Christina Hammer vs. Claressa Shields Mega Fight Nov. 17

Mega Fight: Claressa Shields vs. Christina Hammer on Nov. 17

 

By David A. Avila

Female prizefighting’s first mega fight has finally arrived.

Michigan’s ultra-ambitious Claressa Shields fights Germany’s heralded Christina Hammer for the title of undisputed middleweight world champion on Nov. 17 it was announced on Tuesday.

“There are no hard feelings toward her,” said Shields excitedly. “I’m ready to fight her and I’m ready to kick her ass.”

Twenty-three-year old Shields (6-0, 2 KOs) pits her WBA and IBF titles against 28-year-old Hammer (23-0, 10 KOs) and her WBC and WBO titles at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey in a unification bout.

Hammer is pleased with the match.

“I want to fight her and show that I’m the real champion,” said Hammer by telephone. “I want all these four belts.”

Showtime will televise the biggest event in female boxing’s history. It’s a litany of near misses such as Laila Ali vs. Ann Wolfe, or Lucia Rijker vs. Christy Martin. Both were potential mega fights that never took place in the boxing ring.

“For both Claressa and Christina it’s personal and it’s beyond that, it’s to establish a legend,” said Mark Taffet, who manages Shields. “They also both pointed out that Laila Ali never fought Ann Wolfe and Lucia Rijker never fought Christy Martin.”

That will not happen with Shields and Hammer.

Taffet said the Shields-Hammer mega fight took two years to make and television was an important factor. Of course, when Shields won back-to-back Olympic gold medals and was enticed to become a professional; that was the linchpin.

Shields realizes her place in the history of women’s boxing.

“For me it’s just a step closer to my overall goal to be the greatest women’s champion of all time,” said Shields during a conference call

Hammer has equal desire.

“It’s the best way to show we are the best,” said Hammer. “Nobody cares if you say you are the best, you have to show it.”

Road to unification

Hammer started boxing professionally at age 19 and by age 20 she captured the WBO middleweight world title with a decision win over Teresa Perozzi. She has never lost a fight except in 2014 when a knockout suffered against Anne Sophie Mathis was overturned because the blow was ruled behind the head. It was later ruled No Contest. She later added the WBC middleweight title by defeating Kali Reis in 2016.

The German fighter recently signed a co-promotion deal with Salita Promotions with the intent of fighting America’s Shields. Both are considered the best middleweights.

Shields erupted on the pro boxing scene after winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016. She immediately captured a world title in her fourth pro fight with a one-sided beating of Germany’s Nikki Adler for the WBC super middleweight world title in 2017. This past June she dropped down to middleweight and beat Hanna Gabriels in an extremely fan friendly fight for the WBA and IBF middleweight titles. Despite suffering the first knockdown in her life, she beat Gabriels by decision.

“I was happy I was able to show that grit,” said Shields of her fight with Gabriels that some consider the female Fight of the Year so far. “I would prefer to go through a fight without getting knocked down.”

American television will finally have its female mega fight when Shields meets Hammer in the boxing ring with a bunch of middleweight title belts as the prize.

“I want to prove we are two great fighters,” Shields said. “She’s a great fighter, but I’m the greatest.”

The female boxing world awaits its first mega fight.

 

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