Historic Shields-Hammer bout one step closer if both win in Detroit

Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer are currently on a collision course that can only end with one of them emerging as the top women’s middleweight boxer in the world today. But first, they’ll have to take care of some business in Detroit on June 22nd.

It was announced earlier today that the middleweight championship bout between the current WBC and WBO champ, Hammer, and Tori Nelson has been added to the upcoming live Showtime Boxing telecast out of Detroit’s Masonic Temple.

This bout will take place just before two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Claressa Shields, throws down with Hanna Gabriels for the vacant WBA and IBF middleweight titles. Should she defeat Gabriels in the main event of the evening, Shields would emerge as a two-division champion having already secured and defended both WBC and IBF super middleweight titles.

If Shields and Hammer both win their respective bouts on June 22nd, a major unification bout is expected to be signed for sometime later this year for all four of the aforementioned middleweight belts.

Tickets for this Salita Promotions event are available through Ticketmaster and the Masonic Temple Box Office (313) 832-7100 and range from $35 to $300.

Image Credit – Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME