Claressa Shields defends her heavyweight title against former heavyweight champion and current light heavyweight champion Lani Daniels in front of a hometown crowd in Detroit.
Shields is an insurmountable -4500 favorite over the +1180 underdog Daniels. Here are my best Shields vs. Daniels predictions and betting picks for this heavyweight bout.
Shields vs Daniels prediction and pick
- My fight prediction: Shields ML (-4500 at DraftKings)
- My best bet: Shields by decision (-165 at FanDuel)
Fight analysis
There doesn’t seem to be anything Claressa Shields can’t do at this point.
She’s won every title north of 154 lbs and currently reigns as the unified heavyweight champion — and she’s likely to remain that way after this bout with Lani Daniels.
While Shields doesn’t need a win here to prove she’s the greatest women’s boxer of all time, a dominant performance would certainly help cement that case. The gap in skill between Shields and the rest of the field is so vast that even physical differences, such as in this matchup, are practically irrelevant.
That’s not to disrespect Daniels. The New Zealand native and current IBF light heavyweight champion also briefly held the vacant IBF heavyweight title in 2023, but she has never faced anyone like Shields.
She has two losses to regional-level opponents, and it’s worth noting the heavyweight division in women’s boxing is shallow, which led Daniels to drop down in weight due to a lack of competition.
Despite fighting at heavyweight, Daniels lacks a true heavyweight frame or punching power, with just one knockout in 15 pro fights. Her offense is volume-based and largely reminiscent of her amateur style.
Shields, meanwhile, is the complete package. She’ll hold slight advantages in height and reach, but more importantly, she is the sharper puncher, more polished technician, and vastly superior athlete.
Her fast hands and precise jab aren’t the only weapons she has, but tend to be the only ones she usually needs to win. Shields has been fighting world-class opposition since her debut and continues to widen the gap with each outing.
At 30, Shields is still in her prime, showing no signs of decline. Like many top female fighters, she isn’t known for knockout power, but she compensates with speed, IQ, and volume.
In this matchup, she can dictate range behind her jab or press forward to smother Daniels with flurries. It would be generous to say Daniels has a puncher’s chance given her lack of knockout power, but realistically, that’s the only chance she has.
Best best analysis
The tactically and technically superior Shields shouldn’t have any trouble outboxing Daniels, who doesn’t have the skills or physical attributes to trouble her.
Don’t count on a knockout, as these two are well aware they don’t have it in them to end fights early, with four knockouts between the two of them.
Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels odds
Method of victory | Claressa Shields | Lani Daniels |
---|---|---|
Win outright | -4500 | +1180 |
Win by KO/TKO | +130 | +3900 |
Win by points or decision | -165 | +2600 |
Draw | +3800 | +3800 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of 7-26.
Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels tale of the tape
Shields | Daniels | |
---|---|---|
30 | Age | 37 |
5-foot-8 | Height | 5-foot-6 |
Heavyweight | Weight Class | Heavyweight |
68 inches | Reach | 67 inches |
16-0 | Record | 11-2-2 |
3 | Wins by KO | 1 |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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