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Two-time Olympic gold medal winner Claressa Shields is very motivated as the year comes to a close.
In 2021, Shields intends to make her mixed martial arts debut.
A few weeks ago, Shields shocked the sport of boxing when she confirmed her decision to sign a multi-year promotional agreement with MMA company PFL.
At 25-years-old and a three division world champion, Shields is eager to test the waters in a sport where female fighters are capable of making more money than they traditionally make in boxing.
Other boxers, male and female, have tried to compete in MMA.
Some have been very successful like Holly Holm, while others went down in flames like James Toney.
“Listen, I’m excited and I’m just ready to prove everybody wrong,” Shields told MMA Fighting. “Not everybody but all the doubters. It seems like everybody keeps saying like ‘oh anybody that’s come from boxing can’t be successful in MMA.’
“Like they say look at James Toney and I kind of laugh cause James Toney was 42 years old. I’m 25. He was also 42 years old and he went in there, I don’t know how long he prepared but he fought against one of the best guys that they had. It’s like not that I wouldn’t do that but I’m preparing. I’m taking it one step at a time.”
According to Shields, she’s spent time training at the Jackson-Winkeljohn academy in New Mexico. She was working alongside former UFC champions like Jon Jones and Holm.
Shields plans to defend her junior middleweight titles in February – and then the focus will shift to making her MMA debut.
“We already have a deadline for that,” Shields revealed. “That’s why I’m already working now and learning right now. I’m looking forward to fighting in May-June next year, my MMA pro debut.”
Shields will not joining the PFL season until 2022 – which involves a prize of $1 million for the winner.
She is not looking to take on too much, too quickly. Shields will have one-off fights until she’s comfortable with facing the best fighters PFL has to offer.
“The PFL is all about controlling your own destiny,” Shields said. “So if me and Kayla Harrison is in the same tournament, if we’re in the same season and we both have to fight our way to the top. So who knows who I’ll be fighting against. It may be Kayla, it may not who’ll be in the finals. Cause I envision myself being able to make it to the finals in 2022.”