On July 27th, the focus of the world will center on the beginning of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It will be on day 1 of the Olympic Boxing competition that the focus will largely be dominated by Women's bouts as a field of over 120 women in various weight divisions attempt to win Olympic Gold. The strides of Women's Boxing in the Olympics and the sport overall for Women that has taken place over the last decade is something that has been long overdue and cannot be denied.
It was at the 2012 Olympics in London, England where one fighter became the focal point that in large part has helped to lead the way for such growth. This observer is referring to Claressa Shields, who not only became the first Women's Olympic Gold Medalist in United States Boxing history, but four years later would duplicate that accomplishment at the 2016 games in Brazil, not only duplicating what she had done four years earlier, but making history as the only boxer in United States Olympic history to win back to back Gold medals in Olympic competition. If Shields had decided after back to back Olympic triumphs to retire, she likely would have already cemented her place in any Boxing Hall of Fame due to the magnitude of what she had accomplished.
As most know, however, Shields’ Olympic journey was a chapter of her story rather than the end of it. Since turning professional late in 2016, Shields has been dominant becoming a world champion in three different weight classes from Jr. Middleweight, Middleweight, and Super-Middleweight, becoming an undisputed champion in the Middleweight and Super-Middleweight divisions. While her standing in Women's Boxing has remained untouched, Shields has also established herself in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) winning two of three professional bouts with the lone defeat coming via decision in October 2021 to Abigail Montes. The only loss Shields has suffered in twelve years across combat sports, with the last loss she suffered in a Boxing ring coming as an amateur in the 2012 AIBA Women's World Championships in a decision loss to Savannah Marshall. A loss that Shields would avenge in unifying the Middleweight division as a professional in October 2022.
With a a record of 14-0, with 2 Knockouts, Shields, still an undisputed world champion in the Middleweight division, now attempts to further her legacy by moving up in weight to challenge WBC Heavyweight world champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse on July 27th in Detroit, MI in a bout that can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN. The fight, which will take place at the Little Caesars Arena, will essentially be one fought on Shields’ home turf being from Flint, MI. It will also be a bout that has further historical significance as the vacant WBO Light-Heavyweight world championship will also be on the line making it one of the rare fights in Boxing history, make or female where world titles in multiple divisions will be at stake in a single fight.
Although it is something that was criticized when Sugar Ray Leonard knocked out WBC Light-Heavyweight world champion Donny Lalonde im November 1988 to win not only the Light-Heavyweight crown Lalonde held, but also the at that point newly created WBC Super-Middleweight world championship as the Super-Middleweight division was in its beginning stages at that time, it is nevertheless rare when such a concept is implemented.
Like Leonard thirty-six years ago, this is an opportunity for Shields to become a five-division world champion by winning world titles in two divisions in one fight. The similarity does not end there as much like Leonard faced against Lalonde, Shields will be facing an opponent in Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse that is used to fighting at heavier weights than Shields has fought at before.
This is likely where the comparison ends because Shields is two inches taller than Lepage-Joanisse at 5’8 and Shields, now the challenger, has a significant edge in terms of overall experience compared to the champion, who will enter the fight with a record of 7-1, with 2 Knockouts Lepage-Joanisse won the WBC World Heavyweight championship in her last fight in March in scoring a ten round split decision over Abril Vidal in her native Canada.
Normally when discussing a fight where one fighter is making a significant jump in weight, the onus would be on the fighter moving up in weight to show they can compete effectively against fighters that are theoretically bigger and stronger on paper. While the issue of weight is still there and Shields will have to show that it will not be an issue for her, Lepage-Joanisse needs to show that she can compete against someone of Shields caliber due to the significant disadvantage she has in terms of experience. In her fight against Abril Vidal, Lepage-Joanisse was able to get the win by being more active and being first with her punches, which gave her the edge in a very close fight. Whether she will be able to do that against Shields, a fighter who is very compact with her offense and tend to throw her punches in variations of combinations may indeed prove to be easier said than done if the adjustment to fighting at a higher weight turns out to be a non-issue for the challenger.
Regardless of what the outcome of this fight will be when all is said and done, Lepage-Joanisse-Shields represents another in an increasing long line of steps forward for Women's Boxing as well as the more broad issue of equality. It is something that should be celebrated.
“And That's The Boxing Truth."
Lepage-Joanisse-Shields takes place on Saturday, July 27th at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. The fight can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT.
(*U.S. Start Times Only.*)
(*Card and Start Times Subject To Change.*
For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.
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