Fight fans have come to expect that Claressa Shields takes her training seriously, no matter the opponent. Fighting in the U.K. for the first time on Feb. 5, Shields has enlisted the help of a multiple-time world champion in Floyd Mayweather.
Shields, the WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight champion, is set to face off against Ema Kozin inside the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff in Cardiff, Wales. Preparing for the fight, she has spent time at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas. Mayweather, who has won titles in multiple weight divisions, was glad to open the doors of the gym and work with Shields.
“The opportunity with Mayweather just kind of presented itself,” Shields told Sky Sports. “Floyd heard I was coming and he opened up his gym to me and my team. It was great to see him spar and be in his presence. It was great to talk to him too and really see what he’s like. It’s great to hear that he’s a huge fan of me and that him and his kids like to watch my fights. It was a great experience overall."
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😉 never know who I might be like this fight Pretty boy or Money May 😈 https://t.co/tq17jHgUBU
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) February 1, 2022
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Shields made her pro debut in 2016. She won middleweight gold in 2017 and became undisputed champion against Christina Hammer in 2019. The 26-year-old ended up moving divisions and beat Ivana Habazin and Marie-Eve Dicaire to become the undisputed light-middleweight champion. Since that March 2021 fight against Dicaire, Shields has competed in MMA, going 1-1 in the Professional Fighters League.
If Shields were to beat Kozin, she would face off against WBO middleweight champion Savannah Marshall. The two have created a rivalry that has gone from social media jabs to multiple soundbites.
Mayweather officially retired in 2017 after beating Conor McGregor. He has been competing in exhibition bouts and is expected to fight in another one this year. While doing that, Mayweather has trained the next generation of fighters, including Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis. “Money” Mayweather has helped Shields train and offered some advice to her.
“Floyd told me I was going in the right direction,” Shields said. “Not a lot of U.S. fans get to have the experience of going to see what fans in the U.K. are like. He told me a lot about his experience fighting Ricky Hatton. We talked a lot about my skills, but also about the difference between amateurs and pros. In the pros you really have to stay calm and take your time. Even in two-minute rounds, he was telling me to slow down and really see those shots coming.”
Shields’ fight will be the co-main event of the Wales card. The main event will be a grudge fight between Chris Eubank Jr. and Liam Williams.