Claressa Shields Goes The Distance to Defeat Tori Nelson!

Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields scored a unanimous 10-round decision over Tori Nelson on Friday night at Turning Stone Casino to retain her women’s WBC and IBF super middleweight world titles on a live Showtime telecast.

All three judges scored the fight 100-90 for the 22-year old Shields (5-0, 2 KO's), of Flint, Michigan.  The 41-year old Nelson (17-1-3, 1 KO), who has won world titles in the past had only fought twice since June 2015, lost for the first time to the most highly skilled opponent of her career. Nelson, of Ashburn, Virginia, came forward the entire fight, but as the bout wore on the young champion proved to be the more skilled boxer, able to avoid Nelson’s looping hooks and using her jab to keep Nelson at bay.

Now that Shields retained her WBC and IBF super middleweight titles, she looks to move down to middleweight to challenge WBO and WBC middleweight champion Christina Hammer (21-0, 9 KOs) as her next opponent. 

(Photos by Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME)

Quotes From The Lamont Peterson Media Day Workout In Washington, DC!

Lamont Peterson (35-3-1, 17 KO) will be taking on the unbeaten  Errol Spence Jr. (22-0, 19 KO's)  for the IBF welterweight championship title that Spence won when he defeated Kell Brook in May of 2017. The fight will take place on January 20, live on the Showtime Championship Boxing network at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The broadcast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and it will also feature lightweight world champion Robert Easter battling former champion Javier Fortuna.

LAMONT PETERSON:

"I feel great. I'm already close to weight. I'm happy and eating up to five times a day. I feel strong and I'm ready for this fight.

"I have to look at this as really just another big fight. When you're at the top, you try not to make too much of each fight. We know what's at stake. I know that when I keep it simple, that's when I perform best.

"Right now my body feels better than ever. I'm comfortable with everything that's gone on in camp and I think you can see it in my body.

"I've always trained hard since the first day I came here as a child. That's been instilled in me since a young age and it's carried me throughout my career.

"Everything I do is for D.C. I'm trying to get as much recognition for this area the best way I can. That's what we all strive for in this gym. This is the biggest one that's been on the schedule for a while and I'm ready to bring it home.

"It gets easier and easier the more championship fights I'm in. I was in shape for all of them, but I definitely put more pressure on myself when I was young. I've improved each time and now I feel like I'm really at the perfect place in my career."

ANTHONY PETERSON:

"I have to make a statement. I never feel comfortable with a decision. I think that's a good thing because I have to be special under the bright lights.

"Everyone knows I like to go to the body. You know I'm going to make him work so you can look out for me to break my opponent down on the January 20.

"I've been sparring with a variety of experienced fighters over the last year and they've helped me out even while I haven't had a fight. Ring rust is all mental. It's up to you to put the work in.

"I haven't gotten the fights that I want, but I'll always stick to my game and stick to my craft. I know if I persevere, things will work out for me.

"I know that I love this sport. I know that eventually I will be a world champion. I believe in my future and I'm looking forward to big fights.

"It's inspiring to watch Lamont do his thing and succeed. He's going to beat Errol Spence, even if people don't believe it. I think he's going to take care of business."

BARRY HUNTER, Peterson's Trainer:

"It's been a long grind in camp for these guys. When I think back on how long we've been on this journey, I'm very proud of them. They were 9 and 10 when they first came into the gym.

"We don't have the weight monster to deal with fighting at welterweight. Lamont is in a great place mentally and physically. I'm looking forward to an explosive fight.

"When you look at the Spence-Brook fight, early on Brook had a lot of success. Down the stretch Errol imposed his will and broke Brook down. I know Errol well and I've coached him. He has a strong will. He's not great in one area, but he's good in a lot of areas. This is a different kind of guy he's facing. Heart is something Lamont is nowhere near short on. I think this might start off tactical, and then turn into a war.

"My job is to go in there with part of a plan, but it's always about adjustments for us. Whatever Errol brings to the table, we'll figure it out and put everything in motion.

"This last week is a lot of game plan and mental preparation work. A lot of fighters don't train the mind. You have to train the mind even more so than the body. We have to be ready for every scenario.

"I think if Anthony goes in there and does his job there are a few vacant titles at 140-pounds and that's a track for us. We want to get a strap around his waist and we'll face anyone to get it.

"Lamont, along with Anthony, Gary Russell Jr., Jarrett Hurd and Gervonta Davis, have been holding down boxing in this area for a long time. It would be huge to bring this title home. There are a lot of young Lamont Petersons in this area who want to reach this level. It would be a beacon of light shining down and showing these people the way."

Errol Spence Jr. Vs Lamont Peterson Coming Up Live January 20 On Showtime!

Video credit: Showtime

Claressa Shields Set To Battle Unbeaten Tori Nelson!

Tori Nelson vs Claressa Shields January 12th Live on ShoBox The New Generation at 10 p.m. ET/PT from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.

