Claressa Shields will be looking to become a four-division world champion when she challenges WBC women's heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanis.
The 29-year-old has been competing in mixed martial arts with the Professional Fighters League since August of last year, most recently winning a split decision over Kelsey DeSantis in February.
Shields will return to boxing on July 27 when she faces Lepage-Joanis at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Shields defended her middleweight world championship against Marisela Cornejo last June.
“This is a meaningful and unique fight for me to become a world champion in a fourth weight class against a very strong champion two weight classes above me,” Shields said.
“I plan to bring what I do best – the GWOAT energy – and continue to put women's boxing on the map.”
“We're excited to bring another exciting game to Little Caesars Arena. We had 12,000 fans fill the arena last time, but this time we're sure the roof will be blown off the building.”
Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, boasts a professional record of 14-0 (2) and is already a world champion at light middleweight, middleweight and super middleweight.
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Claressa Shields sent a chilling message to rival Savannah Marshall that she'll never be able to beat “The GWOAT” in MMA, boxing or table tennis.
The bout against Canada’s Lepage-Joanis (7-1 (2)) will be for the vacant WBO light heavyweight title and will be fought at the weight limit of 12 stone 7 pounds.
But the WBC heavyweight women's title is on the line, and the 28-year-old Lepage-Joanicet won the belt with a split decision win over Avril Argentina Vidal in March.
“For me, it doesn't matter if it's Claressa or anyone else,” Lepage-Joanis said. “My life is full of challenges.”
Watch as Richard Liakporhe challenges Chris Billam-Smith for the WBO cruiserweight world title at Selhurst Park on Saturday 15th June, live on Sky Sports.
