ONE thing you could never accuse Claressa Shields of lacking is confidence.
The American’s self-belief is sky high ahead of Saturday’s winner-takes-all shoot-out with her old amateur-turned-professional rival Savannah Marshall.
Shields has plenty to be confident about, given she’s won all 12 of her contests to add to a stand-out career in the amateur ranks, where she tasted defeat once, to you-know-who.
The then teenage American was beaten by the then 20-year-old Hartlepool boxer on her way to striking gold at the 2012 World Championships in China.
No-one has got close to Shields since, either unpaid or paid.
Her 12 straight pro wins are matched by the former Headland ABC star but the 27-year-old, from Flint, Michigan, claims she has the edge on Savannah because of the superior opposition she has beaten.
Claressa’s last 10 fights have all been world championship bouts, across three weight divisions, while this will be the third occasion she has contested an undisputed title affair.
“This isn’t my first undisputed fight and I’ve come out on top every time,” said the girl who calls herself the ‘GWOAT’, the greatest woman of all time.
“It’s going to feel great to quieten all the doubters down and those who go on about her knock-out power.
Click here to read what the girl who fought both Shields and Marshall thinks of the fight
“All she’s done is live off her amateur win of 10 years ago while I’ve dominated boxing for a decade.
“I’m here to show that I’m a very special talent and that champions are not made, they are born.
“I’m born to do this.
“When I beat Savannah on Saturday night I want to hear her say ‘you might have a big mouth but you back it up every time’.”
Following Friday’s weigh-in at the Genesis Cinema ion Bethnal Green, Shields reacted to a comment from the audience and let rip with a verbal volley at Marshall’s fans, repeating “you’ll be crying tomorrow” and chanting “U-S-A” before exiting the stage.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Lawrence Lustig/ BOXXER
