July 27: Claressa Shields vs Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse
Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse has never backed down from a challenge and didn’t hesitate for a second to accept the biggest one of all.
On July 27th, at the Little Caesars Arena of Detroit, she will face the woman considered the greatest female boxer in history, American Claressa Shields, with the WBC heavyweight and WBO light-heavyweight titles on the line in a 175 lb showdown.
Nicknamed ‘T-Rex’, Claressa Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) first captured the boxing world’s attention by winning gold at the London (2012) and Rio (2016) Olympics, finishing her amateur career with an impressive record of just one defeat in 78 fights.
In the professional ranks, her dominance continued. She became the undisputed champion at super welterweight and middleweight by avenging her sole amateur defeat to Savannah Marshall.
She was also a two-time super-middleweight champion, but is now venturing into uncharted territory, aiming for a fourth weight division title against ‘Vany’.
“The Queen of Boxing is back! I’m so excited to return to the ring, especially after my MMA victory in February.” said Claressa Shields.
“I’m excited to bring another entertaining fight to Little Caesars Arena. Last time 12,000 fans filled the arena, and this time we’re going to lift the roof off the building!
“This is a significant and unique fight where I am moving up two weight classes against a very tough champion in my quest to become World Champion in my fourth weight division.
“It’s an exciting time for women’s sports, and I thank DAZN for providing a global platform for women’s boxing. I plan to do what I do best: bring that GWOAT energy and continue putting women’s boxing on the map.”
“From the beginning of her career, Claressa has been on a quest to make her story a part of history,” said her promoter, Dmitriy Salita.
“This fight is one of Claressa’s hardest challenges, moving up two weight divisions to challenge the current Heavyweight World Champion. It’s ‘Claressa vs. Vanessa’ for the unified world title in Detroit, one of boxing’s historic homes. There is no better venue for this epic showdown than the beautiful, world-class Little Caesars Arena.”
Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-1, 2 KOs), however, plans to upset the pride of Flint, Michigan. More than that, she intends to defend what is hers, the WBC heavyweight title she won last March in a war that more than demonstrated her ability to adapt mid-fight against the powerful Argentine Abril Vidal. Beyond her title and winning another, she also wants to prove that this is her division. By doing so, and achieving her destiny, she will win much more than just a fight, according to her promoter.
“Whether it’s Claressa or someone else, it doesn’t matter to me! Challenges are part of my life, I’ve always faced them and that’s how it will always be!”, proudly declares the current WBC heavyweight world champion, Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.
“This is an incredible opportunity for Vanessa, and even for all of Quebec, to be forever etched in the history of sport,” says Camille Estephan, president of Eye of the Tiger.
Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased at 313Presents.com, Ticketmaster.com and the XFINITY Box Office at Little Caesars Arena. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by calling the Group Sales Department at (313) 471-3099. The fight will be simulcast in a very special edition of “Big Time Boxing USA” at ‘Little Caesars Arena’ in Detroit on DAZN.
For more information, follow EOTTM on Facebook, X, and Instagram @eottm_boxing and join the discussion using the hashtag #ShieldsJoanisse.