Claressa Shields will try and capture the vacant IBF and WBA world middleweight titles when she takes on Hanna Gabriels in the main event of a three-fight Showtime boxing card on Saturday. The card will also include a matchup between the undefeated Christina Hammer and Tori Nelson.
Shields vs. Gabriels fight card: Full undercard list leading up to main event
In addition to the return of Claressa Shields, Saturday’s bout against Hanna Gabriels will also feature Christina Hammer in the co-feature.
Photo by Jens Schlueter/Getty Images
Saturday’s action is set to begin at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime, with two televised bouts before the main event. Live streaming can be had via Showtime or a streaming service that carries it, such as fuboTV.
The third matchup, and the opener for the televised broadcast, will see light heavyweights Umar Salamov and Brian Howard compete for the vacant IBF North American light heavyweight title.
Shields possesses the WBC and IBF world super middleweight titles, while Gabriels holds the WBA and WBO world super welterweight straps. Hammer is defending her WBO and WBC world middleweight titles against Nelson, who was the last person that Shields fought (a decision win for Shields).
A win for both Hammer and Shields would give both women claim to the top spot in the middleweight division, and could potentially set up a match between the two later on. But there’s a long way to go for both contenders.
Nelson is a veteran of 21 fights, with 17 wins under her belt. Gabriels is 18-1-1 with 11 knockouts and is probably the toughest competition that Shields has faced thus far.
“I expect her to use her gifts,” Shields said of Gabriels to the media at a workout session in Detroit. “She’s really good on her legs and she’s strong up top. I think she lacks in speed so I expect her to try to counter me and try to force me to make mistakes with her movement. I think she underrates my power.”
Gabriels said that Shields “must have a lot of power,” in addition to talking about her other traits.
“I think her strengths are pretty obvious,” Gabriels said of Shields. “She has great feet. I don’t know if she punches hard but she’s very explosive. She must have a lot of power and she’s very defensive. She keeps her distance and she’s so big and I’m so small that we will have to risk a lot of things. Her confidence is one of her biggest strengths.”
Below is all you need to know to watch the action, and below that is the full fight card.
How to watch Shields vs. Gabriels
Date: Friday, June 22
Location: Masonic Temple, Detroit
Time: 10 p.m. ET
TV: Showtime
Shields vs. Gabriels Fight Card
Middleweight: Claressa Shields (5-0, 2 KOs) vs. Hanna Gabriels (18-1-1, 11 KOs)
Middleweight: Christina Hammer (22-0, 10 KOs) vs. Tori Nelson (17-1-3, 2 KOs)
Light heavyweight: Umar Salamov (20-1, 15 KOs) vs. Brian Howard (13-1, 10 KOs)
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