Undisputed female middleweight champion Claressa Shields will open up the 2020 year of big boxing events against former champion Ivana Habazin for the vacant WBC and WBO 154-pound titles on January 10 from the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City on Showtime. The fight has been postponed twice, first in August due to an injury to Shields, then in October when at the weigh-in Habazin’s trainer James Ali Bashir was sucker-punched and knocked unconscious. Shields’ brother is facing charges for that attack.
“I made 154 pounds back in October before the cancellation,” said Shields from her training camp in Miami. “After our fight was cancelled, I stayed active and only put on about 10 pounds. I’ve been down in Florida for the last six or seven weeks. It’s been hard work. I’ve pushed myself and I’m not taking Habazin lightly. I want the knockout because Ivana talks too much. I’m staying focused on being focused, and not letting anyone throw me off by talking nonsense.
“No matter what she says, this beat down was coming in October. All I’m doing is bringing it to Atlantic City. I’m going to knock her out. I’m going to put down a whole different beat down on her because of the level of disrespect she has shown me. I’m not going to let her be disrespectful towards me and I’m going to knock her out to shut her up.”
As for her New Year’s resolutions?
“I really have just one main resolution for the new year – no compromising,” said Shields. “That goes for both my personal and professional life. I also want to get closer to God and stay undefeated. I was going to say stop cursing also, but that’s just not happening.”
What else could we possibly expect from Shields than her usual trash talk? She’s lucky that there’s no depth in women’s boxing – and she knows it. Practically any girl can become a “world champion” by just winning a few fights. In fact, most female boxer careers don’t go beyond 25 fights, except for a few all-time greats (Braekhus, Serrano, Mrdjenovich, Halmich, etc.).
Habazin doesn’t have any power, so there’s little hope for an upset. I wish she could do us all a favor and knock out Shields, but chances are almost zero.
Yep, great points. I think Shields should worry more about making her juvenile training camp in behaving and not to assault defenseless people around them. Shields is simply a decent boxer in a division with limited opposition making an illusion she is unstoppable.
I hope Ivana Habazin makes SHields quit in her corner. Shields is a letdown.
Fuck outta here. That man was assaulted for disrespecting somebodies sister.
@Noccowt, so behaving like a feral animal is excusable for someone who feels”disrespect”? Sounds like domestication classes are needed…
Shield’s brother, the man who threw the punch, was on probation and a thug, he sucker-punched that old man. Like the thug Charlo brothers who I think have matured and see boxing as a business, Shields should realize the limited time to be successful in boxing and grow up and sell herself as a role model and get all that endorsement money as well as maturing as a person.
“Practically any girl can become a “world champion” by just winning a few fights?” If thats true then why dont more females win Gold medals and become champ in different weight classes? I doubt You as a male could do what she did. The way you discount accomplishments says a lot.
Study female boxing history, NJ, before you write BS.
You guys are so stupid!! Shields is PROMOTING THE FIGHTS!! That’s why she talks trash so her small market sport which you pointed out can get some ATTENTION! She is selling the fights dummies! I’ve watched her for years and she’s seems like a very nice person but she has to sell the fight and trash talk is the most reliable way to do it. It got you talking didn’t it?
Boxing fans are not gonna fall for that, but perhaps some casuals might be lured in. She can yap all she wants but parity with males is not going to happen with no competition.
@noracistsallowed, what white fighters are you pushing for,… besides none???? I think we’re done here!
The beast as she ref to herself last year .. you said it !!
Unless she has her brother dress in drag, to look like her, and fight her battle, there is not going to be a knockout.
Wow. What a bunch of sissies bad talking a female.
I know people are going to be fuming over my opinion but I dont care I am being transparent as it gets.
Shields should have also been fined and suspended for what her brother did at the last weigh in between these two.
as everybody agreed when Margaritos trainer loaded his wraps fighters are responsible for members of their corner and their entourage Sheilds should have been fined an suspended for the actions of her brother.
Diego: I don’t think people will be “fuming” over your opinion. I rather think that most boxing fans will agree with you.
Its an unpleasant chapter in boxing’s history, but Shield’s get full support from the U.S. media and she takes full advantage of it by becoming increasingly obnoxious and arrogant. Worse, there are still people who pay for her fights. What to do….
I agree 100%, but she will be protected. You cannot attack a female because she will fight back saying its because shes a woman. It would be a perfect storm if she was treated like any other boxer. She should have been fined and suspended.
It was obvious That Margocheata knew his gloves were loaded, and i strongly suspect it was not the first time (after the moseley fight, he could not stop my old aunt). He should not only have been banned for life (the same goes for Glenello as well), he should have been jailed for attemted murder.
Are you fucking retarded. Comparing what Margarito’s people did to what Shields brother did. Gtfoh. That man disrespected his Lil sister so he handled him. Wow. What a bunch of women hating punks
So everytime someone says something dispespectful to you, you put them in the hospital. Classy individual you are.
After what Canelo and Eddie Hearns been able to do in this sport nobody can hardly point any fingers. No surprise you’ll want Shields to burn at the stake for what someone else did. The person that did the assault is paying the price. Margarito knew about the illegal wraps and put his opponent life in danger. Shields didnt know brother was going to attack. Not a fair comparison
A waste of good tv time that should be used to cover real boxers.
