Little Caesars Arena in Detroit hosts world title action this Saturday evening, as Claressa Shields makes a jump up in weight to challenge Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for the WBC heavyweight title. Curiously, the vacant WBO light heavyweight title is also up for grabs.
DAZN televise Shields vs Lepage-Joanisse live worldwide.
Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) has been flitting between boxing and MMA of late, after reigning as undisputed champion at super welterweight and middleweight.
After making a successful MMA debut in June 2021, the 29-year-old then lost via split decision in the octagon, before returning to boxing to bank wins against Ema Kozin and then bitter rival Savannah Marshall in 2022.
The ‘GWOAT’ was only out once in 2023, defending her undisputed middleweight gold in a landslide points win against Maricela Cornejo, and her only action of 2024 has been in the MMA sphere, picking up her second victory.
She now challenges Lepage-Joanisse (7-1, 2 KOs), a Canadian who weighed nearly two pounds under the light heavyweight limit to win the vacant WBC heavyweight title in March.
There, she took a split decision win against Abril Argentina Vidal in Montreal.
The 29-year-old has been stopped early in her career, and will very much be the ‘B-Side’ here.
Prediction: This is a deceiving match that suggests Shields is taking a big leap in weight, but in essence, it shouldn’t be too big of a jump for her, and she should deal with the challenge of Lepage-Joanisse with relative ease. With Shields not a noted puncher, the smart money is on a wide success on the scorecards.
Ergashev faces Smith
A trio of super lightweight ten rounders head the undercard.
Former world title challenger, Shohjahon Ergashev (24-1, 21 KOs) continues his comeback after a sixth-round retirement loss against then-IBF champion Subriel Matias, and he should deal with the inexperienced Julian Smith (8-2, 5 KOs) inside schedule.
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Rivera returns against Roldan
Michel Rivera (25-1, 14 KOs), who is coming off a ten round decision win over Sergey Lipinets, can take a decision win against Hugo Alberto Roldan (22-2-1, 7 KOs), who has lost two of his last three fights, but both on the scorecards.
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Mercado meets Sarmiento
Ernesto Mercado (15-0, 14 KOs) is a big-punching prospect, and he can be the first to halt Hector Edgardo Sarmiento (21-2, 14 KOs), an Argentine that hasn’t boxed in over four years since a points loss to now-WBO lightweight titlist, Denys Berinchyk in Ukraine.
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Remaining Undercard
The sole eight rounder takes place also at super lightweight, where Samantha Worthington (8-0, 6 KOs) should take a wide points win against Edina Kiss (16-20, 9 KOs).
In six rounders, Cameran Pankey (9-1, 4 KOs) can return from defeat in his last contest by outscoring Shailek Paisley (4-4, 3 KOs) in their featherweight affair, and at super welterweight, Gordie Russ II (6-1, 6 KOs) can rebound from his loss on the cards to British prospect, Junaid Bostan last time out by halting Josiah Shackleford (3-2, 2 KOs).
Also at 154 pounds, Husam Al Mashadi (9-1, 8 KOs) can do the same against Bruno Leonardo Romay (2-13, 1 KOs9), who has been stopped on eight previous occasions.
In a middleweight meeting, Danielle Perkins (4-0, 2 KOs) should get the better of Christianne Fahey (2-1, 2 KOs) on the cards.
The only four rounder should see debutant Jaquan McElroy stop Travis Floyd (1-9-2, KO0) in their middleweight attraction.
