Claressa Shields feels some way about what Top Rank founder and chairman Bob Arum had to say.
The Hall of Fame promoter is hosting a blockbuster bout featuring Oscar Valdez vs. Shakur Stevenson, reportedly on April 30. However, that is the same day that a mega women’s fight takes place, where Katie Taylor will face Amanda Serrano.
I really wanna speak on this…. But I’ll wait lol. Both fights are amazing https://t.co/vglDt8ozrf
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) January 29, 2022
However, for Arum, the date conflict is inconsequential as, in his opinion, the women’s game is not a threat to a male fighter-led promotion.
“People don’t particularly pay attention to the women’s fights,” Arum told IFL.tv. “ESPN made the schedule and they couldn’t care less. I don’t want to denigrate fights. I don’t want to be accused of being anti-women in sports, but I’m telling you, this is like the Premier league vs. women football.”
Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano is an undisputed showdown in the women’s lightweight division that was confirmed last Thursday. Taylor is an Irish boxing legend and Serrano is a Puerto Rican boxing icon, referred to as the other “GWOAT” or greatest woman of all time next to Claressa Shields.
Not disagreeing but if you are a true boxing fan your are thinking of a plan right now on how to watch both! https://t.co/6kZbYLLJ3Q
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) January 30, 2022
The women are the first female boxing headliners in Madison Square Garden’s long boxing history. Serrano is a WBC/WBO/IBO featherweight champion and Taylor is a two-weight world champion and the current undisputed lightweight champion.
Top Rank is willing to place the men’s junior-lightweight unification head-to-head with the women-led DAZN fight night, now being billed as the most prominent women’s bout of all time.
Two-time women’s undisputed champion Claressa Shields took to Twitter to discuss Arum’s sentiments.
You know I’m tuning in baby bro! Come on now! https://t.co/8jo1ClFNQ3
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) January 30, 2022
“I really wanna speak on this…. But I’ll wait lol. Both fights are amazing,” said Shields.
Quickly, Shakur Stevenson picked up on the chatter and offered his take.
“Our fight is the bigger fight tho, He shouldn’t have said that tho I feel y’all,” said Stevenson, whom Arum promotes.
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The Clap Back
However, Shields quipped back.
“Not disagreeing but if you are a true boxing fan your are thinking of a plan right now on how to watch both!”
The conversation almost took a wrong turn when Stevenson tweeted, “I feel u shhhh and tune into ya brudda.”
However, Shields took it all lightly, replying, “You know I’m tuning in baby bro! Come on now!”
154 Undisputed, 160 undisputed, 168 IBF & WBC champion…. Now if the 147 champ or contenders want smoke… I’ll deal with them after I beat the “so called” 160 champs. https://t.co/JVoES1MQlw
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) January 30, 2022
The Plot Thickens
Many subplots surround the two fights. YouTuber turned boxer-promoter-fighter advocate Jake Paul is the promoter behind Amanda Serrano. He and Claressa Shields have been going at each other in the media and social media, with Shields leaving an open invitation to spar with Paul.
Both Serrano, Taylor, Shields, and Savannah Marshall are the leaders of the women’s ranks currently. Each is on a collision course with each other in their respective divisions, making the women’s ranks more popular.
Additionally, Stevenson is stepping up in competition against Valdez. However, Valdez has been the recipient of criticisms after a failed PED test led him to steer his last fight to a less medically stringent Indian reservation casino.
The head-to-head booking will show not only the great matchups that boxing still has to produce but give the women’s ranks a more prominent platform to compete.
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