Undefeated women’s middleweight champion Claressa Shields is in training with Floyd Mayweather for an upcoming fight against former WBA welterweight super champion Keith Thurman.
The best female boxer in the world is undefeated with a perfect 14-0 record in the ring. She holds the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, WBF and The Ring female middleweight titles.
Thurman was undefeated until he faced Manny Pacquiao on July 20, 2019. It was only the second time Thurman had been knocked down in his career.
Shields called out Thurman on Monday, challenging him to meet her in the ring.
“I’ll fight Thurman at 154 lbs so serious. All the respect in the world to him too. I just think I can outbox him,” she wrote.
Thurman, 34, responded by saying he would fight a girl for charity — if boxing fans wanted it. He said he would only use his jab against Shields.
He said Shields could wear smaller gloves and protective headgear. “I don’t even want to punch a girl in the face,” he said.
.@keithfthurmanjr reacts to @Claressashields saying she could outbox him ?#SpenceCrawford #boxing pic.twitter.com/qv397P28OL
— Sporting News Fights (@sn_fights) July 30, 2023
Shields, 28, fired back that she is bigger and taller than Thurman.
“And lastly if we are “sparring” of course I’ll wear a headgear but for a charity event or raising money for a foundation you can keep the head gear bookie butt and you can wear a big cup shield cause I’m gonna punch you hard in the stomach like Luiz did.”
And lastly if we are “sparring” of course I’ll wear a headgear” but for a charity event or raising money for a foundation you can keep the head gear bookie butt ? and you can wear a big cup shield cause I’m gonna punch you hard in the stomach like Luiz did ?? #GWOAT
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) July 30, 2023
Boxing fans are eager to see the first ever boxing match between a male and female.
But some members of a Manosphere message board are offended by Shields challenging a man to a boxing match.
“One person wrote: “She would get slept. Real quick too. Dumb idea.”
A second person wrote: “lose/lose situation for Thurman, literally no upside for him. Especially in this climate.”
And a third person wrote: “I hope it happens and he knocks her manly looking a*s out.”
