|
Tag Archives: Claressa Shields
UNIFIED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT NTIAJ TEB zus CLARESSA Shields qhia rau OLYMPIC TAU KOOB MEEJ THIAB kwv yees muaj kev vam meej 2018 NYOB RAU HAUV Showtime SPORTS® VIDEO FEATURE
“Kuv puas tau ib yam dab tsi uas tau ua rau keeb kwm thiab cov neeg zaum muaj kuj zoo ib yam li kuv twb tsis nyob ua ib ke "- Claressa Shields
Shields Npaaj Yuav Cug Nws lub ntiaj teb no Titles tiv thaiv Undefeated Tori Nelson no Friday, Jan. 12 Ntawm 10 p.m. THIAB/PT Live Nyob Showtime®
Saib, Saib & Qhia Ntawm YouTube: http://s.sho.com/2CIfxwr
DAB TSI: Unified tau zus ib thiab ob-lub sij hawm Olympic kub medalist Claressa Shields qhia rau nws zoo kawg li pib xyaum ua hauj lwm thiab forecasts zoo nyob rau hauv 2018, pib thaum nws defends nws cov menyuam tiv thaiv undefeated yuav tsum tau challenger Tori Nelson no hnub Friday ntawm 10 p.m. THIAB/PT nyob rau Showtime.
"Kuv xav mus cia nyob rau hauv keeb kwm raws li qhov zoo tshaj plaws cov poj niam txoj kev fighter puas tau, thiab ua li cas koj ua li ntawd?” Shields ponders as she explains her decision to turn pro. “Kuv puas tau ib yam dab tsi uas tau ua rau keeb kwm thiab cov neeg zaum muaj kuj zoo ib yam li kuv twb tsis muaj nyob. "
Shields (4-0, 2 Kos) yuav siv sij hawm viewers los ntawm ib hnub twg ntawm kev kawm camp nyob rau hauv nws hometown ntawm Flint, Michigan, qhov chaw uas nws tham txog loj hlob nyob rau hauv lub nroog uas qhia nws thiab kwv yees ib tug dominating kev ua hauj lwm nyob rau hauv ntau yam hnyav chav kawm.
"Thaum kuv tuav [Nelson], Kuv hu tawm rau tag nrho cov sab saum toj cov ntxhais. Yog hais tias koj xav tias koj muaj peev xwm tuav kuv, cia peb ua nws tshwm sim. Kuv los ntawm 154 rau 168. Tom qab no sib ntaus, Kuv xa me nyuam rov down rau 160 thiab kuv roj hmab txhua leej txhua tus lub nroog Yeiuxalees ntawm 160, "Shields hais tias. “Thiab tom qab uas, Kuv yuav mus rau 154 thiab leej twg yog tus phaus-rau-phaus cai tam sim no? Cecilia Braekhus? Nws tau mus saib kuv ib yam nkaus thiab. "
Lub 22-xyoo-laus defends nws lub npe tiv thaiv yuav tsum tau challenger Tori Nelson (17-0-3, 2 Kos) no hnub Friday rau ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam los ntawm Txoj siav pob zeb Resort Twv txiaj yuam pov nyob rau hauv Verona, N.Y..
Salita Promotions Adds to World-Class Women’s Boxing Roster, Signs Top Female Prospect Franchon Crews-Dezurn to a Promotional Contract
|
|
Salita Promotions congratulates Shields Nyob 2017 Xyoo-End txeeb
|
Salita Promotions Signs Women’s Superstar Christina Hammer to Multi-Fight Promotional Contract
|
|
Claressa Shields Media Workout Quotes & Duab
Unified Super Middleweight World Champion To Defend Titles Against Undefeated Challenger Tori Nelson Friday, Jan. 12, nyob rau hauv Main kev tshwm sim Nyob rau Showtime
Nyem NTAWM NO for Photos from Terrell Groggins / Salita Promotions
DETROIT (Dec. 13, 2017) – Unified Women’s Super Middleweight World Champion Claressa Shields met with local members of the media and took part in an open-to-the-public workout rau hnub Tuesday at Kronk Gym, exactly one month away from defending her 168-pound WBC and IBF titles against undefeated IBF mandatory challenger Tori Nelson on Friday, Jan. 12 nyob rau SHOWTIME.