Shields has like 2 knock outs. Womens boxing is so awful, thats this very ordinary female fighter is the best in the world. All the female talent is in MMA
Its called a classless piece of hood trash.
She should have her brother do it.
This nut case (shields) is so full of herself I mean no one talks as much shit as she does but the moment someone else has a big mouth she can’t handle it. So far I only hear shields talking that she would beat many male boxers I mean who does that? Yep loud mouth classless shields
Clarissa, the thought of stop cursing is a very valid one. Please include it in your 2020 pledge. Years from now when your career is being revised and you become a parent and much older you will be very glad that you did.
Wow, and I thought I had bad things to say about her and her big mouth. Not much love in the community for her and her crap…
I really want to see her lose especially by KO
Its all about the hype. trash talk hypes fights. If Shields wants to really make an impression, she has to start putting people away convincingly. I believe she can do it. Maybe she can get someone old school who was taught by the late great Emannuel Steward, who turned Tommy Hearns into a bona-fide puncher. Once she starts knocking people out, she will finally live up to her hype. Talk the talk and walk the walk. Something like that.
It is funny how people who talk so much hates people talking back. The Charlo brothers and Wilder are the same.
Julian, she is not the same as the Charlos and Wilder! They tend to back up what they say, especially Wilder. Shields should change her rhetoric to: “There is no way I’m going to lose! I’m the best female boxer in the world!” Just delete the part about knocking her opponents out, because she rarely does.
Beyond that, I have no problem with some trash talk. Another problem for Clarissa is her trash talk seems forced. Maybe, it won’t seem as forced if she takes the knockout bs out.
I cant stand this thug skank. Arrogant and no morals or character. I were ish hammer woulda beat her ass.
Maybe she’s pulling a Mayweather and embracing the villain role to sell fights since no one really likes to watch someone box without power or known/evenly matched opponents. Look how many people commented (mostly negatively) more than most fight news threads. She’s marketing herself well I’d say in a division that no one ever cared about before her.
I have commented but I have no intention to ever spend a Cent on one of her fights. So, if that’s her idea or marketing, the only people she can sell fights to are punks life herself. No gentleman or lady would ever pay for her fights.
No doubt she’s marketing, but I wonder to what degree of success. Her problem is the end product. It’s just not that good. Maybe, women’s boxing will see an increase in popularity if we see in an increase in participation. For now, most of Shields’ fights are just boring one sided affairs with virtually no hope of a KO.
Even the most hardcore fans who enjoy a truly great ring general have to admit that she just doesn’t pass the eye test. I believe she IS at the top of the proverbial hill, unfortunately the “hill” is below sea level.
Nobody cares about women boxing. And all the simps that are here defending it are a bunch of cucks. Winning a medal in women’s boxing? What a joke. This chick has what 37 belts after five fights…..wow, what a feat. Name the greats she beat for these prestigious titles without looking it up. Sell her headlining an all female boxing PPV and see what happens…..UFC tried this, and it took a woman beating opponents in seconds to get attention. And after she lost, nobody gave a shit. Women’s boxing is a joke like the WNBA
If you don’t care why are you commenting. You must hate women. What a sucka
@Noccowt. There’s no room for feminist on these boards. Just like many the many morons today, when you don’t like an opinion, you pull the feminist or racist card. GTFOH with that nonsense. We are talking about a coward who sucker punched an old man. When is that acceptable? That whole camp should have been banned from the fight. Just Shields, chief second, trainer and cutman should be allowed in fight night.
I want to like women’s boxing. It has been difficult. For a number of good reasons, there are few good technicians and it is unrealistic to expect many knockouts as very few of them are natural punchers. There are a few exceptional genetic exceptions like Lucia Rijker but these will always be rare. Hyped up trash talking from people like Shields just pulls women’s boxing down as it does men’s boxing. I could care less how much she says she hates an opponent. Show me your skills and training in the ring. At this point, her skills are okay but not special, she has plenty of flaws and unfortunately without better competition, it is difficult to improve.
Bla bla bla bitch shut up already the only one who needs to shut up is you big mouth shields. Try humbling yourself for once you also bore the living shit out of me with one of your very boring monotonous decision win fights zzzzzzzz
“I want the knockout because Ivana talks too much”… Are you friggen kidding me? This loud mouth Shields is an average fighter at best. Totally over rated hype job who benefited off mediocre competition to win two bogus gold medals.
I’ve been training women boxers since the 80s and had some really great young lady amateurs. There hard workers and dedicated and loyal and they deserve were they are. I’ m not a big fan of Clarissa but she has every right to do her thing after winning two Gold medals for our U.S.A. Boxing team no easy accomplishment for any man or woman. We can’t drag her down because of what her brother did most families have that one person who messes up a lot I know from experience. Her boasting may be her way of getting herself pumped for battle, not my style but many fighters have gone that route. I don’t want to start a battle with anyone just love my sport and feel we should stay united as trainers and fighter and fans for the continue success of this great fighting art.
woman’s boxing is pure cringe .