The GWOAT is finally back.
This time, Claressa Shields returns to the ring as a heavyweight.
Shields, dubbed the “Greatest Woman Of All Time,” will challenge Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for her WBC women’s heavyweight world title, The Post has learned, on July 27 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit as the headliner on DAZN’s “Big Time Boxing USA.”
Shields (14-0), who is currently the undisputed middleweight champion, hails from Flint, Mich., so will be fighting near her hometown.
She is promoted by Dmitriy Salita, a former fighter-turned-promoter who grew up in Brooklyn.
Shileds previously became the undisputed light middleweight champion in 2021, and is the only women’s boxer to hold undisputed titles in two weight classes.
Before that, Shields won the unified WBC and IBF super middleweight title in 2017.
Now, Shields, who won gold medals at middleweight and the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, is moving all the way up to heavyweight to vie for a world title in a fourth division.
She hasn’t fought in boxing since she defended her undisputed middleweight title against Marciela Cornejo on June 3, 2023, also at Little Caesars Arena, though she beat Kelsey DeSantis in February in an MMA match.
Shields, 29, fights under MMA promotion PFL and owns a 2-1 record, taking on the new sport in 2021.
But she returns to where she is best – the boxing ring.
“The Queen of Boxing is back! I’m so excited to return to the ring, especially after my MMA victory in February,” Shields said. “I’m excited to bring another entertaining fight to Little Caesars Arena. Last time 12,000 fans filled the arena, and this time we’re going to lift the roof off the building!
“This is a significant and unique fight where I am moving up two weight classes against a very tough champion in my quest to become world champion in my fourth weight division. It’s an exciting time for women’s sports, and I thank DAZN for providing a global platform for women’s boxing. I plan to do what I do best: bring that GWOAT energy and continue putting women’s boxing on the map.”
The 28-year-old Lepage-Joanisse (7-1) won the WBC heavyweight title in March when she beat Abril Argentina Vidal.
“From the beginning of her career, Claressa has been on a quest to make her story a part of history,” Salita said. “This fight is one of Claressa’s hardest challenges.”
