People are calling this the biggest fight ever in women's boxing

The winner will be only the 2nd undisputed woman in the entire history of the sport.
(shout out to Cecilia "1st Lady" Braekhus being the first)

This is the first time Showtime has done All Access for a women's bout.
Episode 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpkqqpO2Mbc
Episode 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbcf2OcJpQA

There's also this face-to-face pre-fight interview with them both:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWxvVRkZTK0

2 undefeated champions

One of them a 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist who captured 5 titles in 7 pro fights (Shields 8-0)

The other is longest reigning active major titlist today (Hammer 24-0)

Tale of the Tape:

Claressa Shields Christina Hammer
Age: 24 Age: 28
Height: 5'8" Height: 5'11"
Reach: 68" Reach: 71"
Record: 8-0 Record: 24-0


I'm super amped about this fight. It was supposed to happen in November, but Hammer says she came down with an illness, so I've been anticipating it since October.


My take:

Shields wants all the smoke. She comes forward and has wicked inside game where she baits opponents into a brawl then catches them with good shots. I see improvement in her in all fights... well except the one with Gabriels. Shields can get carried and away in the pocket and start swinging wildly w/o focus. Gabriels stepped around her and knocked her down in the midst of such an episode. Shields came back strong and Gabriels' faded drastically, leading to the W for Shields. Shields' key to victory is head movement and getting inside Hammer's jab. Soften her up with some body work and take her head off. If Shields incorporates good lateral movement and her athleticism, she can make this easy.

Hammer is tall with a great jab. She likes to fight on the back foot and utilize hella movement to stay at jabbing distance. This seems to be because her inside game is weak. She'll hold excessively if her opponent gets in close and starts tagging her. She was actually KO'd by Sophie Anne Mathis, as she held Mathis while Mathis punched her in the temple with her free hand... a totally legal move, but this was judged a disqualification for some really odd reason, and Hammer was awarded the victory. Hammer's key to victory is her ability to fight her fight by using the jab and footwork to remain at her own distance. If she's improved her inside game, it could be a long night for Shields.

Overall, I think Shield should win this fight. Anyone who's followed Hammer has seen her get KO'd before even tho her record doesn't show it. Shields has mentioned that. Hammer's assessment of Shields is that she drops her hands, but Shields only does that when she's beating your ass and showboating.

Who yall got?

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Days like this I miss Sha Mecca