In Hometown Debut From Dort Federal
Event Center In Flint, mig.
SHOWTIME BOXNING: SPECIALUTGÅVA®
Live At 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
Tickets on Sale TODAY at 2 p.m. OCH!
NEW YORK – Augusti 6, 2019 – Undisputed middleweight world champion Claressa Shields’ attempt at history has been rescheduled for Saturday, Oktober 5 leva på SHOWTIME. Shields will aim to make history as the fastest fighter in boxing, man eller kvinna, to become a three-division world champion when she takes on former world championivana Habazin for the vacant WBO Junior Middleweight Title onSHOWTIME BOXNING: SPECIALUTGÅVA (9 p.m. OCH / 6 p.m. PT) from Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, mig.
Den vakanta WBC Kvinnors Diamond Super Weltervikt Championship kommer också att vara på linjen i Shields’ första professionella slagsmål i sin hemstad.
The homecoming fight was initially scheduled for August 17 and postponed in June after Shields suffered a minor injury to her right knee while doing roadwork.
Shields vs. Habazin främjas av Salita Promotions. Tickets for the live event go on sale today/Tuesday, Augusti 6 vid 2 p.m. ET and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and at the Dort Center box office.
Den 24-åriga Shields (9-0, 2 Kos) is a two-division titlist who became the undisputed middleweight champion with a near-shutout victory over Christina Hammer in April on SHOWTIME. Genom att göra så, she joined Terrence Crawford, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins, Oleksandr Usyk och Cecilia Braekhus som de enda kämparna som har förenat alla fyra stora världstitlarna i någon viktklass (Katie Taylor har sedan gått med på den prestigefyllda listan).
Nu, the Flint star seeks to make even more history in her sixth headlining appearance on SHOWTIME. Med en seger över Habazin, Shields skulle bli en tre-division mästare på bara 10 ändarna, breaking the record of Vasiliy Lomachenko, who accomplished the feat in 12 slagsmål.
“I’m more excited than ever. Jag är 100 percent recovered, and I can’t wait to get back in the ring and fight in front of my hometown fans in Flint as undisputed champion of the world,” said Shields. “Having the opportunity to become world champion in a third weight division faster than any man or woman in boxing history will make October 5 a night I will cherish forever. It’s another big step in history, and giant step forward in lifting women’s boxing on the road to equality.”
Habazin (20-3, 7 Kos), från Zagreb, Kroatien, rankas som nr. 1 av WBO kl 154 pounds. Den 29-årige, som kommer att göra henne till U.S.. debut, vann IBF Welterweight-titel över Sabrina Giuliani i 2014. I hennes nästa kamp, Habazin tappade ett enhälligt beslut till Braekhus i en historisk enhetskamp där Braekhus hämtade alla fyra stora världstitelbälten. Senast, Habazin hämnade en av endast tre förluster i sin karriär till Eva Bajic i Zagreb.
“It’s an honor and a dream to fight in the U.S. on national television,” Sade Habazin. “A lot of fighters never get this opportunity in their careers so I know I need to make the most of it. I’ve been training for this fight since June and the postponement has only given me more time to get ready. I intend to put my best effort forward to impress the fans and show that I am for real.
“I am not just coming to fight for a world title, I am fighting for my life and my career. I believe I am the best and now I got the chance to prove that, and there is no better opponent for that than Claressa Shields.”
Shields was the first American boxer in history – man eller kvinna – to win consecutive Olympic gold medals. Hon blev professionell efter 2016 OS och rubriken den första kvinnors boxnings-huvudevenemanget i premium-tv-historien i bara hennes andra professionella kamp i 2017. Shields blev enade kvinnors supermedelsviktvärldsmästare i bara hennes fjärde professionella kamp, och en mästare i två divisioner i sin sjätte professionella tävling. Hon krönades till den obestridda mästaren på 160 pund i sin nionde kamp, mindre än tre år efter att ha blivit professionell efter 2016 OS.
“From Christy Martin and Laila Ali to Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey, and now Claressa Shields, SHOWTIME has long been the pioneer in women’s combat sports,” said Gordon Hall, Executive Producer of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIALUTGÅVA. “Without question, Claressa Shields is the face of women’s boxing and we’re excited to present yet another historic milestone in her career as she looks to capture a third division championship in record time. This is Claressa’s sixth appearance on SHOWTIME and yet another test as she continues her personal quest to become the greatest of all time.”
“With the new date, this fight is going to be even more significant,” sa Dmitriy Salita, VD för Salita Promotions. “Claressa has had time to get 100 percent healthy and in the best shape of her life as she goes down in weight to fight for another historic accomplishment. Å andra sidan, Ivana has used this extra time to prepare for Claressa both mentally and physically. She has remained in camp throughout the summer as she prepares to come to America to upset Claressa and fulfill what she feels is her destiny. It’s going to be two fighters at the top of their games.”
“Oktober 5 will be a magnificent event for Claressa Shields, for women’s boxing, and for Claressa’s hometown city of Flint,” said Mark Taffet, manager of Claressa Shields. “Claressa continues to shine a beacon of light on the sport, making history in each and every fight and reaching levels previously unimaginable. She is a once in a lifetime athlete and young woman, and if she is victorious on October 5 she will become the fastest man or woman in boxing history to win a world title in a third weight division.”
Barry Tompkins kommer att kalla SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION action från ringside med boxningshistorikern Steve Farhood och före detta världsmästaren Raul Marquez som tjänar som expertanalytiker. Exekutiv producent är Gordon Hall med Richard Gaughan producera och Rick Phillips rikta.
The undercard for the telecast will be announced in the coming weeks.