Boxing: Claressa Shields moves up to light-heavyweight to fight for world titles

Claressa Shields will move up to light-heavyweight to challenge Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for the unified championship on 27 July in Detroit.

American Shields, 29, will be aiming to become a four-weight world champion.

The vacant WBO light-heavyweight title will be on the line, as well as Lepage-Joanisse’s WBC belt.

“This is a significant and unique fight where I am moving up two weight classes against a very tough champion in my quest to become world champion in my fourth weight division,” Shields said.

Lepage-Joanisse’s WBC title is classified as ‘heavyweight’ by the sanctioning body but it is contested at the light-heavyweight limit of 12st 7lb (175lb).

Canadian Lepage-Joanisse is one of two reigning light-heavyweight world champions as the WBA and WBO do not have a current belt holder.

The 28-year-old has seven wins and one defeat on her professional record, having won the WBC title in March.

“It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s Claressa or someone else. My life is all about challenges,” Lepage-Joanisse said.