Beltway Battles: Round Four Features Ten-Bout Card

Sulaiman Segawa and Rianna Rios Headline DC’s Top Boxing Series, Saturday, May 6 at The Entertainment & Sports Arena.

Organizers of Beltway Battles: Round Four , the Washington, DC-based pro boxing series produced by Rising Star Promotions, DHH Promotions, and Blue Cork Strategies in association with Events DC and DiBella Entertainment, announced its updated card set for Saturday, May 6 (doors at 5pm; first fight at 6pm) at DC’s Entertainment & Sports Arena. To extend the Cinco de Mayo weekend celebration, several Latin American fighters with ties to Mexico, El Salvador and Bolivia will be featured on the ten-bout card along with entertainment provided by ringside emcee – local ABC7 anchor Britt Waters (IG: @itsbrittwaters) – and post-bout commentary with an edge from DC comedian Terry “Goofy” Jones (IG: @goofyssss). Hall of Famer Henry “Discombobulating” Jones continues as ring announcer with music provided by Styles Music Group.

The Main Event will feature a 10-round, the Washington, DC-based pro boxing series produced by Rising Star Promotions, DHH Promotions, and Blue Cork Strategies in association with Events DC and DiBella Entertainment, announced its updated card set for Saturday, May 6 (doors at 5pm; first fight at 6pm) at DC’s Entertainment & Sports Arena. To extend the Cinco de Mayo weekend celebration, several Latin American fighters with ties to Mexico, El Salvador and Bolivia will be featured on the ten-bout card along with entertainment provided by ringside emcee – local ABC7 anchor Britt Waters and post-bout commentary with an edge from DC comedian Terry “Goofy” Jones. Hall of Famer Henry “Discombobulating” Jones continues as ring announcer with music provided by Styles Music Group.

The 10-round main-event featherweight showdown between Sulaiman Segawa (13-1, 4 KO's) of Silver Spring, Maryland and Misael Lopez (14-2, 5 KO's) of Denver, Colorado. A former Ugandan Olympian fighting out of Urban Boxing, Segawa fought twice in DC, the first a TKO win over Ernesto Guerrero at Beltway Battles: Round Three last November and a no-contest (cut due to an accidental head butt) with Cobia Breedy on Beltway Battles: Round Two in 2021. Meanwhile, the Mexican-born Lopez is looking to rebound from a split decision loss to Edward Vazquez last February on ShoBox.featherweight showdown between Sulaiman Segawa (13-1, 4 KO's) of Silver Spring, Maryland and Misael Lopez (14-2, 5 KO's) of Denver, Colorado. A former Ugandan Olympian fighting out of Urban Boxing, Segawa fought twice in DC, the first a TKO win over Ernesto Guerrero at Beltway Battles: Round Three last November and a no-contest (cut due to an accidental head butt) with Cobia Breedy on Beltway Battles: Round Two in 2021. Meanwhile, the Mexican-born Lopez is looking to rebound from a split decision loss to Edward Vazquez last February on ShoBox.

Rios is a former, two-time Elite National, National PAL and Golden Gloves Champion, who elected to turn pro over pursuing an opportunity to fight in the Olympics. She served five years active duty as a Sargent in US Army assigned to the World Class Athlete Program between 2013-2017 and 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion from 2017-2018 in Ft. Carson, Colorado. Rios was born in Alice, Texas to parents of Mexican and Native American ancestry and fights out of NoXcuse Boxing Club in Temple Hills, Maryland. McLaughlin will fight for the first time in the United States, following bouts in Spain, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

 In a four-round featherweight contest, Jeffrey “The Fly” Yu (2-0, 2 KO's) of Oakton, Virginia (Oakton HS) looks to remain unbeaten when he faces Nathaniel Davis (2-1, 1 KO) of Lusby, Maryland. Yu, a former two-time Virginia/North Carolina Golden Glove Champion with 25-4 amateur mark and George Mason University graduate, describes his fighting style as “annoying as hell, smart swarmer and suffocating” – and thus the nickname. Yu fights out of Kaizen MMA in Falls Church, Virginia. Originally from Baltimore, Davis is a Surrattsville (Clinton, Maryland) High School graduate fighting out of Old School boxing gym.

