UPDATE:Follow along with live updates from Little Caesars Arena for all of Saturday’s fights.
It’s almost Claressa Shields’ night in Detroit.
The full lineup of fighters for the undercard before her fight against Lani Daniels at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, July 25, was revealed at Campus Martius Park on Friday, July 25. The undisputed women’s heavyweight champ will close out a card of 11 fights – eight featuring male boxers, two featuring women and then Shields’ defense of her title. All three fights with female boxers will be shown on DAZN.
FIGHT NIGHT: Heavyweight champ Claressa Shields boosts women’s boxing with packed undercard at LCA
The weigh-in began with an all-Michigan faceoff between Detroit native Demetrius Banks and Flint native Sardius Simmons, but all boxers got their moment to face their opponent and talk trash before their fights on Saturday.
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The talk was mostly benign, with plenty of simple staredowns, before Deroit’s Tony Harrison faced off against Edward Ulloa Diaz. Harrison at 6 feet 1 towers over the 5-7 Diaz, a fact that only became more obvious onstage.
Shields and Daniels’ weigh-ins, as befitting the main card, were the most interesting part of the event. Daniels wore a fishing vest featuring the United Tribes of New Zealand and Maori flags, emblazoned with the Maori words, “Tu kaha ki te ao” – translated, it means “Stand strong in the world.” She was also holding the Maori flag with the name of her hometown, Pipiwai, on it.
Shields swept onto the stage in full extravagance – a fur coat, an elaborately cut swimsuit and one of her “G.W.O.A.T.” (“Greatest Woman Of All Time”) chains. It was a stark contrast with Daniels’ bucket hat and fishing vest, but represented the styles of the two women for the adoring crowd, which was more than half female.
Watch Shields vs Daniels on DAZN
All boxers made their weights. The undercard fights are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, with the televised fights beginning at 8 p.m. The Shields/Daniels fight is expected to start around 10:30 p.m.
Weigh-in results
Heavyweights (four rounds): Demetrius Banks (200.4 pounds ) vs. Sardius Simmons (215.1).
Light Heavyweights (four rounds): Devario Hauser (175.8) vs. Kahmel Makled (174.6).
Middleweights (four rounds): Joshua Flores (158.2) vs. Jaquan McElroy (159.4).
Featherweights (six rounds): Dominique Griffin (124.4) vs Cameran Pankey (124.6).
Super Middleweights (eight rounds): Martez McGregor (168.4) vs Da’Velle Smith (168.2).
Middleweights (eight rounds): Ryan Wilczak (162.8) vs Leon Lawson II (159).
WBC Silver Featherweight Title and WBC World Title Eliminator (10 rounds): Licia Boudersa (125.4) vs Caroline Veyre (125.4).
WBA Super Lightweight World Interim Title (10 rounds): Victoire Piteau (139.2) vs Samantha Worthington (138.4).
Heavyweights (eight rounds): Robert Simms (258) vs Pryce Taylor (278.2).
Middleweights (eight rounds): Edward Ulloa Diaz (159.4) vs Tony Harrison (159.2).
Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship (10 rounds): Lani Daniels (170.4) vs Claressa Shields (174.6).
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