A two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Shields (4-0, 2 Kos) will face her second consecutive undefeated opponent in the main event of ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam nyob ntawm 10 p.m. THIAB/PT from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y..
Daim pib rau cov kev tshwm sim, uas yog txhawb los ntawm Salita Promotions, yog tam sim no rau cov muag khoom rau $75 rau thawj ob kab ntawm ringside, $65 rau seem ringside rooj thiab tag nrho lwm cov luv nqi tom $49 thiab $37, ntxiv rau tej uas siv tau cov nqi. Daim pib yuav raug muas nyob rau hauv tus neeg los yog los ntawm hu rau tus siav Pob zeb Resort Box Office ntawm 800.771.7711 lossis hauv online ntawm Ticketmaster.
Here is what the 22-year-old native of Flint, Mich., yuav tsum tau hais rau hnub Tuesday:
CLARESSA shields
“I am calm – focused – but still hungry like a challenger with the added confidence of being a world champion. I took some time off after my last win but I look forward to getting busy again in 2018.
“This training camp I did eight weeks instead of six. A lot of camp has been extremely hard. But I’m so focused and determined on 2018 and starting great and staying busy. I expect my opponent to apply pressure, thiab siv ib co qias neeg tactics. Nws muaj ntau kev, tab sis tsis yog hais tias ntau npaum li cas thaum koj hais lus ntawm nws pib xyaum ua kev
“There is no doubt I will start 2018 with a win. Then I just take it one fight at a time. Right now my focus is Nelson.
“I’m excited to be on SHOWTIME as the first fight of the year, and just to be back inside the ring. I feel I have been the face of women’s boxing for some time now. I don’t let it feel like pressure – I just work really hard in the gym.
“In 2018 I expect great fights against the best contenders. I expect to make history again on SHOWTIME and also looking forward to dropping to 160 to fight against [Christina] Hammer mid-2018. January 12th will be the beginning of great things to come
“Training through the holidays is fine. The difference between the amateurs and now is that I was always in other countries competing. Now I get to be home with my family getting ready and I feel good.
“The matchup to me will play out with the first few rounds of me using my jab. Then I’ll add the combinations as the fight goes on. I see it being competitive though. I’m going to earn the win. I believe I can KO her by the sixth, xya puag ncig. "
# # #
Yog xav paub ntxiv mus xyuas www.sho.com/sports raws li nyob rau hauv Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, SHOSports, #ShoBox, los yog los ua ib tug kiv cua nyob rau Facebook ntawm www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.
UNDEFEATED 140-POUND PROSPECTS SHOHJAHON ERGASHEV & SONNY FREDRICKSON MEET IN JAN. 12 SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATIONTRIPLEHEADER HEADLINED BY CLARESSA SHIELDS-TORI NELSON
Jesse Hernandez Makes ShoBox Return Opposing Ernesto Garza In Co-Feature
Friday, Jan. 12 Nyob Ntawm Showtime® ntawm 10 p.m. THIAB/PT
Los ntawm tig pob zeb chaw twv txiaj yuam pov nyob rau hauv verona, N.Y..
TSHIAB YORK (Dec. 12, 2017) – Uzbekistan power-puncher Shohjahon Ergashev will face the toughest test of his career in fellow undefeated and top-10 ranked Sonny Fredrickson in the telecast opener of ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam rau Friday, Jan. 12 nyob rau SHOWTIME (10 p.m. THIAB/PT) los ntawm Txoj siav pob zeb Resort Twv txiaj yuam pov nyob rau hauv Verona, N.Y..
