Claressa Shields believes that, with rivals rising through championship class, a new era for women’s boxing is starting as the top middleweights and super-middleweights all fight each other in a sequence of exciting contests; But Shields is adamant she has the qualities that set her apart
After winning two Olympic gold medals and a plethora of world titles, Claressa Shields is a leading figure in the sport.
But with rivals rising through championship class as well, she believes they can usher in an exciting new era for women’s professional boxing.
Inspired by the ‘Four Kings’ – the era when Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler all fought each other – Shields expects all the top female fighters around her weight to box one another in a sequence of high-profile fights.
“Of course, why not? Right now, thinking about the middleweight division plus super-middleweight division, to talk about ‘Four Queens,’ we got me, you got Franchon [Crews-Dezurn], you got Savannah Marshall and you have Shadasia Green, if I had to think about the ‘Four Queens’ right now,” Shields told Sky Sports.
Shields has boxed and beaten Savannah Marshall to become the undisputed middleweight champion, but remains open to a rematch
Marshall is stepping up to 168lbs to challenge Franchon Crews-Dezurn for the undisputed super-middleweight title on July 1, live on Sky Sports.
Green, unbeaten with a 12-0 (11) record, is waiting in the wings as the mandatory challenger for the WBC super-middleweight title.
