(MAR 28) MIAMI, FLORIDA - WBC,
IBF and WBA Middleweight World Champion Claressa Shields arrived
in Miami yesterday to hold the final portion of her training
camp at the Fifth Street Gym as she prepares to take on WBO
Middleweight World Champion Christina Hammer in the main event
of a SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION tripleheader Saturday,
April 13 live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT) from Boardwalk Hall in
Atlantic City.
Shields spent the last five weeks
training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs, Colo., following a two-week pre-camp in her hometown of
Flint, Mich.
"We've been going twice a day every day except Sunday for
five-straight weeks," said Shields. "We put in lots of rounds
sparring, tons of sprinting, pad work, push-ups, crunches and
drills to help with my head movement.
"I've put my body through so much on this camp, and now it's
time to start cutting it down a bit. I'm in great shape and my
weight is on point. I'm also in a great place mentally and very
happy with this camp overall."
In Florida, Shields is looking to prime herself for her showdown
for the undisputed middleweight women's world championship, in
what is considered by many as the biggest fight in women's
boxing history.
"My main focus now is trying to relieve my body while keeping my
conditioning," said Shields. "I'm making sure that I go into
fight week with no injuries or soreness. I've been in Colorado
for over a month and it was time for some new scenery.
"I'm still going to be training
very hard in Florida. I just need a little more sunshine and the
additional space that's provided for me down here. We did what
we had to do in Colorado. Florida is just an ideal environment
all-around and a happy place for me to be these last couple
weeks."
As Shields and trainer John David Jackson near fight night, the
two-time Olympic Gold Medalist has a message for her fellow
unbeaten opponent. "I know what I can and will do on April 13,"
said Shields. "I already told Christina I'm going to beat her
and mess her up. I'm taking this fight 100 percent seriously.
I'm going to go out there and dominate her.
"I don't want these belts handed to me. I'm coming to win every
round on April 13. I'm a different kind of animal and Christina
is going to see that on fight night. I'm ready. That's it."