By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Undisputed female middleweight world champion Claressa “GWOAT” Shields and current WBC women’s heavyweight champion Hanna Gabriels faced off at the kickoff press conference for their June 3 rematch at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. This will be the first boxing event in the history of the 20,000-seat venue. DAZN will stream the card.
-On Shields being the first boxing event at Little Caesars Arena
Mark Taffet: “The very first fight at Little Caesars Arena. You can only be the first once. And it lasts forever.”
-On where Shields ranks in his mind
Mark Taffet: “Floyd Mayweather, Roy Jones Jr., and Claressa Shields are the three best I have seen. And not particularly in that order.”
-On his fighter, Gabriels
Hector Cardova: “Second fight, going all in. This is going to be fireworks. Took us five years to make the rematch happen. But we are here. Took five years to give us a rematch, so that tells you everything. We dropped her, and will drop (Shields), again.”
-On her rematch with Gabriels
Claressa Shields: “I am a problem. I am from Flint, Michigan. I want all the smoke. Whoever got the smoke, let’s go. Let’s fight. I’ve always wanted smoke with her after we fought.”
-On what he thinks of Shields
Hector Cardova: “It’s not that I don’t like you. It’s just that I don’t care for you.”
-On the knockdown Gabriels scored in the first fight
Mark Taffet: “She did what no woman has done before, when she put her on her butt. You can call it a flash knockdown, but it was a knockdown.”
-On why she took the rematch
Hannah Gabriels: “Two years ago, you fought for the undisputed in 154 and I was still the champion there, and you avoided me, for whatever reason. I am here to take what is yours in 160.”
-On if Promoter Dmitry Salita will be showcasing Detroit fighters on the Shields card
Dmitry Salita: “From our perspective, boxing has to be inclusive. And the Detroit boxing community is very small, but very vibrant. We want to bring everybody together. The goal of the show is to showcase some of the better talent that is here in Detroit in the state of Michigan. There are different communities in Detroit, different fighters that are very talented; national champions, undefeated pros. The goal of this event, and Claressa has opened the door for everybody, is to be able to showcase these young talents. With the idea of them headlining their own event sometime in the near future.”
-On how this event came to Little Caesars Arena
Howard Handler, President of 313 Presents: “I have been very committed to bringing boxing, big time boxing, back to Detroit since I came home. I am from Detroit, originally. I came back 3 1/2 years ago to run 313 Presents. This is one of the most magnificent arenas in the world. But growing up in Detroit, I am intimately familiar with the history of boxing back to Olympia Stadium, where I got to go as a kid…all the way through Cobo, the Joe, Pontiac Silverdome, and the Palace. I have some family history. My Great Uncle was a professional boxer, Golden Gloves champ, and more noteworthy, as a referee. He refereed Joe Louis’ first professional fight. He refereed the 1950 Middleweight Championship with Jake LaMotta and Laurent Dauthille. So, I’m always motivated.”
Shields’ trash talk makes Tyson Fury’s mouth look pretty weak gearing up for a fight. I recall in the past Shields was riding on the confidence train so bad she said she would fight Shawn Porter. Yeah, ok… Keep dreaming.
It’s called hype and marketing learn the difference. Of course, a woman isn’t beating a man in boxing. Lucia Rikjer found out the hard way. If Shields didn’t talk trash, she wouldn’t get noticed despite her many accomplishments. Women boxers never receive publicity unless they’re the daughter of a legendary boxer or pretty enough to be in Playboy.
And she called out GGG when he was smashing people left and right. SMH
Shields got a big ol booty. Some real junk in the trunk. Buy why she fighting a Heavyweight?
heavyweight is different for woman’s boxing and she not a natural heavyweight anyhow, and she over 40 so end of story.
Same result as last time. Even easier this time around. Although Gabriel’s has had an impressive career, is over 40 and can’t pull the trigger anymore. Shields by corner stoppage between 8th and 9th round.
I think this fight for Gabriels is a terrible idea! Shields has been keeping busy fighting in boxing and MMA. Gabriels hasn’t fought in over 2 yrs. What, no “tune-up” fight before stepping up to a MAJOR fight? I unfortunately believe that Gabriels can only win by KO or TKO…..
“Floyd Mayweather, Roy Jones Jr., and Claressa Shields are the three best I have seen. And not particularly in that order.”
Oh please… I nearly choked on my cereal! You can put a cat in an oven, but that don’t make it a biscuit.
U haven’t been around long.
Hopefully will be successful event-he is talking about the days when there were many good club shows here with well promoted local fighters. Haven’t really seen this since the days of Hearns.
What a beautiful, well-built goddess that Gabriels is. She’s a real Costa Rican queen. She’s 40 though and hasn’t been active. I would like nothing more than to see her completely obliterate the loudmouth Shields, but I doubt this will be the outcome. Shields definitely no Katie Taylor. She needs to do more and talk less.
Stop all that hating and appreciate her talent or find another dammmm sport to watch.
I love women boxing. Let’s forget Shields’trash talk, she’s a great fighter anytime and any where she find herself. I strongly believe she will overcome Gabriel. I doubt how Gabriel at 40 and with no action for 2years, will be able to give her fans the kind of fight they wanted. Gabriel should have taken a tune up fight first before facing Claressa.
Great assessment! U on point
“Floyd Mayweather, Roy Jones Jr., and Claressa Shields are the three best I have seen. And not particularly in that order.” – hahaha. Is this guy blind or just stupid
Both!
I have followed Shields from the beginning she is a hell of a fighter and I don’t think that she gets the respect that she should get her name should go up there with Muhammad Ali sugar Ray Leonard Joe Lewis it should be one of the ones that when you say her name far as a female it should mean I have a lot of meaning to it I’ve never been to one of her fights I watch it on cable I believe one day they will make a movie about her and that’s a beautiful thing I believe she is more famous than Lila Ali and she’s done more for the sport that is just my opinion quote from the famous Scarface movie The world is yours for the taking I just want to tell you I am one of your biggest fans and one day I will come and support you until that day keep reaching for the Stars and you and your family is always in my prayers
Clarissa Shields still doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. I put her in my top 5 of all time.
This fight should be exciting,I see a change with in Shields,and her challenger look like she Is up for the champion’s belt’s,don’t forget she lost,but also put the champ on her butt so look out for champ on champ.