CLARESSA SHIELDS believes she is not the only boxing champion capable of crossing over to MMA.
Shields has double Olympic gold medals, two undisputed world titles and belts in three divisions but it is not enough for the outspoken American.
Claressa Shields is 1-1 in MMA and signed to the Professional Fighters League Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Claressa Shields is a three-weight boxing champion Credit: Getty She last year turned professional in MMA under the Professional Fighters League in a bid to crack both sports.
So far, Shields is the only boxing star willing to put her money where her mouth is and fight in both the ring and cage.
Although she tips pound-for-pound contender Terence Crawford, an unbeaten three-division champ, as the man capable of conquering both codes too.
Shields told SunSport: “He got a boxing background but he also knows how to wrestle.
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New customers get £30 in FREE BETS when you stake any amount – 18+ T&Cs apply “I think those are the two main things in MMA that you need, and some jujitsu of course.
“And he’s got that winner mentality. He won’t go out there thinking, ‘I am supposed to lose to an MMA fighter’.
“He’s gonna go out there and think, ‘Im gonna wrestle the hell out of him, I’m gonna punch the hell out of him’.
“He’s got that fighters mentality.”
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Shields, 27, returns on September 10 in a middleweight undisputed super-fight against rival Savannah Marshall, 31, in London.
But afterwards, she is set for another MMA bout in November before focussing on the PFL’s 2023 season.
Meanwhile, Crawford, 35, is locked in talks to finally fight Errol Spence Jr, 32.
The pair of unbeaten welterweights would be putting all four belts on the line and settling the long-standing dispute on who is the No1 in the division.
Unbeaten WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford Credit: AP Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
