Claressa Shields has stated that she is willing to compete against Amanda Nunes in each of their respective sports.
Shields was questioned about the possibility of a battle with UFC dual-champion Nunes before her contest against Savannah Marshall on September 10, and she enthusiastically responded that she would be up for the challenge.
But Shields brought everyone’s attention to the fact that all she is doing is reacting to Nunes’ callout. A month ago, before avenging her defeat to Julianna Pena at UFC 277, Nunes told DAZN that boxing Shields would be the biggest fight, and Shields is open to both a boxing match and an MMA bout. Nunes’ victory over Pena at UFC 277 was her first victory since regaining her title.
“Amanda Nunes said a week before her fight she wanted to fight me in the ring,” Shields told reporters. “So it wasn’t just me poking the bear, the bear poked me. So Amanda Nunes said she wanted to fight against me, and that would be one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing as far as in crossovers, and I agree with it. I would love for us to box inside the ring. And like I’ve said before, I will get inside the cage with Amanda Nunes, but it would be in two years.”
Shields has only participated twice in mixed martial arts (MMA), both times under the banner of the PFL. In boxing, he has won many world championships in three different weight classes. She knocked out Brittney Elkin in her professional mixed martial arts debut, but she was defeated by Abigail Montes via split decision in October of last year. She is well aware that she needs a lot more training before she can fight with Nunes in the cage.