In the co-feature of the tripleheader headlined by the Claressa Shields-Tori Nelson Women’s 10-round Super Middleweight World Championship, Jesse Hernandez (10-1, 7 Kos) will take on former National Golden Gloves Gold Medalist Ernesto Garza (9-2, 5 Kos; 1-3 WSB) nyob rau hauv ib tug 10-round super bantamweight bout ntawm ob tag nrho-txiav txim fighters.
Ergashev (11-0, 11 Kos), who has recorded a knockout in each of his first 11 kev sib ntaus, and Fredrickson (18-0, 12 Kos) ntawm Toledo, Ohio, will contest an eight-round super lightweight bout.
“This card is a great way to set the tone for competitive fights in the 2018,” said promoter Dmitriy Salita. “These are two pick’em fights with the winners having a legitimate shot at world title contention in the near future. Egrashev has the power, skills and ambition to be an exciting addition to the already packed junior welterweight division, but he’s facing his toughest test in Sonny Fredrickson. Jessy Hernandez is coming off impressive wins over two undefeated fighters and he’s returning against a very durable challenger with solid pro experience and strong amateur boxing pedigree. I am excited and grateful to SHOWTIME that we were able to put together these fantastic fights as the first show of the year.”
Daim pib rau cov kev tshwm sim, uas yog txhawb los ntawm Salita Promotions, yog tam sim no rau cov muag khoom rau $75 rau thawj ob kab ntawm ringside, $65 rau seem ringside rooj thiab tag nrho lwm cov luv nqi tom $49 thiab $37, ntxiv rau tej uas siv tau cov nqi. Daim pib yuav raug muas nyob rau hauv tus neeg los yog los ntawm hu rau tus siav Pob zeb Resort Box Office ntawm 800.771.7711 lossis hauv online ntawm Ticketmaster.
The 26-year-old Ergashev has been a pro for just over one year and is a former six-year member of the Uzbek national team where he won 202 ntawm nws 216 pib xyaum ua bouts. A decorated amateur, Ergashev owns a win over Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Giyasov, a silver medalist in the welterweight division at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Ergashev registered a TKO against Marquis Hawthorne at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., in his last fight – and first in the United States – on Nov. 11. He now trains in Detroit under Javan “Sugar” Hill Steward and Rick Phillips at the famed Kronk Gym in Detroit.
“I know Sonny is a world-ranked, highly touted fighter,” Ergashev said. “I look forward to continuing my knockout streak and getting my 12th KO rau Lub ib hlis ntuj 12. I am excited to fight on SHOWTIME and show the world what I bring to the ring.”
The 23-year-old Fredrickson is currently ranked No. 9 los ntawm lub ntiaj teb Boxing Association. An active amateur who had 130 amateur bouts with more than 120 yeej, Fredrickson traveled to Medellin, Colombia, in his last fight to face unbeaten Placido Ramirez as part of the annual WBA Convention and looked impressive in a third-round knockout.
Fredrickson competed in both the U.S. Amateur National Championships and National Golden Gloves and has been an active pro with five fights in 2015, four in 2016 and three in 2017. He is represented by Roc Nation Sports and trained by Lamar Wright.
“If you look at Ergashev’s past opponents, he hasn’t fought against anyone that talented, so I’m confident that I’ll stop him in his tracks,” Fredrickson said. “I’m sure he’ll try to come out strong in the beginning of the fight, but I plan to break him down.
“Plenty of boxing stars got their first break on SHOWTIME, so fighting on this network is huge for me. I’m ready to capitalize on this opportunity and showcase my skills on one of the biggest platforms in boxing. My goal is to put on a great performance at Turning Stone and get the victory.”
Hernandez is coming off two consecutive wins over previously undefeated, top-15 ranked fighters – a unanimous decision over Glenn Dezurn on Nov. 11, and fifth-round TKO of Vladimir Tikhonov in his ShoBox debut rau Aug. 4. The 27-year-old Hernandez, the youngest of 15 cov me nyuam, yog 67-6 as an amateur and took five years off from boxing between 2009 thiab 2014 to work construction jobs in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas.
