Undisputed champion Claressa Shields squared off against Hanna Gabriels, a four-division champion, in Detroit for their pre-fight presser ahead of their bout on June 3rd, 2023.
Shields will be having her homecoming in Detroit as she readies herself for a rematch with Gabriels after they first encountered each other in 2018.
During the course of that process, Gabriels became the first-ever woman to knock down Shields, despite the latter walking away with a unanimous-decision victory.
With that being said, both fighters had plenty to say in the run-up to the fight.
Fighters’ Comments
On the rematch: “I am a problem. I am from Flint, Michigan. I want all the smoke. Whoever got the smoke, let’s go. Let’s fight. I’ve always wanted smoke with her after we fought.”
Prediction: “I’m gonna finish the job this time. I beat her unanimously after being knocked down. This time, I don’t want a unanimous decision. I want the knockout,” Shields
“Two years ago, you fought for the undisputed in 154 and I was still the champion there, and you avoided me, for whatever reason. I am here to take what is yours in 160,” Gabriels
“Second fight, going all in. This is going to be fireworks. Took us five years to make the rematch happen. But we are here. Took five years to give us a rematch, so that tells you everything.
“We dropped her, and will drop (Shields), again,” Gabriels’ trainer, Hector Cardova.