Claressa Shields takes jab at boxing over coverage, treatment of female fighters
Shields made her professional debut in 2016, winning her first title at super middleweight in 2017, and by 2019 – she became the undisputed women’s middleweight world champion, winning all four main belts: WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO.
In her 10th professional fight in January 2020, she claimed to win two world titles in light middleweight by defeating Ivana Habazin, who became the world champion in three different weight categories than any boxer in history, man or woman. .
“I know we have Kovid and everything,” she recently told CNN Sport’s Amanda Davis. “But Boxing was going back since September … They told me they were going to fight for me in September. They had an October date for me.
“And then be told that I got all the men to get on the back burner, and I wouldn’t be able to fight until 2021, in January or February, you know? And that’s with the network? I was involved with Showtime. “
Of course, the global epidemic dramatically changed the sports landscape. However, some of Boxing’s biggest stars stepped into the ring and answered the bell, while Shields did not compete. – notably Anthony Joshua, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, and even Shields’ main antagonist, Katie Taylor.
“I’m constantly telling my family,” says Shields, “I’m getting big news,” because I’ve been told verbal promises. “Put fighters on the back burner, which I have not completed, which is not even a quarter, and they are not putting on the main events.
“They [Showtime] Just tell me about the bullshit, tell me I’m not too big to be on pay-per-view. But they are putting people on pay-per-view, which I know I know more than I do. “
Showtime has pushed back Shields’ allegations.
“Kleinessa Shields has lined up six boxing events on this network, which is unprecedented for just 10 professional fights for any male or female fighter,” Showtime said in a statement sent to CNN.
“At the age of 25, Shields is a tremendous talent, which is why we have invested heavily in his development in and out of the ring over the last four years. We wish him well in his MMA career,” the statement stated in. Boxer intended to fight in the Octagon later this year.
The Shield is hardly on the same page, destroying the fact that he was not offered a pay-per-view opportunity, which can often become a more attractive bet for elite boxers.
“For some reason, I’m still not too big to fight pay-per-view [on Showtime], “he repeated.” And it’s just sexist because people get to call. They are shot makers.
“And I got more followers than men, and I got more people who know me around the world than men. But for some reason, they deserve to be on pay-per-view. But me, you know Not me either. Qualify to make a million dollars. And it’s like, ‘What the heck?’
“They can answer how they want to respond,” his dialogue with Shield broadcasters says.
“And I’m not going down by any one network. I mean the Premier Boxing Champions are also sexist. They don’t have a single female boxer who is a stagnant. ESPN only has one female fighter. And she’s Michaela Mayer .
Premier Boxing Champions declined to comment, while ESPN sent CNN for its special promotion company Top Rank.
In a statement sent to CNN, Top Rank President Todd Dubof said: “Top Rank has long supported women’s boxing and promoted many of the sport’s most recognized and accomplished fighters, including Lucia Rijker, Christy Martin and Mia St. John.
“Mikaela Mayer is one of the biggest stars in the world, and is expected to rank top on the network’s ESPN family in the coming years to promote her bouts.”
Shields plans to make his MMA in June this year after recently signing a three-year contract with the Professional Fighters League. But she convinces fans that this does not mean she will quit boxing.
“I think people think like, ‘Oh, she’s saying boxing is sexist and she’s going to MMA. She’s not boxing anymore.’ Like, I’m still boxing, I’m still the world champion, “Shields told CNN.
If Shields is generally offended by his treatment as an elite fighter in his relatively brief pro career, he would Strong advocate in longtime promoter Dimitri Salita.
Shield will step into the ring on March 5 in his hometown of Flint, Michigan, which is being promoted by Savita.
In the main bout of the evening, she will battle unbeaten IBF Super Welterweight Champion Mary-Eve Daiker. If Shields wins, she will become the first boxer in the four-belt era to crown the undisputed world champion in two belt divisions.
Salita told CNN: “For the sport of boxing it is important to see that a women’s competition can be successful. I believe that Claressa is the right athlete at the right level of her career to make this effort. More than that There is nothing more compelling. A world title unification fight between two undefeated world champions and now is no better time to show that women’s boxing has come on a grand scale.
“Claresa and Mary are some of the best fighters in the world, and they deserve the opportunity to be seen on a national stage.”
Shield says, “I am equal pay, equal opportunity, equal fight time, you know? And equal promotion.”
“And until boxing doesn’t do that, I mean, I felt like they should be held accountable for those things because boxing is our livelihood. Boxing is our career. It’s like, give us equal opportunities. But, its Instead, they are just. Acting for some time, like we don’t exist, or like we exist after all the men fight, and then we talk. And, it’s not like, we cum together – can exist. “
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