Kovalev vs. Ward Undercard: Previewing Claressa Shields' Pro Debut
On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward will enter the ring at the pinnacle of their professional careers. World title belts are on the line, as is pound-for-pound status.
Meanwhile, far down the undercard, a potential star of tomorrow takes her first step into a professional ring, as two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields makes her debut against Franchon Crews.
We do not usually preview four-round debut fights at Bleacher Report, but Shields is not just any fighter.
Tale of the Tape
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| Per Boxrec | Claressa Shields | Franchon Crews |
| Record: | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Height: | 5'10" | 5'7" |
| Reach: | Unlisted | Unlisted |
| Weight: | About 165 lbs | About 165 lbs |
| Age: | 21 | 29 |
| Stance: | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Hometown: | Flint, Michigan | Baltimore |
| Rounds: | 0 | 0 |
This is the pro debut for both fighters, but they are familiar with each other from the amateur ranks. Claressa Shields is the younger, longer fighter, and she has defeated Franchon Crews every time the two have faced off.
Main Storylines
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Claressa Shields is looking to follow in the footsteps of women like Christy Martin and Laila Ali by becoming a female prizefighter who crosses over to mainstream appeal with the boxing fancy. She has been the most successful amateur fighter from the United States over the past decade, regardless of gender.
Shields has definite star potential. She has the tough, urban background that is typical of prizefighters and exactly the kind of plain-spoken self-confidence that you want to hear from a blue-chip prospect.
She is definitely a fighter first and a media personality second, but even at 21, she is capable of giving interviews that are compelling for their candor and earnestness.
For her first fight, she will face Franchon Crews, a longtime rival in the amateur ranks. Crews is an interesting figure as well.
She is a singer who competed on American Idol. She is also a highly decorated amateur boxer and was the top woman in the United States at her weight, before a teenage Shields burst on to the scene in 2012.
Shields' Biggest Strengths
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Claressa Shields is a boxing prodigy. She was still in high school when she won her first Olympic gold medal, defeating much older and more experienced fighters.
Now 21, she is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. She won more than 70 bouts in the amateur ranks against a single loss.
Shields' nickname of T-Rex tells you everything you need to know about her physically. She is built like a boxing predator, with a quick, accurate jab that she throws to the body and head in dizzying succession, setting up her right hand.
Shields fights well on the outside. But her physical strength makes her formidable in close, where the professional game can get rough.
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Shields' Biggest Weaknesses
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So far, it hard to see any real weaknesses in Claressa Shields as a boxer. She has been dominant at every level where she has competed. It will take better competition to show any potential holes in her game.
At this point, the biggest obstacles she faces are likely to come from outside of the ring. She faces the same challenge all young athletes face when they move into the professional ranks and become the potential breadwinner for their families at the same age that most people are just trying to become established.
Beyond that, Shields faces the pressure of trying to shoulder her way into the spotlight in a sport that has traditionally been the domain of men. By default, she is a role model for an entire generation of girls.
Athletes can only succeed by taking care of the immediate business in front of them. Shields has shown the potential to live up to expectations surrounding her beyond the ring. But she has to win in the ring first.
Shields Will Win If...
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Claressa Shields will win this fight, so long as she has prepared the same way that she always did before and so long as she shows the same focus that she did as a two-time gold medalist.
There is no reason to expect she won't do these things. So there is no reason to expect she will lose. She has defeated Franchon Crews in the past. There is no reason she should not do so again Saturday night.
Crews will not roll over for her. She is a longtime amateur veteran who was eclipsed by Shields just as the Olympics were opened up for women athletes. She will be anxious to spoil Shields' big night.
Usually when a top amateur prospect makes their debut, the opponent is little more than a live body. Crews will show up planning to win, and Shields needs to be ready for that.
What's Next?
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Even if she wins as expected Saturday night, Claressa Shields will still have a long road ahead of her if she wants to become a true boxing star. But the itinerary for that trip seems relatively straightforward.
Shields' handlers will continue to get her media appearances and sponsorships while finding places for her on high-profile cards.
Expect her to step up her level of competition fast. In the women's ranks, opponents are harder to come by, and fights do not pile up as quickly.
BoxRec ranks Maricela Cornejo No. 2 in the world at super middleweight with a record of just 5-2. Irais Hernandez is No. 4 at just 2-0. Shields should be entering that kind of company in quick order.
The top female super middleweight in the world, by far, is Germany's Nikki Adler. A fight with her has to be on Shields' long-term agenda.
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