PFL return targeted for Q1 of 2024, has title goals

As Claressa Shields continues to do her factor as an undefeated boxing champion, MMA continues to be very a lot a part of her fight sports activities plan.

Shields, who’s 14-0 as a boxer and 1-1 in MMA, hasn’t fought within the latter sport since October 2021, the place she lost a split decision to Abigail Montes at 2021 PFL Championships.

There have been questions on whether or not the 28-year-old had moved previous the MMA experiment after the setback, however Shields assured anybody questioning her priorities that’s not the case.

In truth, Shields’ third MMA bout is predicted to occur within the coming months.

“It’s wanting like February or possibly April,” Shields informed MMA Junkie Radio. “I’ve been coaching MMA with Murcielago Crew in Lansing (Mich.) for the previous few months, and I’ll proceed coaching with them. I’ve been studying loads. … I’m getting stronger in these fields that I’m not sturdy. I can’t say I’m sturdy on the bottom, however I shall be. I’m stronger than I used to be, so I’m simply going to maintain constructing from there.

“I’ve simply been grinding and dealing exhausting, so I consider February or April you’ll see me again within the PFL SmartCage.”

Though Shields may simply keep in her personal world and proceed to thrive as a world champion boxer, she mentioned her ardour for preventing and competitors gained’t permit her to be complacent. She craves greatness in each avenue accessible, and that’s what serves because the motivation to work on the components of her sport the place she’s nonetheless a relative novice.

“I like preventing,” Shields mentioned. “I don’t like the truth that I’ve to say, ‘There’s different ladies in MMA that may beat me.’ That sort of angers me a bit of bit, like, ‘Ugh, she will be able to beat me in a combat as a result of she is aware of extra of the issues that I don’t know. However she will be able to’t beat me in a boxing match.’ However I need to be the most effective fighter on the earth. It doesn’t matter if it’s MMA or if it’s kickboxing or it’s boxing. I need to be the most effective.”

With that mindset, Shields mentioned she units a excessive bar in terms of her targets. The 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medalist in boxing and present WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, WBF and The Ring ladies’s middleweight titleholder solely has recognized the best degree of success in her fight sports activities journey, so to aspire for something apart from an MMA championship can be accepting she will be able to’t attain those self same heights.

“I want to develop into PFL champion,” Shields mentioned. “I consider that’s doable. I consider that it’s attainable for me. Give me some years of coaching of simply me making MMA a precedence. I consider that I could be a PFL and boxing world champion on the identical time. I do know it’s large, however I really feel prefer it’s achievable, one hundred pc, for me.”