DETROIT -- On June 22 Showtime will air two title fights, both featuring women. In the main event will be Claressa Shields (5-0, 2 KOs) who will be fighting just an hour and a half away from her hometown of Flint, Michigan. Shields, the best super middleweight in women's boxing, will be taking on Hanna Gabriels (18-1-1, 11 KOs), the best junior middleweight in women's boxing, in what should be her toughest test to date. Shields will move down in weight while Gabriels moves up in weight as they meet in the middleweight division with vacant IBF and WBA world titles on the line.
Shields is an orthodox boxer with good power and a very aggressive style. She's the type of fighter who only gets better after she's been tagged a few times and she rarely takes a backwards step. While Shields will flash her jab at times, it's her power punches that her opponents need to worry about. Shields has a powerful right hand that lands with a thud and an accurate left hook that can really take the fight out of her opponents. Some fighter's offense is their defense and that's the case with Shields. She has shown a good chin and doesn't seem to worry about eating a few punches as long as she gets to land a few of her own. However, Gabriels is the heaviest hitter Shields will have faced, so she can't be as reckless as she's been in past fights.
The Flint, Michigan native is the most accomplished Olympic boxer in U.S. history. She is the only American fighter, male or female, to ever win two Olympic gold medals, doing so in 2012 and 2016. After turning pro following the Olympics in 2016 Shields has been perfect. After a few soft touches to begin her career Shields really stepped up her level of competition in recent fights. Her last two opponents both entered their fight with an unbeaten record and both were handed their first losses by Shields. Beating Gabriels would be another statement for Shields and would mean she captured a world title in her second division.
Gabriels is also an orthodox fighter and she likes to move laterally around the ring as opposed to Shields who always comes forward. Gabriels has a nice, long, crisp jab that she works behind and likes to employ subtle but effective head movement. Along with her jab Gabriels also has a solid right hand and good left hook and she doesn't like to sit in the pocket. Instead, Gabriels like to work from the outside and move in and out where she can do damage and avoid return fire.
While Shields only turned pro in 2016, Gabriels has been fighting professionally since 2007. Her lone career loss came back in 2013 when she was stopped by Oxandia Castillo in the second round. Gabriels was able to get her revenge four years later though, when she beat Castillo by unanimous decision. Gabriels also holds a win over the tough Kali Reis but beating Shields would give her the kind of recognition other victories haven't.
This should be an interesting fight because of the contrasting styles. As a pro Shields has been extremely aggressive on the attack and hasn't seemed to worry too much about return fire. Gabriels, on the other hand likes to get in and out of the pocket and use lateral movement to make her opponents work. Expect Shields to try and get inside where she can land her power punches from the pocket. For her part, expect Gabriels to stay on the outside and really use her feet while she looks to sharp shoot Shields on her way in. Gabriels does need to remain busy though because it won't be easy to win on the cards in what is essentially a hometown fight for Shields if she doesn't let her hands go enough The bottom line is whoever controls the distance in this fight should come out with the victory.
PREDICTION: Hanna Gabriels has the skills to beat Claressa Shields but that is easier said than done. Gabriels will look to counter Shields while Shields will be the busier fighter. The busier hands of Shields will be the difference in this fight and she will come away with a close but decisive unanimous decision victory.
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| Shields celebrating a victory with her belts |
The Flint, Michigan native is the most accomplished Olympic boxer in U.S. history. She is the only American fighter, male or female, to ever win two Olympic gold medals, doing so in 2012 and 2016. After turning pro following the Olympics in 2016 Shields has been perfect. After a few soft touches to begin her career Shields really stepped up her level of competition in recent fights. Her last two opponents both entered their fight with an unbeaten record and both were handed their first losses by Shields. Beating Gabriels would be another statement for Shields and would mean she captured a world title in her second division.
Gabriels is also an orthodox fighter and she likes to move laterally around the ring as opposed to Shields who always comes forward. Gabriels has a nice, long, crisp jab that she works behind and likes to employ subtle but effective head movement. Along with her jab Gabriels also has a solid right hand and good left hook and she doesn't like to sit in the pocket. Instead, Gabriels like to work from the outside and move in and out where she can do damage and avoid return fire.
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| Gabriels catching her opponent with a hard right hand |
This should be an interesting fight because of the contrasting styles. As a pro Shields has been extremely aggressive on the attack and hasn't seemed to worry too much about return fire. Gabriels, on the other hand likes to get in and out of the pocket and use lateral movement to make her opponents work. Expect Shields to try and get inside where she can land her power punches from the pocket. For her part, expect Gabriels to stay on the outside and really use her feet while she looks to sharp shoot Shields on her way in. Gabriels does need to remain busy though because it won't be easy to win on the cards in what is essentially a hometown fight for Shields if she doesn't let her hands go enough The bottom line is whoever controls the distance in this fight should come out with the victory.
PREDICTION: Hanna Gabriels has the skills to beat Claressa Shields but that is easier said than done. Gabriels will look to counter Shields while Shields will be the busier fighter. The busier hands of Shields will be the difference in this fight and she will come away with a close but decisive unanimous decision victory.
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