 Seat Pleasant, Maryland featherweight Shakell Daly (1-0, 1 KO), who made his pro debut just last month with a TKO victory, steps back into the ring to face Joseph Adorno Del Valle (0-1-1) of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico in a four-rounder. Fighting out of Herrera’s Boxing Gym in Lanham, Maryland, Daly went 86-12 as an amateur where he was a 2x Silver Gloves Champion, 6x Golden Glove Champion, 2022 Golden Glove Bronze medalist and a Junior Olympic Silver Medalist. Daly, a clothing designer, describes his fighting style as “Floyd mixed with Shakur and Tank.”

 In a four-round contest, Ervin “Treypound” Fuller III (2-0, 1 KO), a featherweight from Seat Pleasant, Maryland and Crossland High School graduate, is set to face Joshua Maldonado (1-4) of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. A former Golden Gloves champion with an 18-6 amateur record, Fuller fights out of Hillcrest Boxing in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland.

 Naji Wali (IG, FB & Twitter), a former MMA fighter and current instructor at Kaizen MMA gym from Afghanistan who grew up in McLean, Virginia, will make his professional boxing debut against Washington, DC’s Alando Pugh (1-11-1, 1 KO) in four-round heavyweight bout. Known as “The Afghan Rock,” Wali is a former International Karate Federation (IKF) world champion 2009-2010, who captured first place at the 2006 World Sabaki Challenge in 2006. 

 DC’s Lenwood “Mr. Composure” Dozier (10-30-3, 5 KO's) and Front Royal, Virginia’s Juan de la Cruz Rodriguez (10-18-1, 7 KO's), a pair of battle-tested veterans who both turned pro in 2008, will meet in a four-round welterweight contest. Dozier, a Suitland (Maryland) High School graduate fighting out of Round 15 Boxing gym in Temple Hills, Maryland, has fought strong competition during his career, taking on the likes of former world champions Yuri Foreman and Chop Chop Corley along the way. From Pasaquina, El Salvador, now fighting out of Ashburn (Virginia) Boxing Academy, Rodriguez grew up in Manassas Park and graduated from Battlefield High School.

Two more bouts have been added to the card including an eight-round bantamweight contest with undefeated Baltimore prospect Domnique “Dimes” Crowder (14-0, 9 KO's) taking on Aston “Mighty” Palicte (28-5-1, 23 KO's) of Bago City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, and the pro debut of Bolivian Juan Pablo Junior Guillen Arancibia in a four-round featherweight bout (opponent TBD).

All bouts are subject to change.

ROLANDO ROMERO SET To CHALLENGE WBA 140-POUND WORLD CHAMPION ALBERTO PUELLO

PUELLO BATTLES ROMERO SATURDAY, MAY 13 TO HEADLINE SHOWTIME TRIPLEHEADER FROM THE COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS.

Former Two-Division World Champion Rances Barthelemy Takes On All-Action Omar Juarez in the Co-Main Event of Premier Boxing Champions Presentation.

 

Super Lightweight Contenders Batyr Akhmedov and Kenneth Sims Jr. Square Off Title Eliminator Kicking Off Telecast at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT.

Undefeated WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Alberto “La Avispa” Puello will make the first defense of his world title when he takes on hard-hitting contender Rolando “Rolly” Romero on Saturday, May 13 live on SHOWTIME from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.

 

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features two additional super lightweight bouts with former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy dueling the all-action Omar “El Relámpago” Juarez in the 10-round super lightweight co-main event, plus top super lightweight contenders Batyr Akhmedov and SHOBOX® alum Kenneth Sims, Jr., meet in a 12-round WBA Super Lightweight World Title Eliminator opening up the telecast.  

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Mayweather Promotions, are on sale now and available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com.

 

“Saturday, May 13 in Las Vegas lines up to be a fantastic three-fight card with intriguing matchups in the stacked super lightweight division, topped by WBA 140-pound world champion Alberto Puello defending his belt against the always-exciting ‘Rolly’ Romero,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “The former two-division champ Rances Barthelemy and young action fighter Omar Juarez will meet in an intriguing crossroads co-main event clash, while two of the 140-pound division’s toughest contenders, Batyr Akhmedov and Kenneth Sims, Jr., look to put themselves in position to fight for a world title opening the telecast.”

 

“This is a big opportunity for ‘Rolly’ and there’s no doubt that he’s going to make the most of it,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “He’s focused on preparing to get back in the ring and I know that he’s looking forward to putting on a great show for the fans on May 13.”

