The World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight champion Claressa Shields of the United States and Christina Hammer of Germany met at the final press conference before their unification fight this Saturday at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall in New Jersey.
Both fighters spoke to the media on Wednesday and gave their impressions of the fight, which will be one of the most interesting in the division in recent years.
True to her style, champion Shields was aggressive in her statements and began to warm up the engagement: “She signed something she should not have. You will get hurt. People say that I do not have power and on paper I’m not the favorite but I was counted out of other fights and I won them.”
The European was more restrained, but made it clear that she will come out for the victory. “Here you can talk as much as you want, but on Saturday I will teach you about the ring. I do not have emotions in the ring because this is my job, that’s why what she says does not affect me. I know that coming to the United States is a risk, but I have what it takes to win it round by round.”
After the press conference, only the Friday weigh in is left for the fight week festivities. Shields is now undefeated in 8 bouts, with 2 knockouts, while Hammer also does not know defeat in 24 fights, 11 of them won by knockout.