“This is going to be a tough fight, but I am putting in the work and feel like I will definitely come out on top,” said Hernandez, who has six brothers that have boxed professionally. “It will be action-packed and a must-watch fight. I feel like my aggressive style is meant for TV. I will fight whoever is put in front of me to prove my worth. Dominance in the 122-pound weight division is my ultimate goal.”
Garza, of Saginaw, Mich., yog lub 2008 National Golden Gloves Gold Medalist and a 2009 U.S. National Championships Bronze Medalist. The 29-year-old is fighting on ShoBox for the second time having suffered a third-round knockout against Jon Fernandez on Feb. 10, nyob rau hauv Miami, Okla. Garza has won his last two fights since the defeat, both coming in Michigan.
“I’ve been training hard for this fight, and I can’t wait to step into the ring to show the world my talent,” Garza said. “I know I’m going to come out on top and bring back this win for my hometown. I’m extremely blessed and grateful for this opportunity. I can’t let it slip away.”
Nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim, Unified Women’s Super Middleweight World Champion Shields will defend her 168-pound titles against undefeated IBF mandatory challenger Nelson. A two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Shields (4-0, 2 Kos) will face her second consecutive undefeated opponent in the main event on ShoBox.
Nelson (17-0-3, 2 Kos) won a middleweight world championship in 2011 and owns wins over previously unbeaten Alicia Napoleon and Mia St. John. The 41-year-old Ashburn, Va., native looks to capture her second world title in a showdown with the fastest rising star in women’s boxing.
This will be the sixth ShoBox visit to Turning Stone Resort Casino, which hosted its first ShoBox telecast during the 2013 Hall of Fame weekend.
Barry Tompkins yuav hu rau ShoBox txiav txim los ntawm ringside nrog Steve Farhood thiab yav tas los lub ntiaj teb champion Raul Marquez pab raws li cov kws muaj txuj tshuaj ntsuam. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Rich Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
# # #
Yog xav paub ntxiv mus xyuas www.sho.com/sports raws li nyob rau hauv Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, SHOSports, #ShoBox, los yog los ua ib tug kiv cua nyob rau Facebook ntawm www.Facebook.com/SHOSports.
CLARESSA SHIELDS TO DEFEND WOMEN’S SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLES AGAINST UNDEFEATED MANDATORY CHALLENGER TORI NELSON FRIDAY, IB HLIS NTUJ TIM 12 NYOB RAU SHOWTIME®
Unified tau zus ib & Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Headlines ShoBox: The New Generation From Turning Stone Resort Casino In Verona, N.Y..
TSHIAB YORK (Nov. 8, 2017) – Unified Women’s Super Middleweight World Champion Claressa Shields will defend her 168-pound titles against undefeated IBF mandatory challenger Tori Nelson on Friday, Jan. 12 nyob rau SHOWTIME.
A two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Shields (4-0, 2 Kos) will face her second consecutive undefeated opponent in the main event of ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam nyob ntawm 10 p.m. THIAB/PT from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y..
Shields dethroned previously unbeaten Nikki Adler Aug. 4 on SHOWTIME to pick up the WBC and vacant IBF titles less than one year after she became the first American boxer to capture back-to-back Olympic gold medals. The 22-year-old native of Flint, Mich., returns to face Nelson, a seven-year veteran with seven times the professional ring experience.
“I’m truly excited to have the chance to demonstrate my skills against an opponent the caliber of Tori Nelson,” Shields said. “I’m honored to be headlining the firstShoBox ntawm 2018, and I know Lub ib hlis ntuj 12 will be a great night for the fans. This will be the beginning of a historic year for me and for women’s boxing.”
Nelson (17-0-3, 2 Kos) won a middleweight world championship in 2011 and owns wins over previously unbeaten Alicia Napoleon and Mia St. John. The 41-year-old Ashburn, Va., native looks to capture her second world title in a showdown with the fastest rising star in women’s boxing.
“Ever since Claressa turned pro, I have wanted this fight,"Nelson tau hais. “She’s young and talented, but my experience will make the difference. Since I became a boxer, I have dreamed of being in big fights on television. I am confident that I will win this fight and remain undefeated. And I plan to retire as an undefeated world champion.”
