Mayor's Office

Mayor Congratulates Flint’s Own Claressa Shields as She Prepares to Make History Again

February 27, 2017 (FLINT, Mich)– Mayor Karen Weaver welcomed Flint’s own Claressa Shields to City Hall Monday. The two-time Olympic Gold Medalist is set to make her professional television debut next month on Showtime. The boxer will be featured live on ShoBox: The New Generation, Friday, March 10 as she takes on Szilvia “Sunset” Szabados a former world title holder. It will be the first women’s fight to headline a boxing card on premium cable.

“Claressa has been a beacon of light for this city and especially for our youth,” said Weaver. “She has already made history by winning two Olympic gold medals for boxing and she’s about to make history again, right here in Michigan.”

The fight will take place at the MGM Grand Detroit Event Center.

“Claressa is a champion of Flint,” Weaver commented. “Her success continues a longtime tradition in this city. Flint has been known as a great sports town. This is home to nine athletes who have gone on to play in the Super Bowl. Flint is home to a number of basketball players who made to the NBA. Claressa reminds us that we are fighters and we are resilient. We thank you for that Claressa, and we’ll be watching and rooting for you as you make history next month!”

Shields says she has been training hard with her longtime coach Jason Crutchfield, and is ready to win.

“It’s strap season,” said Shields referring to the belt she hopes to win next month. “My opponent, I’ve heard has a hard head, but I have a hard fist. I predict it’s going to be a knock out.”

Tickets for the March 10 event are going fast. They are available at www.ticketmaster.com. (search for Claressa Shields)