro bout.

The 29-year-old Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs), of Zagreb, Croatia, is the WBO’s No. 1-ranked contender at 154 pounds. The former IBF welterweight title-holder lost a 10-round unanimous decision to undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braehkus (35-0, 9 KOs) in their 147-pound title unification fight in September 2014.

In her most recent bout, Habazin avenged the first loss of her career by out-pointing Eva Bajic (14-17, 9 KOs) by unanimous decision in a 10-rounder December 8.

“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 foot forward to impress the fans and show that I am for real.

“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’ve got the chance to prove that, and there is no better opponent for that than Claressa Shields.”

[margaret thatcher]

Where is Pip these days? He should be in here going on about what a massive star and future PPV blockbuster Shields is.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Where is Pip these days? He should be in here going on about what a massive star and future PPV blockbuster Shields is.

Pip?? Pip who?

[gilgamesh]

Maybe Shields will have a little pop at this weight class...I doubt it, but maybe.

[margaret thatcher]

Ya, maybe score the historical first knockdown of her pillowhanded career

[Ruthless-RKO]

She’s gone backwards and successfully. But then again, it’s women’s boxing.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

https://www.badlefthook.com/2019/9/10/2 ... oxing-news

Jermaine Franklin vs. Pavel Sour

He will get another chance to show his stuff on Oct. 5, when he features on the Claressa Shields-Ivana Habazin card from Flint, once again live on Showtime.

“This is what I have been waiting for,” said Franklin. “I can’t wait to put a show on in front of my hometown with friends and family in the crowd.”

Franklin (19-0, 13 KO) has been criticized a bit for having something of a “soft” body, standing 6’2” and weighing 240-245 for his last two fights, which was up a notable amount from his fights before this year. He says that’s been a focus.

“I’ve been working on my diet and taking better care of my body since my last fight,” he said. “I’m focused on not wasting any punches and letting the knockout come naturally, not pushing for it. I’m going to be better conditioned and more patient and finally prove to fans why I’m America’s next great heavyweight.”

This time out, he’ll be facing 36-year-old Czech club fighter Pavel Sour, who will be fighting in the U.S. for the first time. In his only fight outside of the Czech Republic, he was flattened in the first round by Filip Hrgovic in Oct. 2017, a fight that took place in Germany. Hrgovic is a legitimate top heavyweight prospect, and Franklin will want to do something similar.

“I have the technique, speed and power to beat Jermaine Franklin,” said Sour. “I am in great shape, I’m training hard and I’m very confident heading into this fight. Franklin is underestimating me because of my age, but I’m going to show him he’s wrong and have my hand raised when the final bell rings.”

Sour (11-1, 6 KO) last fight came on April 6, when he successfully defended the Czech heavyweight title against the much younger and previously unbeaten Tomas Salek.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The Showtime card on Oct. 5 will have extremely stiff competition for eyeballs, as it’s going up against the DAZN card featuring Gennadiy Golovkin vs Sergiy Derevyanchenko in the main event.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Highly Regarded Ennis Clashes With Fernandez in Co-Featured Bout of Claressa Shields vs. Ivana Habazin On SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION From Dort Federal Events Center In Flint, Mich.

NEW YORK – September 20, 2019 – Undefeated welterweight prospect Jaron Ennis will face Demian Daniel Fernandez in his return to national television on Saturday, October 5 live on SHOWTIME.

The highly touted Ennis (23-0, 21 KOs) will fight on TV for the first time in nearly a year against once-beaten Argentinian Fernandez (12-1, 5 KOs) in a 10-round co-featured bout on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION beginning live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from Dort Federal Events Center in Flint, Mich.

VIDEO:

[Kronkpride]

I normally root for Michigan fighters but I hope Shields loses soon. Her drivel is just so hard o the ears. There is no real competition or depth in women's boxing. Her achievements are very hollow compared to the men. She is also talking the equal pay junk like Serena Williams does. Women's boxing is not a big draw and in boxing the pay is based on who you can get to sit in the stands and tune in. Serena is also full of crap on that....how can 3 sets of women's tennis pay as much as 5 sets of men's? When they televise big grand slam matches the men's matches generate much more revenue because they are longer and much more advertising occurs. Shields just doesn't do much for me in the pros. She is not knocking people out. Her outside the ring stuff is not entertaining. There is really nothing special about her. She's just one of the best out of the very few women who box. That is not saying much because the pool is so small. If she loses then hopefully she will tone down her terrible rhetoric.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight week.

Never seen anyone well, male boxers become a 3-weight world champion going down in weight.

[littlepug]

Ruby Robert

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shields – Habazin: WBC Super Welterweight Championship Now Also On The Line

The stakes have been raised even further for this Saturday’s (October 5) “Homecoming for Herstory” showdown between Flint’s own female boxing superstar Claressa Shields and former world champion Ivana Habazin, now that the WBC has also agreed to sanction the bout for their vacant women’s super welterweight championship.

The history-making 10-round fight, in which Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) will be looking to become the fastest fighter in boxing, male or female, to be crowned a three-division world champion by defeating #1-ranked Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs), of Zagreb, Croatia, will now be contested for both the WBO and WBC Championships.

Shields vs. Habazin will headline a SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT) telecast from the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center in Flint, that will also feature undefeated Saginaw, Mich., heavyweight prospect Jermaine Franklin (19-0, 13 KOs) facing Czech Republic’s once-beaten Pavel Šour (11-1, 6 KOs) and unbeaten welterweight prospect Jaron “Boots” Ennis (23-0, 21 KOs) taking on Argentina’s Demian Daniel Fernandez (12-1, 5 KOs).

“The WBC is proud and happy to be part of this herstoric event”, said WBC Women’s Championship Chairman Malte Mueller-Michaelis. “Both Shields and Habazin are outstanding athletes so we are looking forward to an exciting bout.”

“October 5 will truly be a memorable event and we are delighted that the fight will now be for both the WBC and WBO World Championships,” said Dmitriy Salita. “Claressa is aiming for historic nights every time she gets into the ring and it is exciting that the victor of the fight on Saturday will be a Unified 154-lb World Champion.”

“Winning a world title in a third weight division faster than any man or woman in boxing history is a once in a lifetime opportunity and accomplishment,” said Shields’ Manager Mark Taffet. “I know Claressa will rise to the occasion, and I’m thrilled both the WBC and WBO belts will be on the line.”