Daim pib rau cov kev tshwm sim, uas yog txhawb los ntawm Salita Promotions, mus ntawm kev muag khoom Monday, Nov. 13 rau $75 rau thawj ob kab ntawm ringside, $65 rau seem ringside rooj thiab tag nrho lwm cov luv nqi tom $49 thiab $37, ntxiv rau tej uas siv tau cov nqi. Daim pib yuav raug muas nyob rau hauv tus neeg los yog los ntawm hu rau tus siav Pob zeb Resort Box Office ntawm 800.771.7711lossis hauv online ntawm Ticketmaster.
“Claressa’s determination to challenge the best available contenders shows why she is one of the most accomplished fighters in the sport today,” promoter Dmitriy Salita said. “This is a great matchup and I am confident that we will witness another memorable performance.”
Said Gordon Hall, Executive tsim ntawm ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam: “Claressa is a star both in and out of the ring who possesses all the intangibles to become the face of women’s boxing. In just four professional fights, two as headliners on ShoBox, she is already unified champion at 168 with plans to conquer the 160 and 154-pound divisions. Tori Nelson is undefeated, ib tug qub yeej, and represents what should be the toughest test of Claressa’s young career. Tsuas yog lub sijhawm yuav qhia, but I don’t know if there is any fighter in the world who can stop Claressa Shields.”
Shields compiled an amateur record of 77-1 and won her first Olympic Gold when she was only 17 years old in the inaugural women’s boxing competition at the 2012 London Games. She won a second gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and turned professional three months later.
Nyob rau hauv lub peb hlis ntuj 2017 nyob rau hauv Detroit, Shields stopped Hungary’s Szilvia Szabados in four rounds in the first women’s main event in premium television history. Shields returned to headline her second ShoBox telecast in August, knocking out Adler in the fifth round to become unified champion in just her fourth professional fight. Nrog lub yeej, Shields became the 70th world champion in the history of the prospect developmental series.
Active in her community, Shields advocates for several social issues and serves as an inspirational figure in her hometown of Flint, a city beset by problems.
Nelson turned professional at the age of 29 and won the WBC 160-pound title in just her fifth professional fight. She twice fought to a draw in middleweight world title bouts with Teresa Perozzi.
The high-pressure Nelson is one fight removed from a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Napoleon, and is fresh off a second round knockout of Latashia Burton in her first hometown fight in Ashburn, Yuav.
Undercard bouts for the ShoBox telecast will be announced in the coming weeks.
TEAM SHIELDS CONGRATULATES BOXING’S NEWEST SUPERSTAR, CLARESSA shields, FOR WINNING UNIFIED WORLD TITLES IN FOURTH PRO FIGHT
|
DETROIT (Lub yim hli ntuj 8, 2017) – Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa “T-Rex” Shields became the unified WBC and IBF World Super Middleweight Champion last Friday night with a dominant fifth-round TKO of now former champion Nikki Adler.
Fighting in front of her home state fans at MGM Grand Detroit and in the main event of a nationally televised ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam, Shields put on a display of skills and power seldom seen by a first-time world-title challenger. Without any answers to the level of talent in front of her, Adler was forced to cover up and withstand the blazing speed of Shields’ fists for five one-sided rounds.
A driven competitor, Shields is on a mission to become the GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time) and the performance against Adler has the entire world watching. Four fights into her professional career and Shields is already the face of women’s boxing.
“It was a dream come true to win two world title belts in one night!” hais tias Shields. “I was very proud of my performance, and I can’t wait to defend my belts and then give Christina Hammer her first defeat.”
For Team Shields, the victory was more than could ever be asked for from their young fighter.