 

A native of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, Puello (21-0, 10 KOs) now fights out of Las Vegas under the tutelage of renowned trainer Bob Santos, who also trains Puello’s childhood friend, former WBA 130-Pound World Champion Hector Luis Garcia. The 28-year-old captured his world championship in his most recent fight, earning a hard-fought decision victory over Akhmedov last August on SHOWTIME. Puello leapt up the rankings in July 2019, handing Jonathan Alonso his first career defeat with a unanimous decision victory that earned him an interim title. He was also successful in his U.S. debut in December 2021, as he scored a unanimous decision victory over Veshawn Owens in Owens’ hometown.

 

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity I have to defend my world title on SHOWTIME,” said Puello. “’Rolly’ has fought at the elite level, so I’m looking forward to testing myself and showing why I am the champion. I’m confident in my skills and I’m coming with everything I’ve got. This is going to be one of the best fights of the year, so make sure you tune in.”

 

Part of the Mayweather Promotions stable, Romero (14-1, 12 KOs) is known for his brash talk that he backs up with power in both hands as well as an exciting, unique style that makes him must-see whenever he steps between the ropes. Romero returns to the ring for the first time since a May 2022 defeat against three-division champion Gervonta Davis. Prior to the Davis fight, Romero won an interim title in August 2020 by earning a close but unanimous decision over then unbeaten Jackson Marinez. The 27-year-old followed that victory up with a pair of impressive knockout triumphs, dominating slick contender Avery Sparrow with a seventh-round stoppage in January 2021 before dropping former title challenger Anthony Yigit three times on his way to another seventh-round stoppage in July 2021.

 

“I’m excited to become a world champion on May 13,” said Romero. “Everyone knows what I bring to the ring. It’s gonna be an entertaining show. I hope Puello comes in 100%, because I ready to show that I’m an elite fighter in this division.”

 

A native of Havana, Cuba now fighting out of Las Vegas, Barthelemy (29-2-1, 15 KOs) returns after a defeat to Gary Antuanne Russell last July in which many believed the referee waived off the fight prematurely. A world champion at 130 and 135 pounds, Barthelemy owns notable victories over Argenis Mendez, Antonio DeMarco, Mickey Bey and Denis Shafikov. His only other professional loss came in a 2018 140-pound championship rematch against Kiryl Relikh. Barthelemy comes from a fighting family, as he is the middle brother between the younger Leduan and the older Yan, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics.

 

“I’m looking forward to putting on a good show against a young, hungry fighter like Omar Juarez,” said Barthelemy. “I want to thank everyone who put me in this position and made this fight happen. At this stage in my career, it’s about building my legacy, and that means getting a knockout on May 13. My hands will be flying when that bell rings.”

 

The 23-year-old Juarez (14-1, 5 KOs) enters the ring propelled by momentum gained from his efforts inside and outside the ring. He enters the fight on a three-bout winning streak following a June 2021 defeat to All Rivera, including 2022 victories over Ryan Karl in February and Austin Dulay in December. A native of Brownsville, Texas, Juarez has achieved recognition in his community by uplifting the state’s youth through motivational speaking, receiving commendations from the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives for his altruism.

 

“This is the biggest fight of my life and I’m grateful to my team for making it happen,” said Juarez. “Rances brings a tremendous amount of experience to the ring, so I know that I have to make the proper adjustments as this fight goes on. I know if I win this fight, big doors will continue to open for me. So believe me when I say that I’m coming to win and win impressively.”

 

Born in Uzbekistan and now fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif., Akhmedov (9-2, 8 KOs) represented Turkey at the 2016 Olympic Games. The 32-year-old turned pro in 2017 and won his first seven pro fights, with six coming by knockout. Most recently, Akhmedov lost a narrow split-decision to Puello in a vacant 140-pound title fight last August on SHOWTIME, with his only other blemish coming in a 2019 action-fight against Mario Barrios.

 

“I’m looking forward to my return to the ring this May,” said Akhmedov. “My goal has always been to win a world championship and I have faith in myself. The fans know that I’m always in exciting fights, and this matchup is going to be more of the same.”

 

The 29-year-old Sims (19-2-1, 7 KOs) is one of the hottest fighters in the 140-pound division and can move one step closer to a world title with a victory on May 13. Representing his native Chicago, Ill., Sims has won six-straight outings dating back to May 2018 including triumphs over then-unbeaten fighters Elvis Rodriguez and Keeshawn Williams in 2021. Most recently, Sims dispatched Rock Myrthil in the fifth-round of their December 2022 showdown.

