(AUG 6) NEW YORK - -
Undisputed middleweight world champion Claressa Shields' attempt
at history has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 5 live on
SHOWTIME. Shields will aim to make history as the fastest
fighter in boxing, male or female, to become a three-division
world champion when she takes on former world champion Ivana
Habazin for the vacant WBO Junior Middleweight Title on SHOWTIME
BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT) from Dort Federal
Event Center in Flint, Mich.
The vacant WBC Women's Diamond Super Welterweight Championship
will also be on the line in Shields' first professional fight in
her hometown.
The homecoming fight was initially scheduled for August 17 and
postponed in June after Shields suffered a minor injury to her
right knee while doing roadwork.
Shields vs. Habazin is promoted by Salita Promotions. Tickets
for the live event go on sale today/Tuesday, August 6 at 2 p.m.
ET and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and at the Dort
Center box office.
The 24-year-old Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) is a two-division titlist
who became the undisputed middleweight champion with a
near-shutout victory over Christina Hammer in April on SHOWTIME.
In doing so, she joined Terrence Crawford, Jermain Taylor,
Bernard Hopkins, Oleksandr Usyk and Cecilia Braekhus as the only
fighters to have unified all four major world titles in any
weight class (Katie Taylor has since joined the prestigious
list).
Now, the Flint star seeks to make even more history in her sixth
headlining appearance on SHOWTIME. With a win over Habazin,
Shields would become a three-division champion in just 10 bouts,
breaking the record of Vasiliy Lomachenko, who accomplished the
feat in 12 fights.
"I'm more excited than ever. I'm 100 percent recovered, and I
can't wait to get back in the ring and fight in front of my
hometown fans in Flint as undisputed champion of the world,"
said Shields. "Having the opportunity to become world champion
in a third weight division faster than any man or woman in
boxing history will make October 5 a night I will cherish
forever. It's another big step in history, and giant step
forward in lifting women's boxing on the road to equality."
Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs), of Zagreb, Croatia, is ranked No. 1 by
the WBO at 154 pounds. The 29-year-old, who will be making her
U.S. debut, won the IBF Welterweight Title over Sabrina Giuliani
in 2014. In her next fight, Habazin dropped a unanimous decision
to Braekhus in a historic unification bout where Braekhus picked
up all four major world title belts. Most recently, Habazin
avenged one of only three losses in her career to Eva Bajic in
Zagreb.
"It's an honor and a dream to fight in the U.S. on national
television," Habazin said. "A lot of fighters never get this
opportunity in their careers so I know I need to make the most
of it. I've been training for this fight since June and the
postponement has only given me more time to get ready. I intend
to put my best effort forward to impress the fans and show that
I am for real.
"I am not just coming to fight for a world title, I am fighting
for my life and my career. I believe I am the best and now I got
the chance to prove that, and there is no better opponent for
that than Claressa Shields."
Shields was the first American boxer in history - male or female
- to win consecutive Olympic gold medals. She turned
professional following the 2016 Olympics and headlined the first
women's boxing main event in premium television history in just
her second professional fight in 2017. Shields became unified
women's super middleweight world champion in just her fourth
professional fight, and a two-division champion in her sixth
professional contest. She was crowned the undisputed 160-pound
champion in her ninth fight, less than three years after turning
professional following the 2016 Olympics.
"From Christy Martin and Laila Ali to Cris Cyborg and Ronda
Rousey, and now Claressa Shields, SHOWTIME has long been the
pioneer in women's combat sports," said Gordon Hall, Executive
Producer of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION. "Without question,
Claressa Shields is the face of women's boxing and we're excited
to present yet another historic milestone in her career as she
looks to capture a third division championship in record time.
This is Claressa's sixth appearance on SHOWTIME and yet another
test as she continues her personal quest to become the greatest
of all time."
"With the new date, this fight is going to be even more
significant," said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita
Promotions. "Claressa has had time to get 100 percent healthy
and in the best shape of her life as she goes down in weight to
fight for another historic accomplishment. On the other hand,
Ivana has used this extra time to prepare for Claressa both
mentally and physically. She has remained in camp throughout the
summer as she prepares to come to America to upset Claressa and
fulfill what she feels is her destiny. It's going to be two
fighters at the top of their games."
"October 5 will be a magnificent event for Claressa Shields, for
women's boxing, and for Claressa's hometown city of Flint," said
Mark Taffet, manager of Claressa Shields. "Claressa continues to
shine a beacon of light on the sport, making history in each and
every fight and reaching levels previously unimaginable. She is
a once in a lifetime athlete and young woman, and if she is
victorious on October 5 she will become the fastest man or woman
in boxing history to win a world title in a third weight
division."
Barry Tompkins will call the SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION
action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and
former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts.
The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan
producing and Rick Phillips directing.
The undercard for the telecast will be announced in the coming
weeks.