Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels Predictions: ‘The GWOAT’ is a victim of her own success

The best female boxer on the planet returns this Saturday, July 26 as Claressa Shields squares off with Lani Daniels. ‘The GWOAT’ defends her undisputed heavyweight championship against the reigning IBF light heavyweight champion at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The title bout will be shown live on DAZN

Here are my Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels predictions ahead of this heavyweight championship attraction.

Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels Odds

Shields is a big favourite as usual, landing at 1/33. Daniels might be a world champion in her own right, but 10/1 fairly reflects her uphill task. The draw is priced at 25/1. 

Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels Fight Preview

Two weeks ago, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fought for the third time in a bout that was packaged as the two greatest female fighters of their generation doing battle for the final time. While nothing is ever final in boxing, I actually have an issue with a different part of the hype.

I think Taylor and Serrano absolutely deserve their billing as among the finest boxers, male or female, of this era. But I would argue another stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them. Claressa Shields is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. She has held that four-belt designation in the super welterweight and middleweight divisions. Shields can also boast belts at super middleweight and light heavyweight.

Footballers like to use the term “put your medals on the table”. Well, Shields can do that too. How does two Olympic golds sound? How about two World Amateur Championship golds? A Pan American Games gold medal? Two US National gold medals? If ‘The GWOAT’ stuck them all on the table, the wood would splinter and the floor would be covered entirely in gold.

Suffice to say, Shields is every bit the success story that the wonderful Taylor and Serrano pairing have been. That is not to say the Flint, Michigan superstar does not have detractors. Even Taylor gets labelled as protected and her use of the head is criticised. Serrano’s doubters point to her having never officially beaten Taylor. The internet brings every opinion to the fore and Shields is far from immune.

Shields is accused by the echo chamber of targeting “weak” divisions for her dominance. While heavyweight is shallow, admittedly, I think this argument loses steam when a fighter is a five-weight world champion. How, exactly, is ‘The GWOAT’ supposed to accommodate those with this view? 

None of the major four sanctioning bodies crown a cruiserweight (or bridgerweight, thank god) champion among female boxers. This means Shields has won world championships in every division available between super welterweight and heavyweight. Is Claressa supposed to sacrifice an arm and try to make welterweight? It is not “targeting weak divisions” if you win belts in every single one available to you.

The heavyweight category is not overflowing with talent, that much is true. To become undisputed, Shields captured two vacant belts in the WBO and IBF straps and one belt seemingly created especially for her visit by the WBA. The WBO also threw their light heavyweight belt into the mix. This approach has garnered some criticism, but the sanctioning bodies used to do the same for Sugar Ray Leonard and Roy Jones Jr. These organisations like their belts to be around a famous waist.

Shields still dethroned a reigning champion in WBC queen Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse before defending her belts against the unbeaten, if admittedly limited, Danielle Perkins. 

Lani Daniels is a step-up on both, in my estimation. An IBF light heavyweight champion who never lost the IBF heavyweight title in the ring, she has won her last seven fights. That hot streak has taken place almost entirely at championship level. 

Shields has faced tougher opponents. Of course she has. This is a fighter who has seen off Savannah Marshall, Franchon Crews-Dezurn, Marie-Eve Dicaire, Hannah Rankin, Hanna Gabriels and Femke Hermans. All world champions and yet not even a comprehensive list of every title-holder she has defeated. Suddenly those accusations of Shields taking soft-touch opponents seem a little silly.

But I make Daniels the best test Shields has faced as a heavyweight. And yet, as she rankles the men’s rights campaigners by threatening to knock out the imbecilic Jake Paul, you sense there is nothing left to truly challenge Shields. It might be why she’s found time for a side-hustle in MMA with the PFL. 

But this is a real fight even if, as usual, Shields is a heavy favourite. She has perhaps lacked a natural rival, like Taylor has in Serrano (and the seemingly frozen-out Chantelle Cameron). Marshall has the back-story and even followed her to MMA to try and make a fight. But the Brit lost to Shadasia Green earlier this month so that’s a non-starter.

So ‘The GWOAT’ spends her prime on side-quests like this heavyweight sojourn. This might be her natural home, at least until someone sanctions her wiping the smirk of Jake Paul’s smug face.

Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels Full Card

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Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels Prediction

An easy one for your writer. Shields has three knockouts on her 16-0 ledger. Nobody has ever stopped Daniels. I reckon the Michigan native wins her hometown assignment. Shields on points is 4/7.

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