 

“I’m really excited about this fight,” said Sims. “This is what I’ve been asking for and will bring the best out in me. I believe that Akhmedov won his last fight and should be champion right now. This is not gonna be an easy task, but I will prove that I belong with the big names in the 140-pound division.”

RYAN GARCIA LOS ANGELES MEDIA WORKOUTQUOTES AND PHOTOS

“I’m going to take him out. It’s nap time for Gervonta.” – Garcia

Hard-hitting undefeated sensation “King” Ryan Garcia showed off his vaunted power and hand speed during a media workout from a ring overlooking the picturesque San Fernando Valley in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, vowing to “destroy” Gervonta “Tank” Davis ahead of their clash on Saturday, April 22 headlining live on pay-per-view from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

 

Davis vs. Garcia is promoted by GTD Promotions, TGB Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and the telecast is produced by SHOWTIME PPV.

Garcia has headlined fights across Los Angeles, Dallas and San Antonio, with fans packing the rafters to watch his meteoric rise. He now steps into the biggest fight of his career and a rare matchup of unbeaten superstars in the prime of their careers. The 24-year-old looked at home on Tuesday as he hit the pads in the ring assembled in the backyard of a mansion owned by reality TV personality and businesswoman Adrienne Maloof.

 

Here is what Garcia, along with his trainer, the renowned Joe Goossen, and legendary promoter Oscar De La Hoya had to say Tuesday:

 

Ryan Garcia

 

“This fight means a lot to me. It means everything. It’s a moment that I’ve been envisioning for so long now. It’s the only thing I’ve wanted for so long, to defeat Gervonta Davis and to destroy him. To end everything that he’s ever worked for, because I know he’s trying to do that for me. I’m going to take him out. He’s done. It’s nap time for Gervonta.

 

“I’m just going to be focused in the ring, no matter if it’s the first round, second round, third round. Any of the rounds, he can go to sleep. He’s going to have to be careful. That’s what I have to tell him. Be careful. I don’t think he is, and he’s going to walk into one. Or I’m just going to go get him. Either way, I’m going to beat him.

 

“I’m excited for fight week and I’m going to be even more excited when I’m there. But right now, my thoughts are just, ‘stay focused and do my best during the media workout.’ When I get there, I’m going to love it. Everybody is going to be there. Everybody wanted this fight so I’m expecting good energy and for everybody to be pumped up. Some people are going to think he’s going to win, some people are going to think I’m going to win. I’m just going to win.

 

“Nobody really trains at these media workouts, so I just thought to make it as cool and as fun as it can be. I know that I’m going to be training at 7 o’clock tonight, so I might as well make a show out of this. Everybody is getting some good food, I’m going to treat the media well and give them the best answers as I can, and that’s it. Make everybody happy.

 

“This is a huge fight for boxing. It can really change the trajectory of the sport and inspire young fighters to get it on right now. People are going to love you. They’re going to see that you went out there and you fought the best and you gave it your all. Even if you win or even if you lose, you showed them what a champion is in life. You just get right back up and you don’t let negative people that won’t even dare to do anything keep you down because you know where you’re going in life. To me, this is important to everybody that it takes courage to go after something that nobody believed you could do. That’s why I’m standing here today. To make everybody realize that if you’re in there and chase your dream like you’ve never chased anything before, and you’ll see something special happen.

 

“This is a fight to show everybody that I’m great. I’m not daring to be great. I know I’m great. I know when I step in the ring, he’s going to feel something he’s never felt before. I’m going to conquer him. Everything he tries to do I’ll have an answer for him. Gervonta Davis is not going to beat me. I promise you.

 

“He’s going to nap time. Nap time can be with either the right or the left. It doesn’t matter. I think he’s just terrified of the left hook. Once he hears that in his dreams, he just starts shaking in his boots. That’s a trigger word for him. Left hook. He just gets terrified of that.

 

“I feel like people have lost touch with what boxing truly is about. People used to realize that you see how a champion reacts after he gets hit. That’s how you determine what a champion is. People have lost touch with that. It used to be a proud moment where you showed that you can still stay focused in the fight. You can still get back to controlling it and you can still knock somebody out after you get dropped. That should have been the testimony of how much of a champion I truly am in my heart.