“Congratulations to a unified world champion Claressa Shields!” hais tias promoter Dmitriy Salita. “In less than a year as a pro, she has already achieved what no other woman has done in the sport. America’s first two-time Olympic Gold Medalist has become a professional unified world champion in just her fourth professional fight! Congratulations also to the great team behind her: long-time trainer Jason Crutchfield, Berston Field House, and to her managers who work diligently behind the scenes Mark Taffet and Jamie Fritz. I and everyone at SP is proud and excited to be part of this exciting journey of a lady who is on a quest to be GWOAT!”
Shields co-manager, Mark Taffet, a long-time TV exec in boxing, says he’s never seen a performance like the one Shields turned in against Adler. “Claressa Shields’ win over Nikki Adler was the most dominant performance I have ever seen in a championship fight, txiv neej los poj niam. She is staking her claim to be GWOAT in spectacular fashion. Claressa is carrying women’s boxing forward on her broad shoulders.”
Having fought three times this year already, winning two regional and two world title belts along the way, Shields says she will take some time to enjoy her historic accomplishments before plotting the next move with her team.
|
NIKKI ADLER vs. CLARESSA SHIELDS FINAL WEIGHTS, QUOTES & PHOTOS FOR TOMORROW/FRIDAY, Aug. 4 SHOBOX DOUBLEHEADER
Nyob rau SHOWTIME® ntawm 10:30 p.m. THIAB/PT from MGM Grand Detroit
“The game plan is simple: Win the fight.” – Nikki Adler
“I think I can get her out in six rounds.” – Claressa Shields
Nyem NTAWM NO Download Weigh-Nyob rau hauv cov duab; Credit Stephanie Trapp / Showtime
DETROIT (Aug. 3, 2017) – WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Nikki Adler and hometown favorite, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields officially made weight rau hnub Thursday, one day before they headline a doubleheader tag kis/Friday, Aug. 4 rau ShoBox: Tshiab Tiam nyob rau SHOWTIME® (10:30 p.m. THIAB/PT, ncua nyob rau hauv lub sab hnub poob ntug dej hiav txwv) los ntawm MGM Grand Detroit.
Shields (3-0, 1 KO) tipped lub teev ntawm 165 ¼ pounds with the champion Adler (16-0, 9 Kos) of Germany coming in at 166 phaus txawm. Nyob rau hauv lub ShoBox co-feature, world-ranked super bantamweight Vladimir Tikhonov (15-0, 9 Kos) of Russia will face Jesse Hernandez (8-1, 6 Kos) ntawm fort muaj nqis, Texas, nyob rau hauv ib yim-round bout. Both fighters weighed in at 123 ¼ phaus.
Shields’ good friend and newly crowned UFC Featherweight World ChampionCris “Cyborg” Justino was on hand Thursday and will walk Shields into the ringon Friday. Also in attendance at the weigh-in was a potential future Shields’ opponent, five-time world champion Christina Hammer, who is undefeated at 21-0 and currently holds the WBC and WBO Middleweight titles.
Justino and Hammer met with the media in a forum moderated by Shields’ co-manager Mark Taffet before the weigh-in.
“I never thought it would happen, that the sports of MMA and boxing would come together like it has with the upcoming Mayweather-McGregor fight,” said Justino, the former Strikeforce and Invicta FC champion. “I think it’s great and incredible and could possibly open the door for other fights between the sports.”
“I’m looking forward to watching Claressa win the fight tag kis hmo ntuj,"Said. “I want to see her keep winning so we can fight one day. I only want to fight the best and she seems to be one of the best.”
Tickets for the event promoted by Salita Promotions are on sale now and are priced at $350, $250, $125 thiab $60. They will be available atwww.ticketmaster.com.
Programming Note: Rov 2 ntawm TAG NRHO ACCESS: Mayweather vs. McGregor will air Friday night before the ShoBox telecast ntawm 10 p.m. THIAB/PT. To watch an exclusive clip of the episode, nyem no: http://s.sho.com/2u8OxWK.
