This Friday, June 22nd, at the Masonic Temple in Detroit Michigan Claressa Shields (5-0, 2KO’s) will be taking on Hanna Gabriels (18-1-1, 11KO’s) for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) World Female Middleweight Championship.

The bout will be broadcast live on Showtime premium network as the main event in what figures to be a very action packed fight as Shields is going for a WBA title in a second weight class as she drops down to middleweight from super middleweight.

It is a very interesting matchup because it features two women coming to a weight class in the middle, as Gabriels is coming up from her weight class as the WBA World Female Super Welterweight Champion. 

“I love the fight against Hanna Gabriels – champion versus champion,” said Shields. “Exactly the kind of fight that I want every time to take women’s boxing to new heights. I’ve said one of my goals is to win world championships in three weight divisions. I’m proud to be super middleweight champion and on June 22nd I will add the middleweight championship to my accomplishments.”

“I’m really excited and grateful to have the opportunity to showcase my skills against Claressa Shields on Showtime,” said Gabriels.  “This will be a great battle of two world champions, a great night for my country, and a great fight for women’s boxing.”