 

“But we live in a world where people expect you to be perfect and they don’t understand that this is real life. We’re really fighting here. But you respond by getting up and going and doing your thing. You show everybody that you’re great. You don’t let those things tear you down and you keep moving forward. I have to show people that I’m destined for this.

 

“This is going to be my third fight with Joe Goossen and having a guy with so much experience and understanding of the game, I just love being around him. He’s a very intelligent man. I love being around a person that you can just talk to about life in different ways and come to better understandings of both life and boxing. It’s great to have a person like that around me.

 

“Gervonta says he’s going to take me into deep waters. Guess what, I know how to swim. It’s nothing special. He needs to come up with something better than that. Think a little harder.

 

“I hope Gervonta has been getting good sleep. If not, he’ll get some good sleep April 22.”

 

Oscar De La Hoya

 

“This is the fight to save boxing. Literally. Every decade has its fight to save boxing. This is the fight to save boxing. The reason why it is, is because you have two young guys, two undefeated guys, who are the best of the best, willing to fight each other. You can see and feel the anticipation. The ticket sales is a great indication that the pay-per-view is going to be huge. This is the fight of the year.

 

“With a win, Ryan doesn’t become this generation’s Oscar De La Hoya. He becomes this generation’s Ryan Garcia. Even before he was a superstar, I’ve always said that Ryan Garcia can become even bigger than Canelo. Even bigger than Oscar De La Hoya. Bigger than whoever. Because we’re living in a time where media is everything. Media has brought the world together. The world is going to be watching on April 22. It’s going to shatter pay-per-view records and numbers. It’s going to do a huge amount of buys. We’re living in a time where social media is bringing the world together. The word is spreading so fast on this fight. It’s catching fire. Come April 22, it’s going to be fireworks and the biggest event in sports.

 

“I’ve given little tips to Ryan here and there on how to deal with an event of this magnitude. Being involved in events like these inside the ring myself, I can share with Ryan what he’s going to feel come fight week. What he’s going to feel after he weighs in. What he’s going to feel as he’s walking down the tunnel into the ring. It’s no secret that I’ve been there. He’s always open to listening and taking the advice. It can only help. Having a promoter like myself and Bernard Hopkins, another legendary fighter, is obviously a plus for any fighter.

 

“If Ryan only has a left hook, then he does. We’re going to see with Ryan on April 22. We don’t know. It’s going to be something special. If they are relying on Ryan’s left hook, then so be it. I don’t know exactly what he’s going to do, but it’s going to be special.

 

“I told Ryan the other day, ‘I can see it in your eyes. There’s something in your eyes that tells me you’re going to do something special.’ There’s fighters in each generation that are chosen, and Ryan is the chosen one for this generation.

 

“I love ‘Tank.’ I love the way he carries himself. I love the way he works hard. I love the way he comes out and fights and knocks his opponents out. I love his demeanor and his work ethic. There’s nothing bad that I can say about Gervonta. I have to respect him. But he’s going up against my guy, so obviously I have Ryan.”

 

Joe Goossen

 

“Ryan may have carved out one of the top spots of fighters I’ve trained in my career. He’s a very unique individual to start with. Like I always say there’s a certain amount of boxes you check for each fighter. They are all checked for him – from the bottom to the top. He’s got the speed, he’s got the power, he’s got the reach, he’s got the height. What a work ethic. He’s so self-driven and self-motivated. You wonder, ‘Could this really be true?’

 

“He looks like a star. He carries himself like a star. I just think Ryan is one of the top three of my all-time favorite fighters ever. But I think after this fight on the 22nd he’ll occupy the No. 1 spot.

 

“What can fans expect? They can expect the unexpected. Ryan is one of the best out there. Tank is one of the best out there. This is what makes great fights – the unknown. And people are on one side or the other. They both have great qualities. We’ve really trained to do one thing and that’s to win this fight. We’re not going to go to Las Vegas with any other thought in our head than to win the fight and I’m sure the other side has the same ideas.”

BIG-TIME BOXING BACK IN DETROIT ON SATURDAY, JUNE 3!

Undisputed Middleweight World Champion and Michigan’s own Claressa “GWOAT” Shields will make a homecoming return as she headlines the first boxing event in the history of Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Saturday, June 3 taking on four-division champion Hanna Gabriels in a rematch that will stream live on DAZN in the U.S. and Canada.