Shields defeated Nikki Adler Aug. 4 on SHOWTIME to capture the WBC and vacant IBF titles less than one year after she became the first American boxer to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals.  The 22-year-old native of Flint, Mich., returns to face Tori Nelson, a seven-year veteran with seven times the professional ring experience.  

Shields: "I'm truly excited to have the chance to demonstrate my skills against an opponent the caliber of Tori Nelson,” Shields said.  “I'm honored to be headlining the first ShoBox of 2018, and I know January 12 will be a great night for the fans.  This will be the beginning of a historic year for me and for women's boxing."

Tori Nelson (17-0-3, 2 KOs) won a middleweight world championship in 2011 and has wins over previously unbeaten Alicia Napoleon and Mia St. John.  The 41-year-old, Nelson of Ashburn, Va., looks to capture another world title in a showdown with the hungry, and powerful rising star in women’s boxing.  

Nelson: "Ever since Claressa turned pro, I have wanted this fight,” Nelson said.  “She's young and talented, but my experience will make the difference. Since I became a boxer, I have dreamed of being in big fights on television. I am confident that I will win this fight and remain undefeated. And I plan to retire as an undefeated world champion.”

Spence Jr. vs Lamont Peterson January 20 For #IBF Welterweight Title!

The two will meet for their twelve-round championship bout on January 20 in Brooklyn NY at the Barclays Center! It will be televised live on Showtime.

 ERROL SPENCE JR.

"You're going to see the same Errol Spence that you're used to. I can't look ahead because I know how dangerous Lamont Peterson is. I've been in training camps with him and I know what he can do. 

 "I've seen too many fighters look down the road and get beat before they get to the big fight. I have to be 100 percent focused and hungry. I'm fully dedicated to this fight. 

 "Lamont can push me to even greater levels. I feel like he is a better fighter than Kell Brook and has even more heart than Kell Brook and he can bring out the best in me.

 "I think it's going to start out as a boxing match, but as we go on, it's going to be a dog fight. We both have big hearts. I've never known Lamont to turn down any fight. Not a lot of people wanted to fight me. The big names shied away from me but Lamont stood up and said he'd fight me. This is going to be a hard fight.

 "I used to watch Lamont and his brother Anthony Peterson before I ever met them. I like their styles, the way they throw body punches and the fundamentals that they learned from Barry Hunter. 

 "I think I can be known as the best pound-for-pound in the sport, but I have to take it one fight at a time. I want to be the undisputed welterweight champion. That should be everyone's ultimate goal - to be the best fighter in the sport. But first I have a big test ahead of me January 20.

 "This is the business of the sport. I was a young guy when Lamont was giving me advice. Now we've gotten to this point. It really shows his longevity in the sport and how I've reached the ranks of being a top pro fighter. 

"Sparring with Lamont Peterson was really great work. It was a learning experience. I was an amateur so I was going at a fast pace and Lamont was being patient, blocking and countering and picking his shots. He was fighting at a pro pace and I didn't really understand it until I got farther into my career. 

 "You've seen me and Lamont fight. We're not in boring fights. We have fan-friendly styles and you're going to get a really good fight. We have the mentality to really go after it and give it our all to get this win. 

 "I want the best in this division to all fight each other. It's time for everyone else to stand up and proclaim that they want to be great. That's how we get this division to the peak. I don't feel like waiting to fight the best. I want to prove myself."

LAMONT PETERSON

 "This is a world title fight and I'm thankful for that. I try not to make too much out of each fight. I just want to take it one fight at a time. I've done this for 13 years as a professional. All fights are the same. I'm going to go in there and take care of business.

 "As a top fighter, you're obligated to take what comes on the table. Regardless of who it is. It's boxing. It's a sport and we're competitors. We want to go in there and compete to see who's the best. We're going to treat it like business like we always do.

 "You already know when I fight, it's a feeling out process to start, but in my head, I'm ready to go. It's going to get rough in the trenches and we'll see who wants it more. 

 "I knew six years ago when Errol was in my camp that we'd get to this point. I knew he would be a champion. For the most part, I've seen him improve and progress throughout the pro ranks and I believe he's going to keep getting better. 

 "I don't pay any attention to the outside noise. I respect everyone's opinion. I just go out and train to do what I love to do. I do this because I love to box. I'm not here to get on a list. I truly love this sport.

"I can't worry about people thinking that Errol is the next star in this sport. I believe that, but I can't worry about it.  It is up to me and my team to come up with the right type of strategy and execute it. 

 "I'm not too worried about figuring out his southpaw stance. I've been around long enough and encountered enough southpaws. I'm confident I'll be able to handle it. 

 "The size may seem like an advantage for Errol, but it's up to me and my team to figure out the best way to negate it. I know who I am. I'm a competitive person. Regardless of everything, I'm going to come to win."