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WBC, WBA, IBF middleweight champion Claressa Shields is two weeks away from her long awaited grudge match with career arch-rival Savannah Marshall, who holds the WBO strap at 160-pounds.
Their undisputed clash will take place at the O2 Arena in London on September 10, live on ESPN+ and Sky Sports.
Shields will be looking to avenge her 2012 decision loss to Marshall in the amateurs. It was the only defeat suffered by Shields in her entire boxing career.
Olympic gold medal winner and top MMA fighter Kayla Harrison is backing Shields to prevail in the fight.
Both Shields and Harrison won Olympic gold in the 2012 and 2016 games.
Since turning pro, Shields has been a unified champion at junior middleweight, middleweight and super middleweight.
Harrison expects Shields to keep her unbeaten record in place when facing Marshall.
“We have an indomitable spirit. I think she has that little thing inside of her that I have. That can’t be broken, can’t be beaten, willing to dig deep and do whatever it takes to win. Not everybody has that. Not everybody has that drive, that desire, that passion,” Harrison said to Sky Sports.
“I’m a huge Claressa Shields fan. I think that if you go deeper into her story and see everything she has overcome to get to where she is and achieve what she’s achieved at such a young age, it’s hard not to be a fan of hers. Her body of work speaks for itself. I believe that she is an unstoppable force. I’m excited to watch her fight.
“10 years ago something like this never would have happened and now women are headlining cards, there are all-female cards. For me, I think it’s an exciting time to be a part of history. If you know anything about women we’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over. And we are.”