Shields and Gabriels will go face-to-face to preview the exciting event at a press conference being planned for Tuesday, April 18 in Detroit. Additional press conference details will be announced.

 

The only two-division undisputed champion in boxing history, Shields will continue to make history as she brings big-time boxing to the home of the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings. The Flint, Michigan-native first faced Gabriels in Shields’ sixth pro fight back in 2018, with Gabriels putting Shields on the canvas in round one with a vicious right uppercut-left hook combination. It remains the only time Shields has ever been knocked down as a professional or amateur and although she recovered to win an exciting unanimous decision, she will look for an emphatic ending to their rivalry on June 3.

 

“The ‘GWOAT’ is bringing championship boxing back to Detroit!” said Shields. “After my historic victory over Savannah Marshall in the U.K., I wanted a true homecoming fight in the U.S. I’m really excited to headline the first fight ever at Little Caesars Arena. Hanna Gabriels knocked me down in round one in our first fight and I’ve wanted the rematch ever since to settle that score. She’s a four-time world champ but she’s fighting the GWOAT, who’s a thirteen-time world champion and three-time undisputed champion. This is a big, important fight for me and will be another great fight for women’s boxing. I’m ready to defend my titles and win in dramatic fashion in Detroit!” 

 

“I know that Claressa is looking for the right adversary to put on a Fight of the Year-type fight that Taylor vs. Serrano was, so I’ve done my homework since our last encounter five years ago and I’m a much more improved and dangerous fighter now,” said Gabriels. “Claressa and boxing fans can expect to see the best version of Hanna Gabriels come fight night. I knocked Claressa down in our first fight and I intend to do the same in our rematch. Only this time, she’ll stay down.”

 

“Claressa Shields is making history again by opening up professional boxing at the brand new world class Little Caesars Arena in the heart of Detroit,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “This is going to be a ‘HERstoric’ event in resurrecting the tradition of big-time championship events in Detroit, in an electric rematch against current light heavyweight and heavyweight world champion Hanna Gabriels. Tommy Hearns won his first world title at Joe Louis Arena in 1980 and now in 2023 Claressa will electrify fans watching the fight at the arena and live on DAZN in USA and Canada.”

 

“As Detroit’s premier live entertainment company, 313 Presents is excited to bring boxing to Little Caesars Arena in partnership with Salita Promotions,” said Howard Handler, President of 313 Presents. “Detroit’s boxing scene has a rich history that has produced and embraced numerous champions, from Joe Louis to Sugar Ray Robinson to Tommy Hearns to Hilmer Kenty and now Claressa Shields. June 3 will be a historic night for us and we’re thrilled to provide an action-packed night of boxing back in Detroit.”

 

“We are thrilled to have Claressa back on DAZN,” said Joe Markowski, CEO North America DAZN. “This homecoming fight for Claressa is highly anticipated by DAZN subscribers in the US and Canada. We can’t wait to have another massive women’s fight on the platform after making history with Taylor vs. Serrano last year. Tune in live to DAZN June 3rd for this very special event.”

 

A two-time Olympic gold medalist throughout her storied amateur career, the 28-year-old Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) avenged her only amateur defeat last October when she traveled to the U.K. to win the WBO Middleweight Title from Savannah Marshall via unanimous decision. Shields’ last fight in her home state of Michigan came in March 2021 as she bested Marie Eve Dicaire to become undisputed super welterweight world champion, her second undisputed distinction after originally unifying all the middleweight titles with a 2019 victory over then unbeaten Christina Hammer.

 

Representing her native Alajuela, Costa Rica, and promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Gabriels (21-2-1, 12 KOs) first became a world champion at welterweight in 2009, before capturing the super welterweight championship in 2010. She would go on to unify 154-pound titles with a TKO over Katia Alvarino in 2016 and followed up her 2018 loss to Shields with two successful 154-pound title defenses in 2019. Most recently, Gabriels captured both the WBA Light Heavyweight and WBC Heavyweight world championships with a second-round stoppage of Martha Lara Gaytan in April 2021.

Tickets for the live event go on sale Tuesday, April 18 and can be purchased through 313Presents.com, Ticketmaster.com and the XFINITY Box Office at Little Caesars Arena. The event is promoted by Salita Promotions and 313 Presents.