RAWS NTAUB NTAWV tes taw hnyav li:
Nikki Adler: 166 Phaus
Claressa Shields: 165¼ Pounds
Vladimir Tikhonov: 123¼ Pounds
Jesse Angel Hernandez: 123¼ Pounds
FINAL QUOTES:
NIKKI ADLER:
“This fight is very big in Germany, and I know there will be a lot of eye on me. Nws yuav yog 4:30 in the morning, but there will be live streaming and viewing parties.
“I’m going to be defensive in the early going and know that Claressa is going to come forward. I want to get the fight into the later rounds. Nws yog 10 rounds of boxing and there will be lots of action.
“I know I will be tough to knock out and have no plans of going down. Claressa has gotten all the hype so far and she wants to put on a show for her fans. I’m going to do everything I can to send those fans home upset after I beat her and carry those belts out of the ring.
“This is my second fight with my trainer Rene [Friese]. I wanted to train with the best and I need a trainer who had worked with the top fighters.
“My trainer has really been stressing strategies. We have a lot of them. The game plan is simple: Win the fight.
“Fighting for the first time in the United States is going to be amazing. I’ve only fought in Russia and Germany, so to be here in a main event on SHOWTIME is really special.”
CLARESSA shields:
“I feel like I’m a lot healthier and hydrated than I did fighting at 160. I’m not sluggish. I used a chef who prepared my meals for the first time and I feel great.
“I’ve known about Nikki Adler and Christina Hammer for a long time. I like both of the girls, but when it comes to getting in the ring it’s all about business.
“Technically I see that [Nikki] is very poised and calm. She’s patient, but not too patient.
“Even though she may be the bigger fighter, I know I’m the aggressor. I think I can get her out in six rounds.
“Of course everyone wants to get the big knockout, but I haven’t found the right punch that gets the girls knocked out. I’m young so I know it will come.
“I’m glad Cyborg is here to support me. She hits hard and we’ve sparred. She’s strong and she is fast. She’s picked up a lot from me, and I’ve learned from her. She’s the most feared MMA fighter, and I’m most feared in boxing. So it’s great for both women’s sports.”
VLADIMIR TIKHONOV:
“This is my first time ever in America. I’m pretty impressed with it. There’s so much to do and see, but I can’t let distractions get in the way.
“I’ve been here for about a month training at Kronk Gym. Russian fighters are known for being very disciplined, and we know the opportunity that is in front of us. There is no room for slip ups and to get lazy. This is my big shot and I’m going to take advantage of it.
“The sparring has been the biggest thing. I’ve been sparring with pros and amateurs. It’s so much more powerful here and the variety is something I would never get at home.
“I can box and I can brawl. Whatever I have to do to get the win.”
Jesse Hernandez:
“I had a layoff of about five years and worked construction jobs because I had to pay the bills, but now I’m back and focused on boxing.
“In the past I’ve been known to be too aggressive, so I’m going to try and slow things down and be a more tactical boxer.
“I have six brothers who were professional boxers and I’ve learned from them. My nickname is ‘The One’ because now I’m the only left fighting.
“I’m the youngest of 15 cov me nyuam, all with the same parents. We are a very close family.
“I’m a natural right-hander and I’m ready to fight a lefty like Tikhonov. I’ve fought some southpaws and I’ve been sparring with lefties.
“He’s undefeated for a reason. I don’t think he’s been in there with someone as tough as I am; as aggressive as I am.”
RENE FRIESE, Adler’s trainer
“We came all the way over here to bring home the belts back to Germany.
“We have our plan and our strategy in place. We are ready for this fight.”
JASON CRUTCHFIELD, Shields’ trainer
“There hasn’t been much smack talking for this fight. I told her you need to let your fists do your talking. Your mouth can’t help you in the ring.
“We are ready for 10 rounds. I’m not going to say it’s hard; it’s doable. It’s her first time doing it. We’ve trained for it and she’s been 10 rounds in training three or four times.”
# # #
Yog xav paub ntxiv mus xyuas www.sho.com/sports raws li nyob rau hauv Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, SHOSports, los yog los ua ib tug kiv cua nyob rau Facebook ntawmwww.Facebook.com/SHOSports.